Global impact, local change
PayPal mobilizes workforce in 20 countries for inaugural Impact Day, boosting local small businesses and nonprofits.
By PayPal
September 6, 2024
This summer, PayPal held its first PayPal Impact Day, an initiative that brought employees from around the globe together to make a tangible difference in their local communities.
At 37 sites and virtual communities worldwide, more than 16,000 PayPal employees set aside their daily tasks and devoted their time and energy to support small businesses and local nonprofits. This global day of service was built around three core principles: uplift small businesses, engage with community organizations and foster a sense of shared purpose among PayPal’s diverse workforce. It marked a significant moment for the company, showcasing PayPal’s commitment to revolutionizing commerce globally by empowering the communities and customers it serves to participate and thrive in the digital economy.
Small and medium-sized businesses are the lifeblood of local economies, with the World Bank estimating that they are responsible for more than 50 percent of employment and generate more than 40 percent of GDP worldwide. PayPal supported 140 of these businesses by purchasing goods and services directly from them. Employees then worked hand in hand with 114 community partners – from youth-focused programs to food banks to shelters – to package goods purchased from these small businesses and deliver them to those in need. In total, PayPal employees volunteered more than 46,000 hours to assemble kits, which in turn benefited more than 92,000 people worldwide.
But PayPal Impact Day was about more than just the numbers. It was about the meaningful connections made, the local impact generated and the passionate spirit of giving back to fulfill the company’s mission. It was a day where the company’s values were brought to life through the actions of its employees, creating a ripple effect that will be felt long after the day itself. The inaugural PayPal Impact Day serves as a reminder of the power of collective action and the importance of driving impact in communities.
Bringing virtual employees together for in-person connection
At PayPal’s virtual hubs in the United States and Ireland – locations where PayPal has high concentrations of employees but doesn’t maintain a physical site – the company gathered remote employees in person, in some cases for the first time since the pandemic, to collaborate in support of local nonprofits in their respective areas.
Across the greater Boston, Houston, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C. and Dundalk, Ireland areas, more than 500 employees packed 3,000 kits for organizations that support youth through educational programming, critical resources and training. By stepping away from their screens and into their neighborhoods, employees were able to foster a deeper sense of community both within PayPal and in the areas where they live and work.
Setting New York City students up for a successful school year
At PayPal’s New York City site, more than 300 employees rolled up their sleeves to pack 3,500 backpacks with supplies for students heading back to school. Kits were packed and distributed with the help of New York Cares, the city’s leading nonprofit connecting tens of thousands of volunteers to local opportunities that provide essential support to New Yorkers.
Since 1987, New York Cares has offered community-driven service programs addressing city-wide inequities, including education, hunger and social isolation, as well as ensuring the revitalization and preservation of local schools, parks, gardens and community spaces. PayPal is supporting New York Cares’ fifth annual Stand with Students Campaign, an initiative supporting New York City public school students and schools during the 2024-2025 academic year.
Providing critical resources for members of the Omaha community
In Omaha, Nebraska, nearly 800 PayPal employees worked together over three days to pack more than 3,000 kits for nonprofit partners at Foodbank for the Heartland and Partnership for Hope. Both organizations provide food and other critical resources for local families in need.
As PayPal continues to advance its mission, vision and values, the company’s employees and global teams remain steadfast in their commitment to empower the customers they serve and to make a positive difference in the communities where they live. PayPal Impact Day was not just a one-day event, it was the continuation of the company’s ongoing commitment to drive impact, one community at a time. By investing in small businesses and supporting nonprofit organizations, PayPal is helping to build stronger, more resilient communities — and in doing so, creating a meaningful and lasting impact.