Every Hour Counts: the power of showing up
By Sharon Daugherty, Manager—Social Impact
- Clorox’s multi-year Every Hour Counts commitment turns everyday acts of service into collective community impact with a goal of 300,000 volunteer hours.
- Read our teammates’ personal stories, which show how volunteering builds connection, empathy, and pride.
- This National Volunteer Week, we’re celebrating how showing up—including volunteering, giving and partnerships like Realize the Dream—adds up to lasting change.
Making a positive impact goes beyond the work we do — it’s part of who we are and supports our purpose to champion people to be well and thrive every single day. And often, it starts small. A few hours. A simple act. A decision to show up.
That’s the idea behind Every Hour Counts, our multi-year commitment to showing up for communities — turning everyday acts of service into meaningful, collective impact — with the goal of 300,000 hours of service. Not only does this work support our communities, but research shows volunteering boosts happiness, builds empathy, and helps us better understand the people and communities around us. That’s why we believe every hour someone gives back — no matter how small it may seem — contributes to something bigger.
The stories behind
the hours
Across Clorox, team members are finding their own ways to give back, shaped by personal experiences, passions and the communities they care about. Over the past three years, we have proudly donated millions of dollars in funding and products to organizations across a variety of service areas. Among our team members, volunteerism is the best way of seeing how their values can come to life.
For Maria Stokes in Oakland, volunteering is deeply personal. Growing up in a family where money was tight, she always knew she wanted to back when she could. Today, she’s spent more than a decade delivering groceries to seniors each week through a local food pantry.
But for Maria, it’s about more than the delivery. She looks forward to her visits with Alice, a former professional dancer, who shares stories and photos from her performing days. Those moments of connection are what make the experience meaningful.
“I’m drawn to hyper-local causes that support people right here in my neighborhood,” Maria said. “Consistently showing up is a simple but powerful way to care for my neighbors — and for myself.”
For Natalie Alvarez Vazquez, a Clorox team member in Puerto Rico, volunteering is both a responsibility and a privilege. Whether she’s supporting house rebuilding efforts or cancer prevention initiatives, she’s motivated by the belief that even small acts can make a real difference. Over time, that commitment has shaped how she sees the world.
“Through volunteering, I’ve become more compassionate, grounded and grateful,” Natalie shared. “The greatest impact often comes from helping others.”
Her advice for anyone thinking about getting involved is simple: “Just start. Even the smallest action can create a ripple of change in someone’s life.”
Every hour adds up
As we celebrate National Volunteer Week (April 19–25), we’re reminded that investing in our communities is also an investment in our people. Programs like Every Hour Counts help make Clorox a place where purpose is part of the everyday employee experience — strengthening engagement, connection and pride in the impact we create together. When teammates are empowered to give back, it not only supports causes they care about, it helps build a culture that attracts and retains purpose-driven talent.
Building stronger communities
Through volunteer service and giving, Clorox teammates contribute thousands of hours each year to support local communities — from addressing food insecurity and advancing education to supporting disaster recovery and community health. These collective efforts help strengthen the places where we live and work, creating lasting, positive change. We’re proud that our Every Hour Counts commitment advances our partnership with Realize the Dream, a national initiative that mobilizes individuals and organizations to log and celebrate service, working toward a shared goal of 100 million hours by 2029.
How to get involved
For those outside of Clorox, there are many ways to get involved. Consider supporting a local nonprofit, participating in community service opportunities, or joining national initiatives like Realize the Dream to track and celebrate your own impact.
Because when individuals and organizations come together in service, every hour truly counts.
