DataBank Cares: 2025 Year in Review

At DataBank, we believe that being a good neighbor means more than just operating reliable infrastructure. It means showing up for the communities where our teams live and work, supporting the people who need it most, and creating a culture where giving back is woven into everything we do.

2025 was a remarkable year for DataBank Cares, our company-wide initiative that empowers employees to lead community engagement efforts through volunteer time, organized campaigns, and direct support. From coast to coast, DataBank teams demonstrated what’s possible when technology companies commit to making a tangible difference beyond the data center walls.

The numbers tell an impressive story: 857 hours of Volunteer Time Off (VTO) contributed across dozens of initiatives, thousands of pounds of food and supplies donated, hundreds of letters written to troops overseas, and a groundbreaking employee hardship fund that raised over $40,000.

Yet, behind every statistic are the people who made it happen: employees who chose to give their time, energy, and resources to support their neighbors.

Here’s how DataBank teams showed up in 2025.

Environmental Stewardship: Earth Day and Beyond

We kicked off the year in April with Earth Day initiatives that demonstrated our commitment to environmental responsibility in the communities we serve. Teams across our network organized cleanup events and donation drives that made immediate, visible impact.

In Denver, our metro team joined forces with 250 volunteers in partnership with Protect Our Rivers, removing nearly 5,000 pounds of trash from local waterways. The effort represented hours of hands-on environmental work that directly improved the natural spaces on which our community depends.

Meanwhile, at our Salt Lake City campus, the team organized a comprehensive donation drive for the SLC Rescue Women’s Shelter, collecting 24 bags and 7 boxes of clothing and feminine products, along with $400 in cleaning supplies. The initiative addressed immediate needs while demonstrating how data center teams can mobilize resources to support vulnerable populations.

Kindness in Action: Supporting Women Experiencing Homelessness

In May, 143 DataBankers came together—virtually and in person—for one of our most ambitious initiatives of the year. Led by our Women of DataBank employee resource group, teams assembled over 650 Kindness Kits for women and people experiencing homelessness across Denver, Houston, Dallas, and Salt Lake City.

These weren’t just supply kits. They were carefully curated packages of essential items that provide dignity and support during difficult circumstances. The campaign brought together employees from multiple locations who shared a commitment to addressing homelessness with compassion and practical assistance.

The initiative reflected DataBank’s belief that employee resource groups aren’t just internal networks. They’re engines for community impact. When employees lead efforts they’re passionate about, the results are more authentic, more meaningful, and ultimately more effective.

Fighting Food Insecurity Across Four Markets

From August through September, DataBank launched a company-wide food drive that mobilized teams across our 65+ data center locations. The results exceeded our own expectations:

• Denver led the charge again, donating 1,806 pounds of food to the Food Bank of the Rockies. That’s enough to provide 1,500 meals for families facing food insecurity across the Rocky Mountain region.
• Salt Lake City collected 554 pounds of food and raised $300 for Tabitha’s Way, a Utah organization serving families in need. The team went further by contributing 43 bags of clothes and six boxes of additional items to Tabitha’s Way, plus approximately 25-30 handmade fleece blankets and clothing for Primary Children’s Hospital, bringing comfort to young patients during difficult times.
• Houston gathered 286 pounds of food for the Houston Food Bank, carefully assembling donations that included over 130 cans of soup and chili, more than 100 cans of vegetables, 70-plus boxes and bags of pasta and rice, dried fruit, juices, and 12 bottles of prenatal vitamins, essential nutrition for expectant mothers.
• Dallas-Fort Worth contributed 174 pounds of food to the North Texas Food Bank, translating into 145 meals for families in need. The team extended its giving through a month-long Season of Giving initiative that included toy drives benefiting Toys for Tots.
• Orangeburg, New York delivered a diverse collection of food items to the Church of the Ascension in New Milford, New Jersey, partnering with local faith organizations to maximize community impact.

