Gap Inc.
October 22, 2007
SAN FRANCISCO –Oct. 22, 2007– Gap Inc. (NYSE: GPS) today awarded a group of nine Gap Inc. Sourcing & Vendor Development employees in Hong Kong a $50,000 grant and 80 hours of paid time off in recognition of their community service as the winners of the third annual Gap Inc. Founders’ Award.
The goal of the Founders’ Award – established in honor of the philanthropic example of Gap Inc.'s founders, Doris and Don Fisher – is to recognize and reward Gap Inc. employees who are making a difference around the world through community service.
The members of the team - Nancy Chan, Angeline Ho, Carina Hui, Patrick Lam, Carmen Ka Man Lau, Ivy Lau, Annie Ma, Andrew Poon and Josephine Wong – all work with Hong Kong-based Summerbridge, a tuition-free nonprofit organization that provides summer and after-school enrichment programs. It aims to help 13-to-15-year-old students strengthen their English language and leadership skills – and build self esteem.
The Founders’ Award will enable the team to develop an e-mentoring program that focuses on the exchange of knowledge, helping the students build their English skills as well as their other academic skills. The team expects to serve approximately 180 students in the first year and would like to expand to 700 students by the third year.
“By building an Internet-based platform where mentors and students can interact without having to physically be at the same place, we’re helping to expand Summerbridge’s program and the amount of students that they can serve” said Gap Inc. Hong Kong team member, Angeline Ho. “Right now, Summerbridge can only accept 100 students at time and they turn away more than 400 applicants each year.”
In addition to a $50,000 grant to the Hong Kong team, the two Founders' Award finalists will receive $25,000 each for their causes, which include a dental clinic for HIV/AIDS patients in Guatemala and a San Francisco-based organization that helps empower girls and young women to become strong and creative leaders in their communities.
“Each year, Doris and I are personally touched by how employees are making a difference in their communities – and this year is no exception,” said Don Fisher, Gap Inc. Founder and Chairman Emeritus. “By creating an online mentoring program, the Hong Kong team is going to transform not only the way that youth receive and learn information, but also the way that people volunteer their time and talent. It’s our hope that this program will be able to be replicated by other Summerbridge branches so thousands of children will be able to participate.”
About Gap Inc.
Gap Inc. is a leading international specialty retailer offering clothing, accessories and personal care products for men, women, children and babies under the Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy and Piperlime brand names. Fiscal 2006 sales were $15.9 billion. Gap Inc. operates more than 3,100 stores in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Ireland and Japan. In addition, Gap Inc. is expanding its international presence with franchise agreements for Gap and Banana Republic in Asia and the Middle East. For more information, please visit gapinc.com.
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