UP: Strengthening Communities

Strengthening Our Communities

Communities are one of Union Pacific’s key stakeholders, and we are committed to serving and investing in their futures. We take tremendous pride in our relationships and efforts to improve the communities where we operate through the Community Ties Giving Program and volunteer efforts. We supported more than 3,000 nonprofit partners, donated $22 million to community efforts, and our public affairs representatives are members of more than 170 local civic organizations, such as chambers of commerce and economic development organizations.

The results are safe, prosperous and vibrant communities where people want to live and work. In the two years since we redefined our philanthropic pillars to focus on safety, workforce development and community spaces, we’ve served 36 million people, 13 million of which are in underserved populations. We believe our impact has a ripple effect and the potential to change future generations.

Union Pacific’s lines of communication are open to local and state agency officials, neighborhood groups and local citizens. Our public affairs representatives facilitate resources and address operations-related concerns reported directly through our 24/7 community line and website

Union Pacific operates in thousands of communities, including Rocklin, California.

The Community Ties Giving Program

Union Pacific’s charitable giving programs have helped thousands of nonprofit organizations achieve their missions since 1959. Funding allocated by the Community Ties Giving Program ranges from $2,500-$25,000 for organizations receiving local grants, and up to $3 million for multiyear key partnerships.

The ethical treatment of others is important to Union Pacific. We updated our Anti-Discrimination Policy, reflecting our dedication to work only with nonprofit organizations that do not discriminate based on a person’s race, color, sex, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, religion, past or present military service, sexual orientation, gender identity and or/expression, genetic information, pregnancy, political affiliation, marital or familial status, or any other status protected by law. Organizations must be willing, if asked, to attest that they prohibit discrimination on these grounds.

Union Pacific understands each community has its unique challenges and opportunities. The programs we support align with one or more of our social impact goals related to safety, workforce development and community spaces. Together, our work in these areas builds safe, prosperous and vibrant communities – places people want to be.

Safety

Communities thrive when residents feel safe. Union Pacific is committed to helping communities prevent and prepare for accidents and emergencies, helping everyone go home safely at the end of each day. This reflects our commitment to employee safety and the communities through which our railroad passes. We prioritize funding for programs that achieve the following objectives:

Encourage safe behaviors and prevent accidents through education and awareness, particularly projects focused on rail, driver, bike and pedestrian safety.
Eliminate risks and improve safe access to community spaces through infrastructure improvements. Examples include signage, proper lighting and public trail upgrades.
Prepare and equip residents and emergency responders to effectively respond to incidents and emergencies, if or when they occur.
Prevent crime and violent incidents through efforts addressing the root causes and seeking to mitigate their occurrence.
Provide homeless and at-risk populations access to safe shelter and services that ameliorate and prevent homelessness.

Safety Spotlight

Safety Messages Transcend Language Barriers

Union Pacific is bringing rail safety to St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota, with a multilingual campaign designed to make rail safety a universal language. In partnership with Twin Cities Public Television (TPT), 16 different safety messages related to pedestrians, drivers, truckers and the community, broadcast at least twice every 30 minutes on TPT NOW, a 24/7 TV broadcast, and on a live web stream. The English message is immediately followed by the same information translated into Spanish, Hmong and Somali. TPT NOW is a regional channel reaching about 1 million households in the Twin Cities, where for many, English is a second language. We will continue building on our partnership in 2020, creating rail safety videos in English, Spanish, Hmong and Somali encouraging parents to have these important conversations with their children.

One of the campaign’s safety messages translated into Spanish, reminding drivers to always expect a train and never go around the crossing gate.

Workforce Development

For nearly 160 years, Union Pacific has helped stimulate growth in cities and towns across the nation by training and providing employment to thousands of workers. We believe a skilled workforce and access to jobs paying good wages are essential elements for a prosperous community. We prioritize funding for programs that seek the following objectives:

Put youth on the right track by creating awareness of family-supporting jobs, such as those offered by Union Pacific, and building foundational skills, specifically in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics-related fields, as well as necessary technical and life skills to begin a trajectory toward these careers.
Raise awareness of, educate and prepare young adults for middle-skills jobs through community colleges, vocational and career training programs, workforce readiness initiatives and programs assisting with job placement and/or on-the-job experience.
“Up skill” the existing workforce by providing training and resources enabling workers to reach the next level in their careers.
Provide training and mentorship for nonprofit professionals, helping them grow and advance their organizations.

