Intel donated $468,270 (€372,000) to 150 community organisations, charities and schools across Ireland as part of its Matching Grant Programme and Minister Phil Hogan T.D., Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government was on hand to present the organisations with their individual grants at a special ceremony in Intel to mark the occasion. In the past 4 years Intel Ireland has donated a total of $1,671,327 (€1,343,410.51) to non-profit organisations across Ireland.
The Intel Involved Matching Grant Programme aims to encourage Intel employees to engage in outreach and volunteerism by supporting employees’ giving their time and talent to qualified non–profit organisations and schools. After a minimum of 20 hours has been accrued by Intel employees volunteering at a school or qualified non–profit organisation, a donation or "match" will be triggered from the Intel Foundation. Grants are then paid out at $10 for every hour volunteered by an Intel employee.
During 2011 Intel employees volunteered over 60,646 hours of which 46,827 hours were eligible to be matched through this initiative resulting in a payout of over $468,270 amongst the recipient organisations.
Pictured at the Intel Matching Grant Programme celebration were Eamonn Sinnott Intel Vice President, Technology and Manufacturing Group and General Manager of Intel Ireland and Minister Phil Hogan T.D., Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government with volunteers from some of the organisations who received donations from Intel as part of this programme.
Speaking at the celebratory event Minister Hogan said "Corporate Social Responsibility is an integral element of my Department's strategic objective of assisting communities, particularly in these challenging times. This Government recognises the importance of active citizenship through volunteering and the positive impact one person can make, as shown by Intel here today. The Intel Matching Grants Programme makes our communities a better place to live and I am delighted to join you in thanking Intel and its employees for their great work and tremendous contribution to these 150 organisations around Ireland.”
The 150 organisations which were part of the Matching Grant initiative included charities such as The Children's Sunshine Home & LauraLynn House, Chernobyl Children’s Appeal, The Irish Cancer Society as well as variety of sporting clubs ranging from GAA to swimming, and various other organisations such as animal sanctuaries, scouting groups and schools.
Eamonn Sinnott, Intel Vice President, Technology and Manufacturing Group and General Manager of Intel in Ireland spoke proudly of the 60,646 volunteer hours given by Intel Ireland employees during 2011 of which 46,827 hours were matched by $10 grants; “Volunteering in the community is deeply embedded in Intel’s culture and the Intel Matching Grant Programme aims to recognise and motivate Intel employees to engage in outreach and volunteerism to make our communities a better place to live, work and play. Intel employees have exceled year on year in their commitment to make a difference in their communities by giving freely of their time and expertise and I am proud to be here today to recognise that commitment through the donation of $468,270 to 150 deserving charities, clubs and organisations.”
This is the 4th year that Intel has implemented the current grant scheme and in that time more than $1,671,327 million has been donated to charities, schools, sports clubs, social initiatives and community schemes across Ireland. The total number of hours volunteered by employees during this time is equivalent to having 15 people working full time in the community for the past 4 years.
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Further images can be viewed here; http://www.flickr.com/photos/intel_irl/sets/72157629965038432/.
Further information
About the Intel Involved Matching Grant Programme
Each major Intel site supports outreach programmes that address the priorities and concerns of its surrounding communities through donations, grants, and volunteering.
In 2008, as Intel embarked on a year that would see us celebrate our 40th anniversary it was decided to do something unique and mark this special anniversary by donating 1 million hours of volunteer time globally in the communities where we live and work.
As part of the 1 million hour target the Intel Matching Grant programme, which was previously only open to schools, was expanded to include all eligible non-profit organizations, meaning that numerous groups ranging from sporting organizations to charities. The initiative was so successful in 2008 that Intel have continued it ever since and Intel Ireland has embraced the opportunity to reward employees for their valuable contributions to communities.
The objective is to support employees’ giving their time and talent to qualified non–profit and non–government organizations in addition to schools. For every 1 hour volunteered The Intel Foundation donates $10 to the selected organization. Intel Involved Matching Grant Programme.
About Intel
Intel is a world leader in computing innovation. The company designs and builds the essential technologies that serve as the foundation for the world’s computing devices.Intel.ie
Additional information about Intel is available at:
Web - intel.ie | Twitter - @Intel_IRL | Facebook - Intel Ireland
