Giving back: Elasticians choose causes they care about

With Giving Tuesday fast approaching and giving season in full swing, we caught up with Elasticians around the world to find out what causes they’re most passionate about. 

Fundamental beliefs

Carolyn Herzog, chief legal officer, gives year round to a variety of organizations. She sees donations of time and money as a civic responsibility — this was instilled in her as a child. She fundamentally believes in civil rights and human rights and making a positive impact on others. 

“A lot of civic activity is about learning from others and then learning what you can do to help rather than starting with what you can do to help,” she says. “Don’t be afraid to walk in someone’s shoes or say you don’t know something. It’s made me a better listener.”

She supports a variety of causes and gets her children involved, too. For their family, giving is part of the budget and having an impact is important.

“As I've grown up in my career and had kids and seen how the world evolves and devolves, certain issues are really important to me,” Carolyn says. 

Carolyn recently joined the board of directors for the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley, an organization that works to improve the lives and futures of Latinos in the region.

“It was an honor to be asked,” she says. “The Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley does grassroots work in the community. I will always do civil rights work.” 

Others causes close to her heart are women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and mental health awareness. 

She works with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) — an organization that provides mental health services and counseling — to destigmatize mental illness and invest in research funds. Carolyn sought out the organization for her and her family after the loss of her sister. 

“We needed ways in our family to connect and cope,” she says. “It was a traumatic and devastating event and NAMI has different ways to help.”

Carolyn funds NAMIWalks in her community, bringing people together to share their stories and walk together. 

She has instilled this intentional giving into her two children as well. 

“We dedicate the eight days of Hanukkah to eight different charities,” she says. “Everyone presents why they want to give to them and what’s important to them.”

Community focus

Eámonn O’Leary, senior site reliability engineer, donates his time and money to a local residents group and a no-kill animal sanctuary.

His local community, Killen, is in a rural area in Northern Ireland, so the residents group puts on events, advocates for the town, and helps locals. For example, the town previously had subpar mobile phone signal and potholes on main roads preventing people from reaching the hospital. The group works with the local government to rectify those issues and support all community members — both young and old.

Eámonn volunteers his time but also regularly donates to the group, especially around Giving Tuesday when Elastic matches donations 2:1. The group relies on donations and the odd grant, Eámonn says. The donation-matching makes a huge difference.

“It’s a huge bump for the organization, and it’s not breaking my bank,” he says. 

Donation funding is used so that the group can put on free family activities like summer barbeques and holiday events. Last year during Christmas time, the Killen residents group hired a Santa with elves and a sled and visited local kids, allowing them to choose a gift and a book.

“It was totally free of charge, and it ensures everyone is treated the same way,” Eámonn says.

Elastic cares

Elastic empowers its Elasticians to support the causes that matter to them and their communities. In 2023, Elastic and Elasicians invested over $1.3 million in 1,300 causes around the world. 

This was made possible through the Elastic Cares donation matching program, which matches employees’ donations to the causes they feel passionate about. It’s a benefit that Elastic is proud to offer its employees — each fiscal year, every Elastician has access to US$2,000 or the local equivalent in charitable matching. 

Local offices also organize volunteer events and giving opportunities throughout the season. Shandy Yap, workplace coordinator in Elastic’s Singapore office, plans volunteer events for the office with local nonprofits. 

“Last year, we did a gift of joy where we invited Elasticians to adopt wishes for others,” Shandy says. “All the wishes are adopted really quickly — people want more.”

Earlier this year, Shandy organized the #LoveOurSeniors initiative in partnership with CapitaLand Hope Foundation. As part of this effort, Elasticians visited seniors across Singapore to deliver loaves of bread and check on their well-being.

This holiday season, Shandy is planning a handicraft workshop with Brighton Connection where participants will craft a bear as a heartfelt gift for loved ones. These events are a platform to create awareness about giving back, Shandy says.

“Everyone wants to do it. This is just a way to remind people who are busy,” she says. “Having the opportunity to double the giving makes it even more meaningful.”

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