GE Appliances, a Haier company, (GEA) launched a yearlong volunteer commitment with hundreds of employees completing 11 projects in Louisville, and other plant communities, activities in 17 states, and coordinated efforts in India and South Korea. The projects help support public schools, nonprofits, and neighborhoods across the country and around the world.
Called ‘The Blue Wave’ initiative, GE Appliances employees have committed to completing 20,000 hours of volunteering over the next calendar year in the neighborhoods where they live and work on activities that help strengthen the communities and advance equity and inclusion.
Addressing racial equity
GE Appliances launched The Blue Wave in 2021 to support the Louisville community, the home of its corporate headquarters and largest manufacturing facilities, during a time when the city was tackling the COVID-19 pandemic and addressing racial equity.
GE Appliances launched The Blue Wave in 2021 to support the Louisville community
This year, there are multiple projects in Louisville, but now activities span the commonwealth of Kentucky with projects to support those affected by recent flooding in Eastern Kentucky and tornadoes in Western Kentucky. The company’s sales and support staff located across the United States have also planned projects in their communities that help feed families affected by food insecurity and/or support those affected by domestic violence. And The Blue Wave is now global with GEA employees in India and Korea supporting education initiatives and projects to support homeless children and aging adults.
More resilient communities
“We invent, design, and build the world’s best appliances, and we believe in building stronger communities,” said Kevin Nolan, President & CEO of GE Appliances.
“It’s who we are as a company and it’s what we call the GEA Way. We come together to make good things for life, to create possibilities, and to always find a better way. These are the commitments we make within the walls of GEA and to the communities we serve. The Blue Wave is our commitment to helping build stronger, more equitable, and more resilient communities across the country and around the world.”
Volunteer service projects
Nearly 500 GE Appliances’ employees came together this morning to kick off The Blue Wave in Louisville by completing volunteer service projects across the city. Today’s projects included:
- Doss High School- campus and football field landscaping and teacher’s lounge renovations; 7601 Saint Andrews Church Rd, Louisville, KY 40214.
- Trunnel Elementary School- Reading with students; 7609 Saint Andrews Church Rd, Louisville, KY 40214.
- Harbor House- Outdoor maintenance of respite homes (weeding and fence repair); 1832 Lower Hunters Trace, Louisville, KY 40216.
- South Louisville Community Ministries- Community pantry re-build and organization; 415 W Ashland Ave, Louisville, KY 40214.
- Dare to Care Community Kitchen- Prepping food for community meals; 1200 S 28th St, Louisville, KY 40211.
- Moore Middle and High Schools- Landscaping and teacher’s lounge renovations; 6415 Outer Loop, Louisville, KY 40228.
- Smyrna Elementary School- Reading with students; 6401 Outer Loop, Louisville, KY 40228.
- Brooklawn- Landscaping and cottage renovations; 3121 Brooklawn Campus Dr, Louisville, KY 40218.
- VOA Shelby Men’s Campus- Replace the kitchen floor; 1436 S Shelby Street, Louisville, KY 40217.
- Portland Brightside- Brightsite clean-up; 324 N 22nd St, Louisville, KY 40212.
- Hurstbourne Brightside- Brightsite clean-up; 2801 Hurstbourne Pkwy, Louisville, KY 40220.
Global warming potential refrigerants
Additional service projects are scheduled for later this month, including a Fall Festival for residents of Cedar Lake Lodge in LaGrange, Ky., winter clothing collections for families impacted by natural disasters in western and eastern Kentucky communities, a book drive for Letcher County Public Libraries and Bikes or Bust, a partnership with GEA IUE-CWA.
GE Appliances is a member of the UN Global Compact and recently released its GEA Way Forward Corporate Citizenship goals, which will drive the company’s future work.
Those goals include:
- Create 10,000 U.S. jobs by 2027.
- Reach 40% women and 40% people of color by 2025.
- Use 15% less energy to make each product at all U.S. plants by 2026.
- Transition 100% of products produced in North America to lower global warming potential refrigerants and foams by 2025.
- Spend $1 billion cumulatively with diverse suppliers by 2030.