Google raises $4M for immigrants, half of it from CEO Sundar Pichai
US President Donald J Trump's government has been receiving flak for the ban on immigrants from seven Muslim countries. Individuals and corporations from different parts of the world have expressed that they are against this move.
Indian-born Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Google, has raised $4 million, to be donated to the affected refugees all over the world. Google employees together contributed $2 million, and the remaining amount came out of Pichai's own pocket. The donation is being split into equal parts and sent to four different organisations — The American Civil Liberties Union, The Immigrant Legal Resource Center, The International Rescue Committee, and the UNHCR.
This amount of $4 million is reportedly the largest humanitarian fund ever raised by the company over the years. Google's move is admirable, especially considering the fact that less than 200 employees were directly affected by this ban. Having expressed his disagreement with the president's decision, Pichai ensured the launch of this fund after announcing it in an internal staff memo. Pichai, himself an immigrant from India, addressed the employees of the company along with one of the founders, Sergey Brin, who is also an immigrant, with emotional testimonials.
According to Forbes, the CEO of Google said, "This is something, there are some values, which are really near and dear to your heart. It’s foundational and it’s something you should never compromise on. The thing we’ve been debating for the past three days is one of them." Apart from that, several Google employees from eight of its campuses and the parent company Alphabet Inc organised a protest, expressing their concerns about the move.
With all the turmoil all over the issue, this compassionate move by Sundar Pichai is receiving plenty of praise and admiration.
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