The 3rd Award winning activities

Komukai-Toshiba Boys and Girls Inventors' Club is established in 2004 and is the third such club in Kanagawa Prefecture which is sponsored by Toshiba Science Museum. Approximately 140 elementary and juniors and high school students taking part in one of four courses every month. Eleven researchers and other employees provide guidance for club members.

All employees participated in one or more themed activities derived from Toshiba's “Five Pillars of CSR”. 71 of the 134 groups participated in community activities such as clean-ups; collection drives for books, plastic bottle caps and other articles; assisting with Miyuki Operations at local festivals; as well as its environmental courses.

At the Toshiba Mitake Business Forest at Mitake, Ome City, approximately 80 employees planted 1,500 trees. The forest has been featured in newspapers and other media for being the first example of Tokyo's low-pollen forest initiative. The Toshiba Ome Green Supporters, a volunteer group, has committed itself to plant some 12 acres of mountain forest over the next ten years.

For the past 10 years, on the occasion of the Noheji Toshiba Lighting gathering for local electric workers, anti-crime lighting systems have been donated to the local municipality of Noheji, Aomori Prefecture. This year 50,000 yen was donated for children's education in addition to donation of five anti-crime lighting systems, and the lights were installed free of charge.

Since 2004, some 147 children of employees have taken part in a home energy reduction program, with 8 being recognized internationally for their efforts. Five employees who have received recognition as instructors have assisted a total of 888 elementary school students in this area. Schools have also been provided with educational materials. On-site instruction at schools is provided.

As part of an Environment Month tradition that stretches back to 1993, employees and their families devote the morning of a June holiday to cleaning up city streets, train stations, police stations and city hall. This year 150 employees and 50 family members participated in this community-minded initiative, disposing of 198 pounds of trash.

Takakazu Chikusa has hosted events for children with disabilities several times a year for the past 15 years. In April 2005 he started the “Hito” play-and-learn workshop. One Saturday every month, 20 to 50 handicapped children and their families gather at his residence to make miso and mochi (rice-cake). Approximately 50 families currently participate.

Hiroshi Kajiwara has served as executive director for the Yabakei Junior Volunteer Leaders organization since 1993, providing guidance and participating in the group's activities. His contributions also include planning and support for clean ups, fundraisers and exchanges with the disabled. On November 30th, 2006, he received the Cabinet Office's Honorary Minister Award.

Registered as a white blood cell donor with the Kanagawa Prefecture Red Cross Blood Center, Minoru Namekawa donates blood platelets and plasma as needed by patients for operations or medical treatments that require blood within 72 hours. He has donated blood 76 times over the past 22 years, receiving the Silver Award in June 2006.

Shirl Staubach started this project on her own in 1987, recalling that she was “introduced to a family in this area and saw the needs in that community.” Since then, Shirl has coordinated every aspect of this amazing program, from compiling the children's names and wish lists, to making the angel gift tags for the tree, to delivering the wrapped gifts to the recipients. Her dedication has inspired others and provided hope to countless families.

At the Buffalo Grove office, company and employee donations have been used to buy coats, boots, clothing and toys for underprivileged families in Chicago since 2000. A Christmas party was held for 15 underprivileged families with children under 10 years old for the Christmas of 2006. The children sat on Santa's lap, were given presents and enjoyed Christmas dinner.

Dress Down Day is a monthly charitable activity organised by staff, to raise money for staff nominated charities. It has been in existence for over 10 years. Each month, on the last Friday, staff wear casual clothes to work and pay one pound sterling each to participate. Approximately 1,580 pounds sterling was raised this year and donated to a worthy cause ranging from hospitals to schools to hospices to random 'ad hoc' local projects.

Every month since July 2004, employee teams have volunteered their time at a local orphanage, playing with the children and preparing their meals. This year employees also started visiting the elderly. Some 86 employees participated, paying visits twice a month.

The company has been continuously supporting Wat Sra Kaew Temple School for all aspects of education since 1990. Not only the support of material goods and scholarships, employees get themselves involved in activities by spending time with the orphanages because they know that these orphans need love and care. Such activities include serving and having lunch with them, as well as singing and entertaining.

Thai Toshiba Group of companies held a camp at The Siridhorn International Environmental Park. The camp provided knowledge and understanding toward environment & energy, sources of supply, and energy consumption. The program contained Mangrove tree planting activity which students, teachers, parents, leaders from the community and employee volunteers participated in, and planted 1,524 mangrove trees.

Every year employees collect donations on Children's Day to support the local elementary school. This year 146 employees raised 2,122 yuan, which was used to buy fitness equipment.