Tech Citizenship

Shillman

Natick-based Cognex Corp. puts its charity programs into three silos: work hard, play hard and stay healthy.

Under “work hard,” Cognex helps support education initiatives, officials said. Cognex sponsorships have enabled middle and high school student teams from Milwaukee; Duluth, Ga.; and Natick to participate in the FIRST Robotics Competition and FIRST Lego Competitions.

Keeping it local is a clear part of Cognex’s plan, and that is where much of the “play hard” idea applies. Cognex sponsors the Natick Spooktacular, an annual children’s Halloween party offered free to residents of Natick, and Concerts on the Common, a summertime concert series on the Natick town green.

When it comes to staying healthy, Cognex contributes primarily to initiatives sponsored by the American Cancer Society. And Cognex helped the Natick Fire Department purchase a state-of-the-art thermal imaging camera, a piece of life-saving equipment that enables firefighters to better locate victims through thick smoke and darkness.

“There are always organizations and people who are in need, and, no matter what, we are committed to helping them,” said Robert Shillman, chairman and CEO of Cognex.

Citizenship Facts

Cognex Corp.

Total cash contributions in New England in 2008: $427,924

Number of volunteer hours in New England in 2008: N/A

In-kind contributions of equipment and services in New England in 2008: N/A

Principal recipients of charitable activities in 2008: FIRST Robotics, Natick Spooktacular, Concerts on the Common, American Cancer Society.

Interesting philanthropic activities: Cognex Corp.’s gifts to the Morse Institute Library in Natick helped purchase new computers and created the Cognex Computer Lab, a free resource for adults to use computers, access the Internet, and take computer-literacy classes.

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