Tech Citizenship

Labandibar

In the view of Susan Labandibar, president of network consultancy Tech Networks of Boston, giving back to the community goes hand in hand with building her 26-employee business.

“As an entrepreneur, I spend most of my time thinking about how to change my business,” Labandibar said. “As a philanthropist, I think about how to change the world.”

Both the global and the local communities receive the benefit from Tech Networks’ charitable efforts — with a particular focus on wildlife and the environment. According to Labandibar, it is all about the future and how to deal with such matters as an unsustainable use of resources, the widening gap between rich and poor, and climate change.

“Compassion — for each other, our planet, and the species that live on it — is our guiding principle,” Labandibar said.

Under that guiding principle, Tech Networks has donated to such global organizations as the African Wildlife Foundation, People for Ethical Treatment of Animals and UNICEF, to name a few. But the company keeps a focus on the local nonprofits in need as well.

“I am proud of our work with the Alliance for Animals, a shelter and low-cost veterinary clinic in South Boston,” Labandibar said.

Labandibar sees philanthropy as simply a core value for every corporation, because at its heart, every company is the people that make it up.

“Sometimes we forget that corporations are created to serve people and not people to serve corporations,” Labandibar said.

Citizenship Facts

Tech Networks of Boston

Total cash contributions in New England in 2007: $39,826

Number of volunteer hours in New England in 2007: 30

In-kind contributions of equipment and services in New England in 2007: $10,000

Principal recipients of charitable activities in 2007: African Wildlife Foundation; American Cancer Society; Andrew Square Civic Association; Boston Building Material Coop; City of Boston Scholarship Fund; Dana Farber Cancer Fund; Environmental Defense; Massachusetts SPCA; MassRecycle; Natural Resources Defense Council; People for Ethical Treatment of Animals; Project Bread; Sustainable Harvest International.

Interesting philanthropic activities: Tech Networks of Boston provides free computers and free IT services to the Alliance for Animals, a local low-cost spay-and-neuter clinic.

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