Grantmakers in the News

February 1, 2004

Xerox Revives Social Service Leave Program

Xerox Corp recently announced the return of its sabbatical program that allows selected employees to take paid time off to volunteer at nonprofits. The program was cut three years ago to reduce costs and to keep employees on staff to work its turnaround plan. With many of its objectives achieved, the Social Service Leave Program will get a fresh start this year with nine participants, including three from the Rochester area.

One of the participants, e-marketing manager Leslie Levy from Brighton, NY will work on disaster response plans for her local American Red Cross chapter.

Becky McCorry, directory of emergency services for the greater Rochester chapter of the American Red Cross remarks, "It's an incredible donation that Xerox makes, and we are fortunate that they reinstituted it and fortunate that someone like (Levy) is taking advantage of it."

Started in 1971, the program has granted more than 450 employees paid time off for periods of three to twelve months.

Davia, Joy. "Stabilized Xerox Restores Sabbaticals." Democrat and Chronicle, 1/22/04.