Community Spaces

Vibrant communities attract businesses, tourists and skilled workers. We seek to ensure residents within our communities have access to special places celebrating cultural diversity, artistic expression, our natural environment and the social interactions enriching their lives. We believe such community spaces contribute to the distinct identity of cities and towns. We prioritize funding for programs and projects that meet the following objectives:

Create, sustain or expand upon artistic and cultural experiences offered to a broad and diverse audience. For example, museums, theaters, libraries, concerts and lectures.
Preserve and share a local community’s unique history, including projects related to trains and/or Union Pacific history.
Provide clean, safe and positive outdoor recreational and/or educational opportunities fostering an appreciation for our natural environment.
Beautify neighborhoods and main street areas to improve livability, promote commerce and, ultimately, attract more residents, businesses and visitors.
Plan for, create or enhance unique spaces reflecting a community’s character, and diverse needs and desires.

Workforce Development Spotlight

Database Aims To Stop ‘Brain Drain’

The Missouri Internship Connect helps students like Nick Hartman find internship opportunities statewide.

It’s a problem many states face – youth leaving for high-tech jobs on the coast. The Missouri Chamber of Commerce created Missouri Internship Connect in an effort to stop this so-called “brain drain.” It’s a free, statewide internship-matching software program connecting employers to high school and college students. The idea is to help young people recognize the powerful opportunities that exist in their home state. It also gives students, especially under-served and minority students, a way to connect with future employers, learn valuable business skills and get a head start toward achieving their career goals.

Community Spaces Spotlight

Young Artists Orchestra

It’s a program that began with 22 students playing Mozart’s “Adagio and Fugue in C minor.” Today, the Young Artists Orchestra in Las Vegas, Nevada, is home to more than 130 artists under the age of 22. The only tuition-free music program in Nevada, students make up a string orchestra and symphony orchestra, playing over 15 concerts and events per season. Thanks to funding from the Community Ties Giving Program, the program can expand, offering additional tuition-free, after-school programs for local youth through a newly created percussion ensemble and chamber orchestra while also offering mentorship and collaborative opportunities with professional local and guest artists.

Young Artists Orchestra Symphony and Music Director Yunior Lopez performing West Side Story at The Smith Center in Las Vegas.

Key Partnerships

From local grants to key partnerships, our philanthropic outreach aligns with Union Pacific’s long-standing commitment to Building America. Key regional and national partnerships provide large-scale, targeted grants intended to achieve significant, measurable and sustainable impact in our communities while supporting Union Pacific’s key areas of giving in safety, workforce development and community spaces.

National Partners

Following a nationwide search in 2017, Safe Kids Worldwide, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and the National Park Foundation were selected as national key partners, each receiving $1 million annually in 2018 and 2019. Our partnership with these world-class nonprofit organizations continues into 2020 with an additional $1 million in funding for each group. Together, we empower communities to create a safe place for children and families, bring economic prosperity and well-being to our neighborhoods, and encourage exploration of our country’s greatest treasures – national parks.

Safe Kids Worldwide

Safe Kids Worldwide is a nonprofit organization working to prevent childhood injury, the No. 1 cause of death for children ages 0-19 in the U.S. Our partnership with Safe Kids Worldwide is designed to reach a full continuum – from preschoolers to K-12 youth, and parents – with research-based education and messaging designed to reduce risky behaviors that lead to rail-related incidents.

We funded new research, Railroads: An Often-Overlooked Danger to Children, that found the majority of parents do not talk to their children about rail safety despite data that shows a child dies every five days in a rail-related incident. The research served as a foundation for a social media campaign and National Rail Safety Week initiatives designed to raise awareness and provide parents with the lifesaving information they need.

Building on the success of our book launch in 2018, Clifford the Big Red Dog made several appearances at schools and community events across Union Pacific’s system, including events in Chicago, Illinois, and San Antonio, Texas, when Big Boy No. 4014 – the world’s largest steam locomotive – made its historic visit. Safe Kids Worldwide and Union Pacific employees discussed rail safety with children, teachers and parents, and copies of “Clifford and the Railroad Crossing” were available. The big star was Clifford himself, who took photos with fans of all ages.

