December 4, 2020
Book Donations and Storytelling Provided by Shizuoka Business Center Win Toshiba Group Social Contribution Award
In December 2018, Toshiba Tec Shizuoka Business Center received the 14th Toshiba Group Social
Contribution Award, the Toshiba “ASHITA” Award, for their book donation and storytelling activities for
kindergartens and nursery schools, which they have been engaged in since FY2010.
The Toshiba “ASHITA” Award is judged based on nine criteria such as aim, employee participation, uniqueness,
continuity, effect on society, and collaboration with organizations outside the company, and is awarded every
year in December to activities that excel in these areas during the President’s Awards ceremony at Toshiba
Corporation’s headquarters.
In this article, we will introduce why the Shizuoka Business Center started its volunteer activities, and the
thoughts of the employees involved.
The Toshiba Tec CSR Fund and Shizuoka Business Center’s Book Donations and Volunteer Storytelling
In 1992, Toshiba Tec established the Toshiba Tec CSR Fund by setting aside a small portion of
employees’ salaries and bonuses, with the aim of contributing to society as corporate citizens.
The fund collects monthly contributions from the salaries and bonuses of executives and employees in line
with their applications, and around February 21, our company’s anniversary, we provided grants to
community welfare systems, support to the children who will support the next generation, donations to
environmental conservation grants, and recovery for large disasters.
As part of its efforts, Shizuoka Business Center has been donating books to elementary schools,
kindergartens, and nursery schools in Mishima City and Izunokuni City since 2010, and started volunteer
storytelling activities in 2011.
How the volunteer storytelling activities began
General Affairs
Shizuoka Business Center
Mr. K.T
I wonder if there’s something that we can really put our all into…
The book donation activities started in 2010. Until that point, Shizuoka Business Center had
been donating funds to the Council of Social Welfare for the purchase and installation of equipment at
facilities for the elderly and handicapped. However, there came a point where employees started feeling
that they didn’t know what their contributions were being used for, and whether or not they were truly
appreciated. In light of this, we discussed at the office whether there were activities that could help
raise the children of the next generation who will support the future of Japan, that would be easily
graspable by those within and outside the company, and that would cultivate children’s sense of
aesthetics. We eventually came up with the idea of donating books to elementary schools, kindergartens,
and nursery schools in the local area.
However, some employees wanted to see the children’s happy faces, to do more than just donating things,
and started considering what further activities they could get involved with. These discussions are where
the idea of doing volunteer storytelling first surfaced.
We also gain a lot
Activities kicked off just a year later in 2011. We submit proposals to the city office which
are then accepted by elementary schools, kindergartens, and nursery schools. When we read to the children
for the first time, it seems like it is a totally fresh experience for them. They often come up to us to
thank us when we finish the storytelling session. This is also a wonderfully happy moment for us. While we
are volunteering, we also gain a lot and are able to grow.
Winning the Toshiba “ASHITA” Award this time allowed us to introduce our activities to the whole of
Toshiba Group. We hope that we can keep our dream of supporting children’s futures alive, maintaining the
kindness and passion behind our activities, and spreading them even further.
Comments from the storytelling volunteers!
General Affairs
Shizuoka Business
Center (Ohito)
Ms. A.M
I will continue to put my all into contributing to the healthy development of children in the area!
General Affairs
Shizuoka Business
Center (Mishima)
Ms. A.O
I would like to come up with ways to make these activities accessible to a wider range of people!
Engineering &
Design Division
Printing Solutions Business Group
Mr. Y.K
I would like to continue these activities as long as I am able. I hope we can also increase the number of kindergartens and nurseries where we engage in storytelling.
Engineering &
Design Division
Printing Solutions Business Group
Ms. M.S
I think the most wonderful thing about our storytelling volunteering is that it developed out of our book donation activities.
Engineering &
Design Division
Retail Solutions
Business Group
Mr. J.O
I’d really like to keep doing it. I’d love to do some storytelling at the nursery my own child attends if I can!
Manufacturing Management Division
Production,
Procurement,
and SCM
Center
Ms. H.I
One of the huge benefits of these storytelling volunteer activities is being able to do them during work hours. I’d love to take part again.
General Affairs
Tec Information
Systems Corporation
Ms. N.H
I’d like to participate again if I have the opportunity. If possible, I’d want to read one of my own recommendations next time!
Engineering &
Design Division
TER Corporation
Ms. A.Y
I want to link my volunteer work to my everyday life!
