DaVita Inc., a leading provider of kidney care services in the U.S. demonstrates its commitment to supporting healthy communities via its annual giving program, DaVita Way of Giving (DWOG).

DWOG places a portion of the company’s charitable giving in the hands of its employees, also known as teammates. Since the program’s inception in 2011, teammates have directed more than $15 million to charities in their communities.

“DaVita Way of Giving is one of many programs dedicated to spreading ripples of citizen leadership,” says Derek Schoonover, Giving Council chair. “It allows us to highlight the great work many of our teammates are already doing while supporting programs dedicated to creating positive, sustainable change in our communities.”

New to the program this year, DWOG highlighted three national organizations that support causes aligned with DaVita’s giving strategy including health equity, education and civic engagement.

Nearly 2,000 DaVita centers had the opportunity to direct the company’s charitable giving to a local nonprofit or one of three national causes:

• The Arbor Day Foundation–To celebrate its 20^th anniversary, DaVita has committed to planting 20,000 trees. In addition, for every $1,000 contributed by DaVita centers to restoring U.S. forests, 1,000 trees will be planted to recover from recent wildfires, hurricanes and infestations.
• The American Diabetes Association (ADA)–Every $1,000 contributed to ADA’s Health Equity Now Initiative provides 500 adults with Type 2 diabetes, guidance on emotional well-being, healthy eating, getting active and more through informational digital e-booklets and a monthly e-newsletter.
• Reach Out and Read– Every $1,000 donated provides 10 children with five years of evidence-based, literacy intervention. During 14 well-child visits, children receive books while parents receive tools they need to be their child’s best teacher.

In addition to the company’s charitable giving, DaVita has matched personal donations made by teammates to the three causes listed above.

Centers could also donate $1,000 to a local charity of their choice in lieu of one of the national organizations. In past years, this has included children's organizations, crisis centers, animal shelters, food banks and many more.

“At DaVita, we model our behaviors after the saying, ‘One for All’,” says Schoonover. “And, that stems from our belief that our behaviors drive our actions. By creating a thriving community for our teammates, it is our hope that they in turn, create a special place for their community.”

For more information about DaVita's community engagement efforts, please visit DaVita.com/CSR.