Tech Citizenship

Power

Cisco Systems Inc. found a nearly perfect confluence of its three main focal points for charity when it helped the Acton-Boxborough school system raise the funds to install a solar power system.

In addition to raising environmental awareness, the effort led by Rich Power, community relations manager for New England, and Mary Saar, civic council program manager for New England, also included a donation of software that helps the students at Acton-Boxborough Regional High School and Raymond J. Grey Junior High School learn science and engineering from the operation of the 2 kilowatt solar panel array.

“That was a tremendous engagement for us,” said Power. “It really combined two of our focus areas, which are education and the environment, in a very unique way.”

Also on the education front for Cisco is its ongoing commitment to the Museum of Science, Boston. As the MOS has been working “feverishly” to prepare students to compete in science and engineering at a global level through its National Center for Technological Literacy, Cisco has been donating both money and products to bolster the effort. In addition, it is helping the museum develop its learning path.

“We have assisted in developing a core curriculum around engineering,” said Power.

Power has advice for companies looking to raise their own level of giving.

“It goes without saying, but get your employees excited about it. Make sure your top-level executives are not only talking the talk but walking the walk, and that is certainly the case at Cisco.”

Citizenship Facts

Cisco Systems Inc.

Total cash contributions in New England in 2006: $162,400

Number of volunteer hours in New England in 2006: 1,799

In-kind contributions of equipment and services in New England: $541,965

Principal recipients of charitable activities in 2006: Museum of Science, Boston; New England Center for Children; Project Bread; Crotched Mountain Rehabilitation Center Foundation, New Hampshire

Interesting philanthropic activities: In 2001, the Cisco Foundation launched a global hunger relief campaign — the Harvest of Hope, its single largest event to support non-governmental organizations — to raise employee awareness as well as funds. Last year Cisco employees participated by contributing more than $1 million and with matching funds from the Cisco Foundation, $2.8 million was donated to 106 hunger relief organizations. Also last year the foundation awarded a $1.8 million grant to the National Center for Learning Disabilities for its Response To Intervention initiative.

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