Clifford the Big Red Dog visits students at an elementary school in Pleasanton, Texas, to share his book about rail safety. (Photo courtesy The Pleasanton Express)

LISC

Union Pacific is partnering with LISC to invest in American workers and an economic future based on quality jobs. This collaboration is an important tool to help build pathways for diverse, underserved individuals to find family-sustaining careers, as well as build a skilled pipeline for in-demand jobs in the rail industry and beyond.

Our partnership is fueling the Bridges to Career Opportunities (Bridges) program, which helps participants build foundational literacy, math and technical skills that allow them to qualify for training and credentialing programs that can lead to living-wage jobs. The curriculum is tailored to local growth industries and includes “soft skills” that are necessary for success in a work environment. The Bridges program is part of an integrated set of services offered by LISC Financial Opportunity Centers (FOCs), a network of career and financial coaching service centers across the country. Union Pacific is specifically focused on FOC programs in Chicago, Illinois; Kansas City, Missouri; Houston, Texas; and Los Angeles, California.

We worked with LISC to develop a contextualized curriculum focusing on careers in the Transportation, Distribution and Logistics industry, including rail. The new curriculum will be deployed in 2020 and exposes participants to industries and career paths they may not have known about otherwise, and is designed to advance students’ reading, writing and math skills. Our employees participated in several panel discussions with local LISC chapters, discussing topics ranging from financial independence to the importance of public-private partnerships. We also participated in networking events with students, helping them make connections and giving our employees a chance to volunteer in their communities.

From left, Sarai Graza, program officer, LISC Chicago; Claire Anderson, manager-Track Construction, Union Pacific; Lisa Welling, director-Track Maintenance, Union Pacific; and Emily Doherty, senior director, JARC Programs, pose for a photo following a women’s networing event at JARC.

National Park Foundation

Our history with the national parks started when the railroad provided access to pristine landscapes that were otherwise virtually impossible to visit, giving way to iconic places including Yellowstone, Zion Grand Canyon and Death Valley. We were pleased to renew our partnership under the theme “Explore America’s Backyard,” encouraging younger and more diverse populations to visit national parks and bring awareness to lesser-known parks – the ones in our own backyards.

Approximately half of our funding supports the National Park Foundation’s Open OutDoors for Kids (OOK) program. We supported approximately 41,400 students with visits to 25 national parks in 12 states. We believe it’s important for students to explore the world around them while learning about science, history, conservation and the role they play in protecting national and local treasures. Union Pacific’s contribution constituted 21% of the total OOK budget, making us the program’s largest private donor for the second consecutive year.

For more than a century, national parks have served as the backdrop for family photos. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, Union Pacific and the National Park Foundation invited park-goers to recreate a vintage park photo as part of the Wonder + Wander Photo Challenge, highlighting the timelessness of adventures enjoyed in America’s national parks. Of the more than 1,700 entries, 10 winners were selected to receive an America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass.

One of the 10 winning entries, these photos show fun at the national parks is a timeless experience.

Regional Partners

Regional partnerships are granted by invitation only and, like our national partnerships, are often multiyear commitments designed to provide long-term impact in our communities. We want to work with organizations with whom we can explore big ideas, build powerful momentum within our communities and achieve significant, lasting impact across Union Pacific’s network.

Texas A&M Transportation Institute

Teen and young adult drivers experience the highest rate of transportation-related fatalities.¹ In an effort to change the statistics, Union Pacific is working with the Texas A&M Transportation Institute’s Youth Transportation Safety (YTS) program, which focuses on promoting safe driving habits. We worked together to create new materials focused on rail, bicycle and pedestrian safety. The new YTS program reached students in nearly 70 schools, encouraging students to put their device down and pay attention to their surroundings. An updated “Teens in the Driver Seat” app is under development to improve and encourage these safe behaviors. A teen driver starts the app before a trip and – as long as they don’t access their phone while driving – logs undistracted miles at the end. Points are awarded based on safely driven miles and prizes are offered.

Teens in the Driver Seat held its annual Safe Driving Summit in San Marcos, Texas, bringing youth together for a weekend of leadership workshops, expert presenters and educational exhibits.

CITY NET

Safety will always be Union Pacific’s top priority. At the invitation of Union Pacific employees, Union Pacific launched a partnership with City Net, a street outreach organization in Los Angeles, California. City Net professionals assist vulnerable populations experiencing homelessness through a set of Continuum of Care programs. With our support, City Net will reach out and engage those living on or near Union Pacific property, safely connecting them with housing, medical and other services. These clients will be enrolled in an individualized program tailored to their needs, with the ultimate goal of helping them secure a safe, permanent residence. We believe this partnership will help prevent rail-related incidents while encouraging the health and safety of vulnerable populations.

