Cisco and City Year Reunite to Benefit California's Costaño Ele
20 Year Legacy of Community Service Still Going Strong
June 25, 2004
By Terry Timm Moos, News@Cisco
The atmosphere was like a homecoming on June 18, when nearly 100 volunteers got together at a special service day event to benefit Costaño Elementary School in East Palo Alto, California. And it's no wonder - the event reunited longtime partners City Year organization with volunteers from Cisco Systems to help make significant landscape and playground improvements for the school. Headquartered in Boston, City Year, one of the first allies in philanthropy with Cisco, creates volunteer service day programs in its nearly 15 locations in the US, focusing primarily on educational needs.
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The service day at the school marked the first of many community philanthropy programs and projects that Cisco employees are spearheading as part of the company's 20-year anniversary in 2004. As part of the 20th anniversary kick-off, Cisco president and CEO, John Chambers, has challenged Cisco employees to give a collective 20 years of service back to the community. The Costaño School, which provides education for grades K-8, was selected for the service day because of its long history with Cisco Systems.
At last week's event, managed by City Year, several teams of Cisco volunteers got 'down and dirty' at the Costaño School grounds - doing everything from tackling yard work, landscaping and clean-up, to painting hopscotch games, maps, and even a globe on the school's black top areas. This type of event is an opportunity for groups of Cisco workers to get out in the community in a real team-building effort, working toward a common goal.
"Costaño School is really the most appropriate place to kick off our 20th anniversary philanthropy events," explained Tae Yoo, vice president of Corporate Affairs for Cisco Systems. "Cisco began its legacy of commitment to community philanthropy programs here many years ago -- and we are very proud of this school and its accomplishments," she continued.
Jumping the fence to make a difference
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The partnership began when the young Cisco was located in offices in East Palo Alto. The city was struggling to provide services for its residents, and the needs were evident at Costaño School. The school was right across the street from the growing technology company, separated only by a fence. At the suggestion of John Morgridge (past Cisco president and CEO, and now Chairman of the Board) for Cisco employees to get involved with the school, Cisco volunteers literally 'jumped the fence' to offer assistance to the school - taking time for tutoring students, and donating computer and playground equipment to get them up and running - in every sense. Cisco eventually moved its headquarters to San Jose, but the connection with Costaño School has remained as strong as when they were across-the-fence neighbors.
Working with Costaño School reflects Cisco's business goals of partnership, "first-in-class" programs, and harnessing the power of the Internet to truly make a difference in the lives of people around the world.
"The quality of education at the school has been directly affected by the efforts of many individuals. There is an atmosphere of pride at the school, and more importantly, hope for the future," explained Yoo. "It is not just about giving. These events reinforce team relationships and create a renewed sense of pride in the school."
Some things just get better as time goes by, and it is evident in the continuing relationship between Costaño Elementary School, City Year, and Cisco.
Terry Timm Moos is a freelance journalist located in Seattle, WA.