From Pearl River Day to the Little League fields, DataBank’s local involvement reflects a commitment to putting people first.

Being part of a community means more than operating a facility there. It means getting to know the people who live nearby, understanding what matters to them, and finding meaningful ways to contribute.

For DataBank, a recent opportunity to put that commitment into practice was Pearl River Day, where employees from our nearby LGA3 data center joined residents and local businesses for a day of conversation and community celebration.

Showing Up at Pearl River Day

Each fall, Pearl River Day brings approximately 25,000 people to Central Avenue to celebrate the businesses, organizations, and traditions that make the area special. With more than 200 businesses and vendors, food trucks, and live music, the festival gives neighbors a chance to connect — and businesses like DataBank a chance to introduce the people behind their local operations.

DataBank has been a premier sponsor of the festival for several years. This year, employees from our data center operations, construction, and sales teams also staffed a booth, spending the day meeting residents and introducing the people behind our local operations.

Despite cold, blustery weather, the team welcomed hundreds of visitors, answered questions, and handed out DataBank blankets, stadium cushions, and warm jackets that were particularly appreciated as temperatures dropped.

Alongside those giveaways, our employees distributed more than 150 copies of The Truth About Data Centers, providing a resource to help residents better understand these facilities, their role in everyday life, and important context needed in the public dialogue. Just as importantly, the booth created space for face-to-face conversations. Visitors could ask questions about DataBank and our local presence, while our employees had an opportunity to listen, learn, and get to know the people who live and work around LGA3.

That personal interaction matters, especially when development brings questions or concerns. A community festival offers something a website or project announcement cannot: an informal conversation with the people who work at a facility. Building trust takes time, and showing up is an important part of that work.

A Partnership Built Next Door

DataBank’s community connections also extend to the baseball fields neighboring our Orangeburg property. When work on the facility initially prompted concerns among local residents, conversations with Pearl River Little League representatives helped establish a relationship with an organization that has long been important to area families. Meeting league representatives during construction gave our team an opportunity to understand their needs and identify practical ways to help.

DataBank invested nearly $20,000 to help improve the dugout sheds and provide field lighting, contributing to facilities used by young athletes throughout the season. Our involvement has continued through approximately $5,000 in annual support for general sponsorship and student-athlete scholarships, helping sustain the partnership beyond that initial investment.

The relationship also includes a creative connection between the data center and the diamond: the “DataBank Dinger.” A poster on the facility gives players a home-run target, with qualifying home runs generating DataBank contributions toward scholarships. It adds excitement to the game while supporting opportunities for young people—a way to make the partnership both meaningful and memorable.

A Personal Connection to the Fields

For Ryan Buchan, a Junior Critical Infrastructure Engineer at LGA3, supporting Pearl River Little League is more than a workplace initiative. Ryan grew up in Orangeburg and played on these same fields. His father was also a dedicated league supporter and a member of its board, making the organization an important part of his family’s life. Today, Ryan works for a company helping care for the place where he once played.

“One of DataBank’s core values is ‘putting people first,’” Ryan says. “We want to be a positive influence on the community.”

For Ryan, that means supporting the people who live near the facility and contributing to the organizations that matter to them. Seeing DataBank help improve the fields where he played carries personal significance and connects his work today with his own childhood experiences. His story is also a reminder that the people working inside a data center can have deep roots in the surrounding area, with family histories and personal ties to the programs DataBank supports.

Continuing to Build Community Relationships

Pearl River Day and the Little League partnership put the same commitment into practice in different ways. One creates opportunities to meet residents, answer questions, and make our team accessible. The other supports an organization that brings families together and helps young athletes build confidence, learn teamwork, and make lasting memories. Both reflect the importance of listening and following through.

Whether we’re supporting Pearl River Little League, assembling care packages through our Kindness Kits initiative, or helping students explore careers through our Culpeper trade school partnership, our commitment is the same: To contribute in meaningful ways to the communities where we operate. Explore more of our community partnerships.

As DataBank continues its work in Orangeburg, we’ll keep looking for meaningful ways to support the people and programs that help the local community thrive.