Twenty years and over $5.1 million in aid to Best Buy employees.
This year marks the 20th year of programs supporting Best Buy employees in their time of need. In line with Dick Schulze’s “people first” leadership style, to put customers first, Best Buy employees needed to be the focus. So, Dick, honoring his late wife Sandy and their desire to provide resources for Best Buy employees facing hardships, launched initiatives at the company in 2004 to do just that.
In 2016, RMSFF began administering the Best Buy Disaster Relief Fund and has since awarded more than $5.1 million in grants to Best Buy employees impacted by federally declared natural disasters. Additionally, the Best Buy HOPE (Helping Our People in Emergencies) Fund was established in 2021 to assist employees with personal hardships unrelated to disasters. The HOPE Fund was created in partnership with Best Buy and administered by the Minneapolis Foundation. Then and now, Dick believes that Best Buy employees are the backbone of the company’s success, and these programs are intended to convey his appreciation.
Here’s a sampling of the impact from the employees themselves in 2024:
“I am so grateful for your help with my request for assistance! The stress and financial burden after the hurricane was quite challenging for me and the rest of my household. This donation from the Schulze Family Foundation will help us bounce back and get back on our feet. Thank you for taking the time to talk with me about my situation. I appreciate this gift!”
– 5-Year Best Buy Employee
“Thank you, thank you so much with support after the hurricane. You have helped more than you know. I’ve never had help with anything, ever, no matter what happened. I’m so grateful for this. It’s not easy for a husband and father with nowhere to turn to get help, so thank you.”
– 7-Year Best Buy Employee
“I’ve been a loyal Best Buy employee since 2007, and Best Buy has brought so much to my life…best friends, mentors, and even my three children…This money ensures a roof over our heads, and that’s the honest truth. I’m so thankful and so overwhelmed with gratitude…thank you.”
–17-Year Best Buy Employee
Learn more about the Best Buy Employee Relief programs.
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