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PRESS RELEASE

Cisco Raises More than $4.6 Million to Support Global Hunger Relief

Cisco Foundation Double Matches Employee Donations

Date/Time Stamp: February 11, 2009

News Summary:

  • Cisco today announced its foundation and employees are contributing more than $4.6M to support hunger relief organizations around the world.

  • Cisco worldwide employee donations exceed initial pledge goal; more than $1.3M raised during annual campaign (Oct. 1-Dec. 31, 2008) to aid hunger relief in their local communities. The Cisco Foundation and the TOSA Foundation together are contributing approximately $3.3M.

  • The Cisco Foundation provided two-for-one matching for every dollar pledged (up to $10,000) by employees between Nov. 3 and Dec. 19.

  • Cisco global campaign provided relief to 108 local and international food support agencies representing employees from more than 30 countries.

  • Cisco Civic Councils, teams of employees in Cisco's key sites around the world who champion philanthropic activities in their local communities, play a key role in encouraging employee participation in identifying opportunities to give. The Hunger Relief campaign represents the impact of a global program on addressing the specific needs of the local communities where Cisco operates.

Tags / Keywords:

Cisco, CSR, corporate social responsibility, citizenship, philanthropy

Links / URLs:

Quotes:

  • Terry Anderson, vice president, Corporate Communications and Community Relations, Cisco

    • "Giving back to the community is a Cisco priority. We are tremendously proud of our employees for stepping up to help address escalating community needs in this current economic environment. Now more than ever, the phenomenal results of our annual Hunger Relief campaign represent the power of Cisco's global employee network in addressing the needs of our local communities."

  • Michele Sklar, senior director of development, Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo counties

    • "For over 15 years Cisco has been a key partner of Second Harvest Food Bank and the hundreds of community non-profits we provide food to. Thanks in part to the leadership and sustained commitment of John Chambers and John Morgridge, along with thousands of Cisco employees, Second Harvest has achieved its holiday goals. This year, in particular, Cisco rose to the challenge of helping us bring in more money than ever in our agency's history. Their giving in 2008 represents nearly 20 percent of our $8 million campaign goal."

Images:

  • Serving lunch at a local school, chief globalization officer and executive vice president of Cisco Services, Wim Elfrink, along with Cisco volunteers in Bangalore, India raise awareness about the Hunger Relief campaign which is expected to provide midday meals to over 20,000 school children in 2009.

  • In two consecutive half-day work shifts, the employees, family, and friends of Cisco Austin processed a total of 22,185 pounds of food and grocery products at Capital Area Food Bank this year, a record amount for that food bank.

  • Cisco employee Yoko Hashizume sorts fresh produce at Second Harvest Foodbank in Tokyo, Japan.

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