During this holiday season we’re grateful for all the Williams employees who give back to their communities. It’s part of our corporate DNA. You’ll find our folks engaged locally as volunteer firefighters, Little League coaches and nonprofit organization board members.

We’re also grateful for those many organizations that serve the communities we call home. Today Williams employees encourage their friends and family members to also support their communities with contributions to local nonprofits on #GivingTuesday.

We support our employees through our matching gift program and double their qualifying contributions to nonprofits up to $10,000 per year, per employee. In 2016, Williams and its employees gave more than $2 million back to their communities.

There are many great local organizations to support. In our Houston office, Genesys Works matches firms with disadvantaged high school students to serve as interns with real-world workplace responsibilities. Students who work for Williams grow self-confidence while developing personal communication and decision making skills. For many, this has opened their horizons to obtain a college education.

Richard de La Haya, lead designer in Williams Engineering Services, is a mentor to student interns from Houston’s innovative Genesis Works program. Here he poses with Williams intern Juan Benitez.

In Pittsburgh, Williams partners with the Carnegie Science Center to provide STEM opportunities to the next generation of engineers, doctors, astronauts and scientists. Each fall, Williams sponsors Girls Rock Science, a weekend that provides hands-on Science Technology Engineering and Math activities to acquaint girls with a wide range of STEM careers and to get excited about science and technology.

No matter where you live, local charities and nonprofits are meeting community needs. Please remember they need our contributions to fulfill their missions and #GivingTuesday is a great time to make a donation.