Combined, these efforts delivered nearly 3,000 pounds of food and essential supplies to communities across the country. You can read more about DataBank’s food drive success here.

Honoring Those Who Serve

In one of our most personally meaningful initiatives, DataBank teams across eight data centers wrote more than 500 letters of gratitude to U.S. military service members serving at home and abroad. Teams in Atlanta, Denver, Dallas-Fort Worth, Newark, Houston, New York, Orangeburg, and Salt Lake City participated, with 78 DataBankers from 10 data centers contributing letters sent through “A Million Thanks.”

Research consistently shows that letters from home significantly boost morale and mental wellbeing for deployed troops. These personal connections remind service members that their sacrifices are recognized and valued by the communities they protect.

The campaign also highlighted individual dedication, like Senior Security Architect Stephen Maiorca, who has been handcrafting wooden pens for deployed service members since 2017. Each pen requires about two hours of work, and Maiorca donates them to “For The Troops,” a Simi Valley organization that creates care packages. His ongoing commitment, inspired by veterans in his own family, exemplifies the personal passion many DataBank employees bring to community service.

Investing in Education and Future Opportunities

DataBank’s partnership with Red Oak Public Library in Texas brought hands-on technology directly into students’ hands. Through DataBank’s sponsorship, the library purchased five 3D printers that students can check out and use at home.

During the launch event for the library’s STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) class, students gathered to watch the technology in action, selecting from pre-loaded designs and learning how these machines transform digital files into physical objects. Each student left with a 3D-printed holiday figurine he or she painted and personalized. Yet, more importantly, students left with deeper understanding of modern manufacturing technology and the creative possibilities it opens up.

The take-home aspect makes this program is particularly impactful. By allowing families to check out the printer kits, the library removes barriers to technology access and gives students the chance to experiment at their own pace. When you’re building significant infrastructure like our Red Oak campus—a 292-acre development that will deliver eight data centers and 3.4 million square feet of AI-ready infrastructure— being a good neighbor means investing in the young people who represent the future workforce.

Holiday Season Giving

DataBank teams closed out the year with widespread holiday initiatives. Across eight data centers, employees donated over 500 toys and $200 to the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots drive, spreading holiday joy to children in need.

Throughout the year, DataBankers also participated in the #DataCentersSleevesUp2025 virtual blood drive and helped build homes for the Sleep in Heavenly Peace Foundation, demonstrating the breadth of causes our teams support.

Supporting Each Other: The DataBank Cares Fund

Perhaps, the most significant development in 2025 was the launch of the DataBank Cares Fund, created to help employees facing unforeseen disasters or personal hardships. The fund relies on support from DataBank Holdings Ltd. and individual donations from employees, partners, and the general public.

Launched in November 2025, the employee giving campaign exceeded all expectations. DataBank employees gave anonymously and surpassed the company’s internal goal, raising nearly $23,000. DataBank matched these donations, creating a fund of over $40,000 to assist any DataBank employee in need.

This initiative reflects a fundamental truth: When we take care of each other, we build stronger teams and stronger communities. Every donation contributes to a safety net that provides grants when they’re needed most.

A Culture of Giving Back

The success of DataBank Cares in 2025 demonstrates what happens when employees lead initiatives about which they’re passionate. From employee resource groups organizing Kindness Kits to individuals handcrafting gifts for troops, these efforts reflect genuine commitment rather than corporate obligation.

Operating critical infrastructure comes with responsibility to support the communities where we’re located. DataBank teams find meaningful ways to give back year-round—from food banks and schools to children’s hospitals and our own employee support systems.

We’re proud of what our teams accomplished in 2025 and grateful to the organizations serving people in need. As we look toward 2026, we remain committed to being the neighbors our communities deserve—present, engaged, and ready to help when it matters most.

Together, we’re building stronger communities, one act of service at a time.

Want to see more stories about DataBank’s community involvement and industry leadership? Check out DataBank Digest for more insights on data center industry trends and infrastructure strategy.