We also support people with hearing loss for which the barriers to hearing health remain high through charitable foundations. In 2022, the Beltone Foundation donated 694 hearing aids on an individual basis. To support children with hearing loss in a country with very minimal audiology infrastructure, GN employees raised funds to support the Hear to Aid Foundation in Zimbabwe.
Given the gravity of the situation, and as an expression of solidarity with our colleagues locally and people affected by the war, in 2022, GN made a USD 1 million donation to UNICEF, specifically aimed at alleviating the situation for children in Ukraine. Across the globe, GN colleagues engaged in a wide range of local initiatives to support charitable causes close to their hearts. These include financial support for the establishment of a new health care center in the rural village of Tamil Nadu in Southern India and a wide variety of local volunteering initiatives across the world.
GN fundamentally believes that diverse leadership teams and a diverse organization are key to our success as an innovation leader and, thus, we welcome differences broadly. To stay relevant as a business we need access to all employees’ competencies, creativity, engagement, and loyalty. We need the best talents, and we need diverse talents. Therefore, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are a strategic priority for GN.
Creating an equal playing field is a cornerstone to instill fair and just practices and policies that ensure all employees can thrive, be themselves, and exercise their full potential. To become a truly equitable employer, we embed inclusion and diversity in our people processes. As a company, we do not tolerate discrimination or harassment of any kind based on racial or ethnic characteristics, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, disabilities, or any other classification as stated in GN's Ethics Guide.