Support NeoGAF

[GamerEDM]

EA donates $1 million to various organizations against racial discrimination

EA is taking steps to fighting racial justice by donating $1 million USD to to various organizations while introducing company initiatives.

mobilesyrup.com

EA donates $1 million USD to various organizations against racial discrimination
The company is also introducing internal initiatives amid the Black Lives Matter protests

EA is taking steps to fight racial injustice in the U.S. and around the world.

EA CEO Andrew Wilson announced in a statement that the company is donating $1 million USD (about $1.3 million CAD) to various social justice organizations. The donations are going toward the Equal Justice Initiative and the NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, along with others to be announced.

In addition, any employee who donates to these organizations and any local charities, EA will double-match the amount. The campaign is for the whole month of June.

Square Enix made the same moves recently. The company known for the Final Fantasy series is donating $250,000 USD (about $337,282 CAD) to Black Lives Matter organizations.

Internally, EA’s support doesn’t end there, as the company is launching a set of volunteering employee initiatives.

The initiative will pay each employee a full day of volunteer work. EA adds the total work will accumulate to 75,000 hours for employees worldwide.

The volunteer work will adhere to COVID-19 social distancing guidelines, but employees will do the work from the safety of their homes.

Finally, EA will host two events.

The first one the company is hosting is the ‘Community Conversation’ event on June 9th, which will bring attention to thoughts and questions on racial bias and discrimination.

The other one on June 19th is a company-wide event with employees volunteering and participating in the forums. The Black Electronic Arts Team ERG will host the forum event.

Recently, EA has reacted to the Black Lives Matter U.S. protest by delaying Madden NFL 21‘s reveal.

Image credit: Electronic Arts

Source: EA Via: GameSpot

 

[Danny Dudekisser]

None of it will go to rebuilding black-owned businesses that were destroyed in the riots, naturally. That was a just cause.

 

[-YFC-]

It's a nice gesture but they're still a shit company in my eyes.

 

[Orta]

Fuck EA.

 

[McCheese]

the company is donating $1 million USD (about $1.3 million CAD) to various social justice organizations

Resetera doesn't need that ad revenue anymore then, nice.

 

[Guilty_AI]

Or maybe they could donate this money to business like this that got destroyed by all the rioting.

 

[hyperbertha]

They must love this free PR cow.

 

[#Phonepunk#]

Internally, EA’s support doesn’t end there, as the company is launching a set of volunteering employee initiatives.

The initiative will pay each employee a full day of volunteer work. EA adds the total work will accumulate to 75,000 hours for employees worldwide.

The volunteer work will adhere to COVID-19 social distancing guidelines, but employees will do the work from the safety of their homes.

LOL volunteer work "from the safety of their homes"? like what? are they going to pay people to post social justice stuff on the internet?

or is this for cranking out EA-branded half promotional marketing tools half brand awareness? curious as to the nature of this "volunteer work"

 

[Slings and Arrows]

Wtf I love EA now

 

[Starfield]

EA you changed my minds, this is it. You're the #1 again. I love Electronic Arts Inc.

 

[Fbh]

They must love this free PR cow.

Yep. Cheeper than an ad campaign too.

But hey, between paying a million in regular advertising that's just going to go to giant corporations or paying a million for this type of marketing that might at least in some way help regular people, I guess it's still the better option.

 

[Relativ9]

Companies...just stay quiet, don't post about your support, don't update social media with black images, don't hashtag. It doesn't actually do anything, you look opportunist at best, and explorative at worst. No one is expecting you to drive social change EA, but if you want to do it, do it quietly...this isnt about you, this isn't a PR opportunity.

For that matter same goes for anyone on social media posting this bullshit. If you wanted to stay quiet on Tuesday than stay fucking quiet, don't talk about how you're doing it...we're not impressed by your wokeness.

 

[MP!]

I don't quite understand how giving money to people will make other people less racist.

 

[MiguelItUp]

Well, donating to any affiliated organization is better than fill the blank in with your company's name. So while I don't personally care for EA, I can say I respect that.

 

[BacklashWave534]

Donations don't do a damn thing and these companies know it. Heck, half of them use oversees slave labor to create their products. You can't combat racism, and trying to just generates more hatred. The only thing the stops the hatred that fuels racism are acts of kindness. Discussion, and reaching a hand across the isle are the only way to effectively end the problem. Unfortunately there are those such as our news media who don't want to see that happen.

 

[Handy Fake]

It's a nice gesture but they're still a shit company in my eyes.

 

[Falcs]

How about the media reports on their evil, predatory practices aimed at children as well?

 

[zeorhymer]

Hmm...75,000 hours is about 9,375 employees. Oh look at that. The number of employees that EA has worldwide is 9300 in 2018. That doesn't look strange at all.

 

[Hostile_18]

I think we can be too pessimistic sometimes. No company is perfect, but this is a great move.