In the past four years, Intel’s Irish operations donated US$1.67m (€1.34m) to non-profits across Ireland. Today some US$468,000 (€372,000) has been granted to organisations ranging from charities to schools and sports clubs.
Minister Phil Hogan, TD, Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government, was on hand today to present the organisations with their individual grants at a special ceremony in Intel to mark the occasion.
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.
During 2011, Intel employees volunteered more than 60,646 hours, of which 46,827 hours were eligible to be matched through this initiative resulting in a payout of more than $468,270 amongst the recipient organisations.
Corporate social responsibility
“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,” said Eamonn Sinnott, vice-president of Intel’s Technology and Manufacturing Group and general manager of the Irish operation, where 4,000 people are employed and a further 1,000 new jobs are being created.
“Intel employees have excelled 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.”
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 US$10 for every hour volunteered by an Intel employee.
This is the fourth year Intel has implemented the current grant scheme and in that time more than US$1.6m 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 four years.
