IBM Volunteer Stories

IBM Volunteer Excellence Award stories

The IBM Volunteer Excellence Award is the highest form of global recognition given to IBM volunteers. Each year, IBM CEO Arvind Krishna honors selected IBM teams and individuals from around the world for their volunteer service. The award-winning volunteers are an inspiration and their stories can serve as models of success for other volunteers to follow.

IBM volunteers in India use AI to help NGO accelerate aid for victims of trafficking

Watch the video. Volunteers from IBM Research in India are helping an NGO use AI to identify counselors suited to support those recovering from the trauma of human trafficking. The volunteers received the IBM Volunteer Excellence Award.

IBM volunteer in Vietnam helps create a much-needed ecosystem to train students in AI

Watch the video. In Vietnam, IBM volunteer Le Nhan Tam is helping address a critical shortage of skilled IT professionals by leading an initiative to train students in AI. He received the IBM Volunteer Excellence Award.

In Israel, IBM volunteer Fady Copty mentors young people in a collaboration across cultures

Watch the video. As a mentor and volunteer in Israel, Fady Copty is helping students—particularly those with Arab backgrounds—gain experience with the high tech industry. He received the IBM Volunteer Excellence Award.

IBM volunteers in India earn excellence award for initiative to mentor children with learning disabilities

Watch the video. An IBM volunteer team in India uses storytelling, presentations, real-life examples, IBM Activity kits and more to mentor children with disabilities. The IBM team received the IBM Volunteer Excellence Award.

Tiny acts can make a big impact: a volunteer story by Sarena Meyer

Sarena Meyer has been a voluneer for decades and received the 2019 IBM Volunteer Excellence Award. She helped create a STEM camp for girls that has endured and grown over the years. In this story, Sarena recalls a young girl from 2005 who continues to inspire her today.

Sharing AI with children in China earns award for the IBM volunteer organizers

IBM volunteer coordinators in China organized over 1,300 other IBM volunteers across the country to help children better understand AI. Thousands of students and teachers participated in the IBM AI Enlightment Season, and the coordinators received the IBM Volunteer Excellence Award.

In Chile, IBM volunteers use AI to give relief to an NGO that provides relief

A team of IBM volunteers developed and are supporting the cloud platform for the Cruz Rojin chatbot for the Red Cross of Chile, helping improve response times during crises. The team received the IBM Volunteer Excellence Award.

IBM volunteer in Brazil helps women and families of domestic violence

IBM volunteer Alessandra Vaz Da Silva is working with an organization in Brazil that helps women and families of domestic violence—a situation in which she has personal experience. She received the IBM Volunteer Excellence Award.

IBM mentors in Canada, university students and NPOs join for better communities

IBM volunteers in Canada are engaging young people and then working with them to participate in projects with not-for-profit organizations to create more vibrant communities. The team received the IBM Volunteer Excellence Award.

IBM volunteers in Japan help Y20 youth delegates share their message

Two volunteers from IBM Japan, Wakana Asano and Mitsuki Suda, used their expertise in consulting and design to contribute to the success of the 2019 Y20 Summit in Tokyo. They received the IBM Volunteer Excellence Award.

Part 3: A volunteer’s perspective on life in a refugee camp and corporate social responsibility

Rick Reesen received the IBM Volunteer Excellence Award for his work helping displaced people enhance their digital skills. In the last part of this series, Rick talks about the value of short and long-term impact—and how some impact may not be measurable.

Part 2: A volunteer’s perspective on life in a refugee camp and corporate social responsibility

In this series of articles written months before a fire devastated the refugee camp where he volunteered, IBMer Rick Reesen talks about his experience helping displaced people enhance their digital skills. Rick received the IBM Volunteer Excellence Award.

Part 1: A volunteer’s perspective on life in a refugee camp and corporate social responsibility

2019 IBM Volunteer Excellence Award winners

The 2019 IBM Volunteer Excellence Award is awarded to 14 IBM teams and individuals around the world, honoring their community impact. NGO and school partners will receive a USD 10,000 grant as part of the award.

Volunteer Stories

Learn more about what IBM employees and retirees are doing in their communities around the world.

One day to celebrate volunteers and a lifetime of thanks

In a series of short videos, IBM volunteers from around the world share their passion for helping others as a way to celebrate all volunteers for International Volunteer Day.

IBM volunteers in Italy share some of their projects to celebrate International Volunteer Day

In a short video to celebrate the upcoming International Volunteer Day, 12 IBM volunteers in Italy talk about their projects as a way to acknowledge the impact being made by volunteers everywhere.

Virtual volunteering delivers real results during Americas Week of Impact

After a successful start in 2019, a team of IBM volunteers working together with their clients dramatically expanded the 2020 version of their week of impact—with stellar results.

IBM volunteers help Austin-based non-profits during a summer of service

For the third summer in a row, IBM volunteers came together to help not-for-profit organizations in the Austin, Texas area.

IBM volunteers in Italy ask, “isn’t this stuff for women?”

Progetto NERD? is an initiative led mostly by female IBM volunteers in Italy to get young women interested and engaged with STEM; the pandemic didn’t stop their progress in 2020.

Volunteer to be a part of the global success of P-TECH

IBM employees and retirees can now volunteer and participate in the high school-to-college-to-career pathway that P-TECH offers students.

What is your volunteer story?

We truly appreciate hearing of the many ways that volunteers contribute their time and resources to help others. More importantly, we are proud of the role IBMers play in helping their communities, worldwide!

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