Best Buy has a long history of partnering with nonprofit organizations in communities across the country through our Community Grants program. This year, we are looking to award more than $2 million to eligible organizations.
We will prioritize proposals that include hands-on learning opportunities for young people and that creatively engage youth in experimenting and interacting with technology.
Our involvement doesn’t stop with financial support, though. Many of our employees give back to their communities by volunteering with the organizations that receive support through Community Grants.
Gabriel Perez, general manager of our Riverdale, Utah, store recently served as a judge in his local FIRST Tech Challenge robotics state championship. He got involved when his store awarded a $4,000 Best Buy Community Grant to Weber State University’s Center for Technology Outreach robotics program. Gabriel and other Best Buy volunteers rolled up their sleeves and helped prepare students to compete with robots they designed, built and programmed.
“I love not only being able to see the grant money come to life, but also that FIRST really embodies the same values we teach our employees about,” Gabriel said. “It was so great because as each group of young adults came into the room, they all mentioned how much they loved Best Buy.”
As part of a Best Buy Community Grant to Music Resource Center of Cincinnati (MRC), local Best Buy team members worked with students to create original songs that tackle topics such as racism and mental illness, and how youth can take a positive leadership role.
C. Brian Stevens plans many of these volunteer events for his fellow Cincinnati market employees. “Those of us who have been fortunate enough to attend several events and meet the students and their families have developed great friendships with them all,” C. Brian said. “We talk and laugh with the teens, share our views on their music, learn from them about what matters in their lives and, yes, even talk about Best Buy.”
Organizations can apply for the Best Buy Community Grants program through May 31. Recipients will be notified in September. For more information, check out www.cybergrants.com/bestbuy/CommunityGrantsquiz.
Click here to learn more about Best Buy’s Community Grants.