City Net provides help and transportation for those needing temporary shelter and other services.

Associated Industries Of Arkansas

For years, graduating high school seniors have been encouraged to pursue a college degree, which, in part, contributes to a decline in the number of talented people considering skilled technical professions as a viable career path. In September, Union Pacific joined the Arkansas State Chamber and Associated Industries of Arkansas Foundation to unveil the updated Be Pro Be Proud Mobile Workshop, designed to inspire and create the next generation of skilled professionals. The new, 53-foot mobile unit gives students hands-on exposure to 12 in-demand professions that do not require a college degree, such as welder, machinist and electrician. It features a mini locomotive, equipped with a simulator that puts students in the locomotive engineer’s seat traveling a stretch of track in Arkansas. Union Pacific is sponsoring the new trailer as it tours the state visiting schools, companies and events that showcase skilled trade professions.

Since its launch, Be Pro Be Proud has reached more than 80,000 students. The new workshop allows the program to access 29% more students every day. We anticipate Be Pro Be Proud expanding into other states across the U.S.

A Union Pacific locomotive simulator is at the center of Be Pro Be Proud’s new mobile trailer.

Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership

Union Pacific is working with the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, Opportunity Works program in Chicago, Illinois, giving young adults the resources they need to find a family-supporting job. For the second year, we hosted a group of interns, providing job shadow opportunities with our Engineering, Mechanical, Transportation and Workforce Resources employees. Interns helped replace a railroad tie, test gauges and perform locomotive maintenance. They also participated in mock interviews and received valuable feedback on their performance and skills. Prior to spending time at Union Pacific’s facilities, the interns attended an intense program that included fundamental skills training such as money management, scheduling and personal hygiene, as well as OSHA and forklift instruction. Career exploration with Union Pacific was followed by a second intern experience at another company in the Transportation, Distribution and Logistics industry, further showcasing careers in high-growth, high-demand sectors that serve as Cook County’s economic engine.

Opportunity Works interns tour a Union Pacifc yard to learn about day-to-day operations and various career opportunities.

Opportunity Works interns tour Union Pacific’s downtown Chicago facility.

Junior Achievement of Utah

In this digital era, a skills gap is making it difficult for some students to enter the workforce. Junior Achievement of Utah and Union Pacific are working together to put youth on the right track, enhancing foundational skills in finance, STEM, life skills and career awareness through gaming. JA City is an interactive, hands-on learning facility with the feel of an actual community, featuring 25 businesses. New to JA City is an exciting new Union Pacific installation. The locomotive holds two monitors where JA students can try their hand at three interactive safety inspection videogames. Those who succeed will become a JA City certified Union Pacific Safety Engineer.

Students become safety inspectors in Union Pacific’s new interactive display housed inside JA City.

Westside Community Schools Foundation

Interactions or experiences in our youth often drive future career selection. Westside High School students in Omaha, Nebraska, are experiencing what a career in welding means. The Westside Community School Foundation newly expanded, state-of-the-art welding, fabrication and manufacturing lab allows 240 students per year to participate in the program and have flexible space for lectures and group activities. They also receive access to mentorships and hands-on experience through strategic partnerships with local businesses, including Union Pacific. The purpose is to create awareness about trade positions that lead to family-supporting jobs.

Westside High School seniors Nathan Kershaw, left, and Carson Brownfield gave tours of the new engineering lab following the dedication and steel cutting ceremony.

The Union Pacific Diversity Scholars Program at Creighton University

Union Pacific and Creighton University are teaming up to create a diverse and inclusive culture and build Omaha’s future workforce. Launching in 2020, the Union Pacific Diversity Scholars Program at Creighton University will create access to academic merit scholarships and professional development opportunities for minority students over a four-year period. During their freshman year, students will be paired with Union Pacific mentors. As the scholars advance, they will engage in peer-to-peer mentoring, connecting with community partners to grow their professional networks. Junior and senior students will apply to Union Pacific’s internship program for a chance to explore career opportunities at the railroad. At the conclusion of their college education, 32 Union Pacific Diversity Scholars will be uniquely prepared to enter Omaha’s workforce.

Christopher Whitt, PhD, center, Creighton vice provost for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion with Heider College of Business student Traemon Anderson, left, and School of Law student Jamel Walker, right, says the scholars program extends beyond an excellent education.

