Dicembre, 2021

I grew up in a challenging environment, but I always felt fortunate to be surrounded by people who would always lend a helping hand when I needed it. Even at the young age of 10, their actions motivated me to extend help to people I interact with and that brought me joy. Thanks to the generosity of the people around me, I was able to complete my studies and build a career. Someone once told me that the best way to repay kindness was to pay it forward, and I made it a part of who I am today.

Since joining Google seven years ago, I’ve seen how Google has built a vibrant volunteering culture. Every year, we see Googlers around the world come together to participate in community service projects through GoogleServe — our annual volunteering event. I’ve led GoogleServe in Korea several times, encouraging Googlers to dedicate their time to volunteering. It’s incredibly motivating to hear positive comments from Googlers who have volunteered for the first time — and to see them return the following year to do more for their community.

I also became the local ambassador for Google.org, our philanthropic arm, helping Googlers understand how we can make a bigger impact by connecting our corporate grants with donations and volunteering activities. I truly believe that when we’re able to get everyone involved in doing good, we’re able to be a keep volunteering an integral part of our culture.

As we commemorate International Volunteer Day, I’d like to highlight other Googlers from our Korea office who share the same passion for giving back.

Narae Jeon

Site Administrative Business Partner

What was your most memorable experience through GoogleServe?

I decided to take care of abandoned dogs as part of my volunteering experience. A long time ago, a dog I’d been raising died in an accident, and I felt guilty for not responding in the right way. I started deepening my knowledge of topics like animal protection and breeding, and looked for opportunities to get involved in the community. I started volunteering with an animal protection center, where I helped rescue an abandoned dog that resembled the dog I had raised before — and made snacks for other abandoned dogs. I also created a Google group named ‘Doglers’ for Googlers looking to get involved with animal shelters, and ran a donation drive to raise awareness among Googlers.

What is one takeaway you’d like to share with others from your volunteering experience?

Take the first step. You can always start by going to a volunteering site and observing how others are helping the community. You’ll be surprised how being on-site can inspire you to take action. Once you experience giving back, you’ll realize what a rewarding experience volunteering can be.

Jaey Park

Strategy and Insights Manager, Korea

What was your most memorable experience through GoogleServe?

This year, I had the opportunity to mentor college students preparing for employment. I was able to share my experiences and knowledge in data analytics. We often think that we don’t have much insightful knowledge to pass onto others, but I was surprised that what I shared with these students was valuable. From this experience, I decided to continue volunteering in this space.

What is one takeaway you’d like to share with others from your volunteering experience?

Once you start volunteering, you’ll realize how you’re impacting not only others but yourself too. It helps you feel more connected, and it creates a sense of belonging and purpose. I truly believe when we come together to do good, we’re able to make a bigger contribution to the community we live in.

It’s time for another round of our Stadia Savepoint series, recapping the new games, features and updates on Stadia.

In November, the Stadia Pro library reached 40 games for the first time — a mix of open world titles, sports games, adventures through new worlds and blockbuster hits. All are available for subscribers to claim and play right away, including newly added Pro games like Saints Row IV: Re-Elected, DIRT 5, Kemono Heroes and Hundred Days – Winemaking Simulator — not to mention Wavetale, which launched First on Stadia in a surprise reveal. Pro subscribers also enjoyed Free Play Days for Ghost Recon Breakpoint and The Crew 2.

Players explored many new games that launched on the Stadia store in November, like showing off their moves in Just Dance 2022 and creating their own fun in The Jackbox Party Pack 8. Meanwhile, players eased into the holiday season with relaxing adventure games like Rayman Legends and Farming Simulator 22.

On top of all these new games, November marked two years since Stadia’s launch! Sales on the Stadia Premiere Edition helped players extend gameplay to their TVs, and Stadia store deals offered hits like Far Cry 6 or FIFA 22 for less. Since Stadia’s last anniversary in November 2020, 120+ titles have arrived on the Stadia store, including:

• 10 games, trials and demos free for any Stadia player, like Immortals Fenyx Rising, Riders Republic and Crayta
• 19 titles, including HITMAN 3 and HUMANKIND, that have added Stadia features like State Share or Stream Connect
• First on Stadia titles that are only playable there, like Wavetale, Hello Engineer, Outcasters and PixelJunk Raiders

Explore Feed on web

November also brought a new Stadia feature. Now players can share their own Captures and game states with others, and see other community content for the games they play.

Stadia Pro updates

• Five new games were added to the Stadia Pro library in November. And today, an entire library of games is available to play with Stadia Pro: Crayta: Premium Edition, HITMAN, République, Journey to the Savage Planet: Employee of the Month Edition, PixelJunk Raiders, AVICII Invector, Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA, Trine 4 – The Nightmare Prince, The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III, MotoGP™20, Moonlighter, Street Power Football, Terraria, The Darkside Detective, PAW Patrol Mighty Pups: Save Adventure Bay, It Came From Space And Ate Our Brains, Epistory – Typing Chronicles, Killer Queen Black, PGA TOUR 2K21, GRIME, ARK: Survival Evolved, Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition, Little Big Workshop, Wave Break, Legend of Keepers: Career of a Dungeon Manager, DreamWorks Spirit Lucky’s Big Adventure, Hello Engineer, Cake Bash, Mafia III Definitive Edition, Control Ultimate Edition, Saints Row IV: Re-Elected, DIRT 5, Kemono Heroes, Hundred Days – Winemaking Simulator, Wavetale, Destroy All Humans!, Wreckfest, The Falconeer: Warrior Edition, Transformers: Battlegrounds and FORECLOSED.
• There are ongoing discounts for Pro subscribers — check out the web or mobile Stadia store for the latest.

November content launches on Stadia:

• Farming Simulator 22
• Hunting Simulator 2
• Just Dance 2022
• Rayman Legends
• Saints Row IV: Re-Elected
• The Jackbox Party Pack 8
• Wavetale

New content coming to Stadia announced in November:

• Nine to Five
• Hunting Simulator 2

That’s all for now — as always, we’ll be back next month to share more updates. In the meantime, keep an eye on the Stadia Community Blog, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter for the latest news.