Community Corner
Discovery Communications Performs Annual Day of Volunteering in Silver Spring
Shepherd's Table and Jesup Blair Park benefit from employees' efforts.
Last year, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the launch of the Discovery Channel, Discovery Communications, Inc. (DCI) created the “Annual Day of Volunteering,” where all 1,100 employees are given the day off to perform volunteering acts in the community. This year, dozens of volunteers worked in Silver Spring, beautifying Jesup Blair Park and helping out at .
Eileen O’Neill, president of Discovery Channel and TLC, who was helping to spread mulch at Jesup Blair Park really enjoys the annual event.
"[I] Love being out of the office, and being able to make a difference in our own community—that’s really cool."
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Approximately 40 employees were weeding, spreading mulch with wheelbarrows and pitchforks and picking up trash.
Concurrently, other DCI employees were painting and helping to prepare meals at Silver Spring’s . George Neighbors, who is a director in DCI’s Talent Relations department, also sits on the board of Shepherd’s Table.
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Being here with Discovery really means a lot and in two ways, said Neighbors. “Not only are we able to help out an organization that is in Discovery’s own backyard, but many of us live in Silver Spring too.”
Shepherd’s Table’s Director Jacki Coyle was thrilled to have Discovery on board. “It’s really exciting to see the relation between Discovery and us grow. There are three Discovery employees who regularly volunteer here, Discovery did a [to support the homeless] for us, and this is just the beginning of a wonderful partnership.”
