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 Samsung's electronics products can make sports greats like Magic Johnson, Arnold Palmer, Joe Torre, and Boomer Esiason seem larger than life. But it's the company's "Four Seasons of Hope" signature program that allows these sports legends and their fans to multiply the impact they have on the lives of children facing major challenges.
The program, which was launched in 2002, has raised $7.5 million for charities endorsed by the athletes themselves — the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children & Women, the Boomer Esiason Foundation, the Joe Torre Family Foundation, and the Magic Johnson Foundation.
Four Seasons of Hope combines the forces of major national retailers with sports, music and civic personalities, to benefit children, families and communities in need. At the core of the program is collaboration built around a network of retailers like Best Buy, Sears, and several others. The diversity of athletes, retailers, and consumer interests allows for many different approaches to raising money for charity.
One successful approach this year involved retailer Best Buy, the Magic Johnson Foundation, and the popular NASCAR. The purchase of Samsung consumer electronics (television, audio and video), home appliances (refrigerators and microwaves), and information technology products (monitors and printers) resulted in donations to the charity.
"Magic Johnson and his foundation, coupled with support from retail partner Best Buy, are exceptional alliances who share our common goal to motivate, encourage and offer children the support they need for a bigger and brighter future," said J.S. Park, president of Samsung Electronics America's consumer electronics division.
As Samsung says, "Four Seasons of Hope is about kids. It's about using the power of our brand to give something back to the communities we serve."
The program reflects the philosophy of Samsung's overall social responsibility, which they refer to as "happy together," to reflect a commitment to contributing to creating a world where people can prosper together. "Happy together" embraces three ideals: hope for children and youth, harmony among the company's partners and communities, and humanity as the ultimate goal of its community services.
The impact of signature programs is measured in many ways, from anecdotal evidence to direct feedback from beneficiaries. One poignant example is this letter from the recipient of a scholarship from the Magic Johnson Foundation:
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