Corporate Responsibility: Community Engagement
EDS employees around the world have a reputation for making a difference. Whether it's volunteering at a neighborhood school or making donations for people across the globe, EDS and its employees are there for those in need and to help our next generation become productive, contributing members of society.
Corporate Contributions
As part of our corporate citizenship, EDS makes contributions to nonprofit organizations through corporate contributions of cash and in-kind donations, as well as from the EDS Foundation. EDS has donated more than $74.1 million to nonprofits and neighborhood schools around the world since it became an independent company in 1996.
In 2006, EDS' cash and in-kind donations totaled $4.5 million, benefiting various nonprofit organizations and supporting educational programs for grades K-12, focusing on science, math and technology, as well as health and human services, and arts and culture.
EDS 2006 Global Charitable Contributions |
|
| Domestic corporate contributions – cash | $2,492,785 |
| Domestic corporate contributions – in-kind | $1,481,957 |
| International corporate contributions | $598,491 |
| EDS Foundation | $633,035 |
| Total | $5,206,268 |
EDS' community affairs activities center on educational initiatives, applying technological know-how and empowering employees to get involved in their communities. We focus on three major global programs:
We support these initiatives by encouraging employees volunteerism, making contributions to nonprofit organizations and sponsoring events.
EDS Corporate Contribution Guidelines are approved by the EDS Board of Directors and adhere to applicable laws, including U.S. Internal Revenue Service guidelines and U.S. Patriot Act provisions.
Employee Engagement
Our commitment to the community goes beyond monetary donations. EDS employees also give their time and talent, contributing thousands of hours every year, with more than 110,000 volunteer hours recorded in 2006. Of that total, 72,500 volunteer hours were donated to EDS-sponsored events. According to U.S. labor statistics, one volunteer hour is worth $18.04, which equates to more than $1.3 million in volunteer time on EDS-sponsored events in 2006.
Tracking and Recognition
In 2006, EDS employees began tracking their volunteer hours on a new online tracking system. More than 110,000 hours were recorded. Some of the volunteer projects were EDS-sponsored activities; others represented employees volunteering outside of EDS.
Five hundred employees were eligible for the Employee Volunteer Spirit Award in 2006. EDS presented 10 $1,000 awards, as well as 10 $100 Honorable Mention awards.
Good corporate citizenship is a key value at EDS, and our employees practice this philosophy in the community through a variety of initiatives, including the following:
- Global Volunteer Day – This annual initiative, started in 1993, includes a range of local projects as diverse as the individuals who participate.
- United Way Campaign – EDS employees have demonstrated their caring spirit by giving generously to the United Way for more than 30 years.
- And more, including: March of Dimes, Toys for Tots, Habitat for Humanity, Make-a-Wish Foundation, American Cancer Association, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Children's Miracle Network, Friedreich's Ataxia Research Alliance, Muscular Dystrophy Association, Junior Achievement, Special Olympics, Boys and Girls Clubs, American Heart Association
EDS also sponsors the On My Own Time Art Show (OMOT), a global employee event. In 2006, nine countries were represented, with 128 artists submitting 269 entries. Employees vote on the Peoples Choice Award at the online gallery, where they can view all artwork submitted.
Philanthropy
As technology advances and proliferates, there remains a gap between the rich and the poor, minorities and majority communities, and the connected and the unconnected. This gap encompasses a lack of access to hardware, software, connectivity and competent training in productively applying technology.
EDS Foundation
We created the EDS Foundation to support our philanthropic efforts in the communities where our employees volunteer and work around the world – specifically in the area of information technology. The Foundation's mission is to ensure IT supports and encourages cultural and civic change, enriching the education of current and future generations while enhancing the communities we serve.
To support this mission, the Foundation focuses on supporting technology solutions that increase performance and productivity in educational institutions and community organizations globally. The EDS Foundation also supports nonprofit organizations involved in education, health and human services, and arts and culture.
EDS Foundation Grants
During 2006, the EDS Foundation Board approved funding in the amount of $698,528 to 23 nonprofit organizations in 12 U.S. states and Canada. Of the total approved, 41 percent went to general education, 20 percent to health and human services, and 38 percent to technology solutions.
For a list and description of 2006 grant recipients, see the EDS Foundation 2006 Annual Report.
Since the EDS Foundation's inception in 2000, EDS has approved a total of $4,008,856 in foundation grants to 86 nonprofit organizations in 25 states, Brazil and Canada. Of that total, 7 percent went to arts and culture, 44 percent to general education, 9 percent to health and human services, and 40 percent to technology solutions.
The EDS Foundation is managed in accordance with all applicable U.S. regulations and guidelines, including IRS regulations, the foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the Patriot Act. To assist in evaluating the success of the program, grant recipients are required to report back in one year on the results achieved with the support of Foundation funding.
Sponsorships
Community affairs activities strengthen EDS by building relationships, supporting diversity and promoting positive employee morale. The following programs promote charitable giving and volunteerism by EDS and our employees.
EDS Byron Nelson Championship
In total, the 2006 EDS Byron Nelson Championship raised $6.3 million. Since 1973, the championship has raised more than $94 million for charity – the most of any PGA TOUR event. In addition, more than 300 EDS employees travel to the Championship each year from all over the world to volunteer their time in support of the tournament.
EDS is proud to contribute to the success of the EDS Byron Nelson Championship and its leadership as the Professional Golfers' Association (PGA) TOUR's largest charitable contributor.
The sole beneficiary of proceeds from the EDS Byron Nelson Championship is the Salesmanship Club Youth and Family Centers, a nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching the quality of life for children and their families through education and mental health services. In addition to EDS' participation as the title sponsor, EDS provided one more opportunity to raise money for the charity in 2006, creating three custom Mega Golf Ball Frenzy pinball machines. By auctioning off two of these machines, we were able to raise more than $35,000 for the Salesmanship Club Family Works Center.
Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
As the most common cancer among women worldwide, breast cancer has touched or will touch the lives of most people. That's why EDS generously supports the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and why EDS' support of the Komen Race for the Cure® keeps growing. We are pleased to be the presenting sponsor for the North Texas Race for the Cure®.
EDS' participation in the project is 100 percent voluntary. EDS does not manage the events but supports the different local affiliates and their commitments. In 2006, we backed this important event through contributions, fund-raising events, creative support, sponsorships, volunteer hours, marketing, walking teams and technical and audio/visual support in cities around the world.