SAIC launches charitable foundation to help employees cope with COVID-19

In today’s trying times, giving back to our communities is crucial, especially for Fortune 500 companies who set the tone for the broader industry. Back in September, we wrote about Science Applications International Corp (SAIC) after the Virginia-based tech company and its employees raised nearly $3.5 million in aid to help communities and colleagues affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Now, the company is doubling down its effort to assist more people facing financial difficulties. Today, SAIC announced the establishment of the SAIC Charitable Foundation, an IRS §501(c)(3) organization to assist employees and their dependents by providing emergency funds to assist them when financial hardships arise.

The new foundation will accept donations from SAIC, its board of directors, shareholders, employees, retirees, the public, and other company stakeholders worldwide, in order to provide a safety net for SAIC employees. Its immediate focus will be to ensure employees and their families are able to weather complications related to the COVID-19 pandemic or other disaster-related emergencies.

“The SAIC Charitable Foundation represents the next step in our company’s ongoing actions to provide for our colleagues during this unprecedented and challenging time,” said Amy Rall, senior vice president of SAIC’s Homeland and Justice Business Unit and president of the SAIC Charitable Foundation. “We are committed to our employees, which include a focus on their health and safety so that we can continue to effectively serve our government customers and our nation.”

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, SAIC and its employees have supported local food banks, donated paid leave hours, and created and provided personal protective equipment to first responders. This is all in addition to its support for a diverse array of charities and philanthropic organizations serving missions that are core to SAIC’s culture of giving, including Feeding America, Share Our Strength/No Kid Hungry, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and Building Homes for Heroes.

SAIC also aligned with the Commonwealth of Virginia as a founding partner on the Virginia Ready Initiative (VA Ready), a newly established nonprofit organization formed in response to the economic hardships created by COVID-19, to help ambitious, out-of-work Virginians gain new skills for in-demand jobs in high-growth sectors. With a focus on minority communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, VA Ready is committed to retraining and equipping through various cohort programs in 23 community colleges starting in August.

“I could not be more proud of SAIC’s employees who have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by banding together to provide our colleagues and our communities support to get through this unprecedented and challenging time,” said SAIC CEO Nazzic Keene. “Not only are we helping our people and communities in need, but we are also ensuring our ability to continue to serve our customers and their critical missions.”

Founded in 1969, the Reston, Virginia-based SAIC is a premier Fortune 500 technology integrator driving our nation’s digital transformation with annual revenues of approximately $7.1 billion. SAIC provides scientific, engineering, and systems integration and technical services and solutions.