Tech Citizenship
2007
Giving thanks
Nonprofits applaud their tech benefactors
Software
Mel King: Director / The South End Technology Center @ Tent City, Boston
Benefactors: Avid Technologies Inc., IBM Corp., Microsoft Corp.
Contribution: Software and personal computers to provide job skills to 800 people per year at the center that was founded in 1997. Students learn media-editing skills on Avid’s software and various programs with Microsoft software — all on computers donated by IBM.
“The software is very, very important. We have open access, and we couldn’t survive (without donations) because the needs for young people are so great. Our young people are the building blocks for the industry’s future. We tell them to not only learn (Microsoft’s) Office, but also (Adobe) Photoshop and web design. If you’re operating a small business, it’s to your advantage if you have someone doing clerical work who can also keep your web page current.”
King said additional support and inspiration is needed from local tech employers — by providing tours of their facilities to trainees participating in programs at The South End Technology Center.
“The more places where people look like our guests, who are predominantly black and Asian, then that’s an addition. It’s important that they see themselves attending MIT and Wentworth, and it’s important for them to see themselves at the next level, in the industries.”
Clean Energy
Stu Weinreb: Director of capital assets and planning / Massachusetts Audubon Society, Lincoln
Benefactor: Solar Works Inc., Montpelier, Vt
Contribution: Consulting; solar installation services.
“Solar Works has been involved in all nine of the Mass Audubon Society’s solar projects, including the largest at its wildlife sanctuary at Wellfleet Bay. Conservation goes hand in hand with, and in some cases before, technology installation, so it is important to have all the details before hand. Solar Works was able to provide comprehensive, yet easy to understand, studies that were able to show us what we were investing in and the metrics surrounding that investment. They also did all the installation, which turned out to be challenge. It’s not typical you come across a company that performs exactly the way they say they will.”
Life sciences
Donald Lombardi: CEO / Institute of Pediatric Innovation, Cambridge
Benefactor: Oxford Bioscience Partners, Boston
Contribution: Initial office space.
“I founded the nonprofit Institute for Pediatric Innovation (IPI) to create medical products needed to improve care of children. The core concept was to partner with pediatric clinicians to specify needs, design products and conduct related trials. Oxford Bioscience Partners hosted me pro bono as an entrepreneur-in-residence. Their environment imprinted a startup business mentality and market orientation. The partners generously contributed time, guidance, and connections. IPI “graduated” in a year with a business plan, four leading pediatric institutions as founders, a corporate partner and two additional staffers.”
Defense
Ellen Parker: Executive director / Project Bread, East Boston
Benefactor: Raytheon Co., Waltham
Contribution: Money, walkers.
“On the first Sunday in May, 43,000 people come together to take part in the Walk for Hunger, raising more than $3 million annually and funding more than 400 emergency food programs throughout Massachusetts. For over 25 years, Raytheon has been an outstanding supporter of the Walk, providing philanthropic support, organizing scores of Walk teams, and engaging numerous new volunteers. Raytheon’s employees are some of the most passionate and ardent supporters of the Walk and its goals, and have made the event an important annual tradition.
“Up ‘til Dawn began at the University of Memphis in 1998 and since then, the program has expanded to more than 180 campuses nationwide, and has raised more than $15 million for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The students of WPI joined the program this year and wrote over 5,000 letters to family and friends asking for donations to the hospital. Not only are they raising funds to assist the hospital’s $1.2 million daily operating costs, but they are also educating the community about pediatric cancer and the mission of St. Jude: that no child should die in the dawn of life. WPI most importantly has given hope to the many children and families that are at St. Jude today and in the years to come.” “It impresses our kids to consider college and majoring in math or science. And the experience inspires our tutors to consider a full-time job teaching math or science. Public education needs more smart math and science students to join the profession, and that's a step in the right direction.”
Hardware
Jonathan Silver: Deputy director / Leary Firefighters Foundation/Worcester Fire Department training facility, Worcester
Benefactor: EMC Corp., Hopkinton
Contribution: $1 million (over four years); technology consulting services.
“This is a $3 million, first-of-its-kind training facility for firefighters in the state, incorporating both “burn facilities” and training through technology. EMC is our only technology sponsor and they have provided a tremendous amount of leadership over the course of this multiyear project. They were with us right from the beginning and it was apparent that this was something that hit very close to home for them.”
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