Boys & Girls Club of Placer County

Union Pacific believes that building prosperous communities includes ensuring the safety and wellbeing of children. The Boys & Girls Club of Placer County in Roseville, California, works to empower young people to unlock their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. Together, the Boys and Girls Club and Union Pacific are building a new clubhouse where up to 3,700 vulnerable students can participate in after-school programming. The Union Pacific Railroad Clubhouse will host a variety of programs geared toward developing the mind, body and soul of the kids and teens the Boys and Girls Club serves. The neighborhood clubhouse is expected to be completed in December 2020.

These campers are all smiles at The Boys & Girls Club’s summer camp.

Denver Zoo

Like Union Pacific, Denver Zoo is a central chapter in Colorado’s story. It is one of America’s oldest public zoos and still features structures dating back to the early 20th century. Denver Zoo’s train station is at the historic heart of its campus, offering rides to more than 270,000 train riders each year. In addition to fun facts about animals such as Asian elephants, rhinos and gorillas, the train’s conductor shares important rail safety reminders with passengers. Signs at the train depot and across the park encourage visitors to consider how they interact with trains and tracks, and practice safe behavior at the park’s rail crossings.

Visitors practice safe habits around railroad tracks as they experience Denver Zoo’s sights and sounds.

Oregon Museum Of Science And Industry (OMSI)

Union Pacific and the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) unveiled the newly transformed Turbine Hall, home to Innovation Stations, offering hands-on learning experiences that empower youth to solve some of modern society’s biggest challenges through science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM). Innovation Stations are designed to inspire people of all backgrounds and abilities. Visitors can try unique design challenges, searching for solutions to global issues. These challenges directly translate to meaningful careers the next generation of STEAM professionals may hold. Union Pacific partnered with OMSI to design a challenge where visitors can build and test bridges to see whether they can withstand an earthquake. The exhibit also teaches visitors about commodities moved by rail and the benefits of rail transportation, especially in emergency situations, such as those caused by natural disasters.

Students design and build a bridge they hope is strong enough to withstand an earthquake.

Hemisfair

Union Pacific is making a splash at one of San Antonio, Texas’, well-known attractions – Yanaguana Garden at Hemisfair – with the Union Pacific Splash Pad. The park itself is lauded for its social and economic equity, providing play spaces and accessibility for all abilities and ages. We funded splash pad operations and maintenance, as well as improvements to the park’s lighting, and security and sun safety around the play area. Hemisfair sees more than 650,000 visitors annually, making it one of the busiest per-acre parks in Texas.

The Union Pacific Splash Pad at Yanaguana Gardens provides a refreshing break for families trying to escape the Texas heat.

Mosaic Templars Cultural Center

Union Pacific believes a community’s identity is rooted in artistic and cultural experiences unique to that community. The Mosaic Templars Cultural Center (MTCC) in Little Rock, Arkansas, is working with Union Pacific to renovate its educational museum exhibit, focusing on the notable African Americans from Arkansas’ history, as well as those who are paving the way now. The exhibit’s theater will feature an orientation film depicting the successes, oppression and culture of the African American community throughout Arkansas’ history. This experience will allow citizens of all demographics to learn and appreciate the contributions of African Americans across the state.

The new exhibit includes opportunities for guests to listen to notable African Americans from Arkansas’ history.

Street Soccer USA

Recreation and sports teach youth life skills, from health and wellness to sportsmanship and teamwork. Street Soccer USA assists minority and underserved populations by providing free youth street soccer clubs and leagues designed to improve quality of life and community engagement. We are working with the organization to build a new Union Pacific Street Soccer USA Park in Sacramento, California. The facility will provide a safe, healthy atmosphere for youth and those experiencing homelessness. The soccer park will include two mini street soccer courts, providing a space for after-school and adult programming. We anticipate the new park will open in June 2020.

Students from a nearby elementary school love the idea of new soccer fields in their neighborhood.

Making a Difference in our Communities

Union Pacific’s business is inextricably linked with communities, and we strive to make positive impacts. Every partnership is important to us, and the work we do has the potential to change a life.

LOCAL SUPPORT SPOTLIGHT

We supported hundreds of local organizations through our Local Grants program. The recipients were selected through an open application process, and their work aligns with our Community Ties Giving Program goals. Some of those organizations include the following: