Cisco Technology company Cisco has good stuff going on all over the globe. First, there’s the Cisco Networking Academy Program, which helps students worldwide to acquire the skills needed for IT-related jobs in engineering, computer science and related fields. To date more than 1 million students have successfully completed the academy’s courses. There are currently 420,000 students enrolled in more than 10,000 academies in 160 countries. In collaboration with the World Health Organization, Cisco established the Health Academy, an e-learning program that aims to spread information about key medical and health practices, especially targeting people who live in remote areas. The Least-Developed Countries Initiative helps bridge the digital divide, providing IT training for students in developing nations. By the end of 2005, 196 academies had been established in 51 countries, with more than 10,000 students involved. And finally, the Gender Initiative, operating in several countries around the globe, was established to encourage women to pursue careers in tech-nology and to ensure that they have the same access to and training for those positions as men.
Colgate Colgate believes in dental care, not just good toothpaste. The company runs a global dental-care program, called Bright Smiles, Bright Futures that aims to teach kids around the world the benefits of good oral hygiene. So far they’ve reached more than 46 million children in 80 countries. But the caring doesn’t stop with teeth. Colgate helps to pro-mote and encourage consumers to donate to the Starlight Starbright Children’s Foundation (an organization dedicated to helping seriously ill children), supports the Reading is Fundamental children’s literacy foundation and runs the Colgate Women’s Games, supporting female athletes in the U.S.
GM GM car company does a lot more than the name “General Motors” would imply. Their Community Wheels program, in partnership with the United Way, provides GM vehicles for selected communities across Canada, helping to reduce barriers and assist individuals and organizations in need. Last year, GM also donated more than $1 million to the Canadian Red Cross. GM makes regular donations and funds scholarships and bursaries for post-secondary education, creating opportunities for students across Canada. Scholarships have been created for women in engineering, special needs students, Native Canadians and students who are the first in their families to attend university. GM also supports the YMCA, Junior Achievement, the United Way, Scouts Canada and Girl Guides of Canada.
Heritage Canada Heritage Canada has stepped out in a new direction this spring. The federal department has just launched an anti-racism campaign designed to raise the Canadians’ awareness of the dangers of racism and discrimination. The campaign will be hard to miss: watch for public service announcements on radio and TV, plus posters, buttons and fact sheets distributed through schools. The department has also developed 90-second English and French advertisements for use in 600 theatres across the country. The slogan for the campaign is “Put Yourself in the Other Person’s Shoes.”
Kao Kao, a manufacturer of health and beauty products, says its mission is to “strive for the wholehearted satisfaction and enrichment of the lives of people globally.” Their commitment to reducing waste and operating
a sustainable business that’s as kind as possible to the earth reflects that mission. They’ve also set up the Kao Foundation for Arts and Sciences, dedicated to fostering performances and research in the fields of music and art, supporting research in the field of scientific technology and supporting seminars about interdisciplinary research combining literature and science.
L’Oréal The ideal that “the world needs science and science needs women” has been the driving force for cosmetic giant L’Oréal. In 1998 the company joined forces with UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Social and Cultural Organization) to promote the role of women in scientific research by creating the For Women in Science partnership. The program recognizes excellence, awarding female scientists—one per continent—with a L’Oréal UNESCO award for being exceptional role models for generations to come. The organization also awards fellowships to promising young female scientists.
Microsoft Microsoft takes their global leadership position very seriously. Each year they host the Imagine Cup, designed to encourage innovators to explore the ways technology can make the world a better place. In 2003 the competition had one category and drew 1,000 students from 25 countries. By 2005, the competition had increased to nine categories, included high school levels and drew 1,000 students from 25 countries. Microsoft has also contributed to some very immediate worldwide concerns. They co-developed a technology to accelerate global relief response to the South Asian earthquake and tsunami. They’ve also donated (US) $41 million in software and cash to NetHope and The Interagency Working Group on Emergency Capacity Building, in an effort improve humanitarian relief efforts around the globe.
Midol (by Bayer) Bayer Inc., who make Midol, are the creators of a program called Science For a Better Life, an organization that’s dedicated to encouraging and supporting inventions that benefit the health and wellbeing of people everywhere. Every year the company donates money, and employees volunteer time to support community events that promote and further the field of science. They’ve supported the Kogee Club for children with haemophilia, the Bayer-Canadian Blood Services Partnership Fund for blood- related research, the Jeans for Genes Day, United Way fundraising efforts and the national MS Walk.
Proctor & Gamble Proctor & Gamble is a very big company (they make tons of famous beauty and household products) with a big heart. The company runs a program called Live, Learn and Thrive that helps children around the world with proper nutrition early in life and provides them with places, tools and programs to help them learn and develop life skills. The Children’s Safe Drinking Water campaign is a big part of the program, benefiting children in the developing world by providing safe drinking water technology. P&G also makes contributions to established relief agencies such as the Red Cross, UNICEF and United Way International. Gillette, part of the P&G family, has its own long history of community contributions including funding for breast cancer education in Switzerland, community centre renovation in Brazil, disaster relief for earthquake victims in Turkey, donations of personal care items to flood survivors in the Midwest U.S. and housing and emergency shelter in Boston for women and children fleeing domestic abuse.
Ripzone/Powder Room The sport of snowboarding rose in popularity and profile thanks to grassroots support. Outfitting brother/sister companies Ripzone and Powder Room know this, which is why they continue to support boarding at the community level. They’re sponsors of many individual athletes including Canadian snowboarding superstar and Ancaster, Ont., native, Brad Martin. They also sponsor the Ripzone Snowboard Invitational, an international competition held each year in Whistler, B.C.
Rogers Rogers is committed to providing both dollars and technical resources to worthy causes. They’re big supporters of Child Find Canada, an organization that assists in the search for missing children. They also support budding Canadian film and television producers by funding grants offered through CBC and Telefilm Canada. The employees at Rogers are a caring bunch, too. It was employees who started the Rogers Pumpkin Patrol to help keep kids safe on Halloween night. Staffers distribute safety loot packs to kids in the community while the company’s bright red vans patrol neighbourhoods serviced by Rogers, in collaboration with local police and other emergency workers, ready to spot trick-or-treaters in need of assistance.
Saputo Dairy company Saputo says their mandate is the daily provision of proper nourishment to elementary school children, since healthier diets lead not just to better report cards but also to a better quality of life. In support of that, Saputo contributes to, among others, Club des petits dejeuners du Quebec in that province, the Breakfast for Learning program nation-wide and food banks across both the U.S. and Canada. The gener-osity doesn’t end with breakfast, however. The company also contributes to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, an organization that grants the wishes of kids with life-threatening medical conditions. On a community-scale, Saputo supports the Quebec Foundation for Athletic Excellence, the Montreal Impact soccer team and the Quebec Soccer Federation, as well as several local soccer teams and technical clinics.
Wal-Mart Imagine trying to write a test or learn something new when your stomach is rumbling and all you can think about is how hungry you are. More than 30 per cent of elementary school kids in Canada experience this every day because they go to school without breakfast. That’s where the Breakfast For Learning Program comes in, sponsoring healthy breakfasts in communities across Canada. And that’s also where Wal-Mart steps in. The company, its employees, partners and customers have contributed more than $2 million over the past two years to help support breakfast programs in more than 2,500 schools and communities across Canada.
