The Timberland Company will kick off its 7th Annual Global Serv-a-palooza, a worldwide community service initiative that impacts neighborhoods from Boston to Brazil. This unique day of service unites Timberland employees, business partners and consumers around the concept of collaboration and strengthening the local community through service. The combined projects will generate more than 30,000 hours of service in just one day, benefiting more than 45 communities worldwide.

“Serv-a-palooza gives Timberland employees and business partners all over the world the chance to actively participate in their local communities,” says Jeffrey Swartz, President and CEO of The Timberland Company. There is incredible power when individuals come together with one common goal 'to make it better' and create positive, sustainable impact through service. When you layer in businesses and community organizations who share this passion, the vision for what we can achieve is limitless.”

This year's Serv-a-palooza will benefit schools, parks, camps, community centers and social service organizations that currently lack the human resources, capital or skills needed to complete these projects. These community projects impact a wide variety of causes including education, youth recreation, senior citizens, the physically challenged, family services and the environment.

Service events will take place in 24 countries, including Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Egypt, England, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Spain, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United States and Vietnam.

Service projects include:

  • Clearing trails for hiking and biking as part of the nationally-recognized U.S. “Rail Trail” initiative in Salisbury, MA.
  • Building handicapped-accessible paths and ramps at community playgrounds in Durham, NH.
  • Restoring a 530-acre nature preserve in England to allow the wildlife, including many rare birds, deer and butterflies to survive in a natural habitat.
  • Transforming an island off the coast of Singapore into a nature park complete with trails, shelters and camping sites.
  • Building a community cinema and youth recreation area in Belgium.
  • Painting, cleaning and repairing buildings for the “The Village of Hope,” an income-generating initiative for a community in South Africa.

While Serv-a-palooza is the most visible community service event Timberland organizes, the company has numerous programs in place to inspire consumers, employees, business partners and community groups into service and volunteerism.

The philosophy of the company, and the goal of its service initiatives, is to make a positive and lasting change that embraces consumers, enriches communities, and engages the company globally in an effort to make the world better. Timberland offers consumers the opportunity to participate in local service projects throughout the year through www.timberlandserve.com. The Web site features a database of nearly 30,000 nationwide volunteer opportunities and allows consumers to search by location and organization, enabling them to serve in the neighborhood or industry of their choice.