Tech firms AOL, IBM, Intel, Microsoft and Oracle contributed more than €1.4m to local community groups and charities in 2011, according to Business in the Community Ireland.
This information has been captured by Business in the Community Ireland on an online interactive map entitled the ‘Business Impact Map’.
The five firms are amongst 40 socially minded, large Irish companies to take part in the map. National statistics show that in total more than 3,600 community partnerships have been formed in 2011 and more than €16.7m has been given in cash donations, in kind donations and employee fundraising to local charities and community groups.
In Ireland, €11m was given in cash donations, €2.3m was contributed through in kind donations and €3.3m was raised through employee fundraising. Employees also volunteered more than 130,000 hours to local groups and projects during the year.
The technology sector had the highest recorded level of volunteering hours, with more than 75,800 hours volunteered by employees in 2011.
Social issues that received the most support were health at €5m, community projects at €3m, education at €2.9m, social inclusion at €2.3m and homelessness at €760,000.
Branching out
“Companies are in a strong position to have a major impact on social issues. One of the reasons for creating the map is for businesses to identify other companies that are working on similar social issues and to uncover possible areas for collaboration,” said Tina Roche, CEO of Business in the Community Ireland.
“So much strong work is being done by so many different companies and Business in the Community Ireland actively encourages companies to work together on specific areas or issues so that they can have an even greater impact.”
The map was launched at a special event in Grand Canal Dock, where employees from 40 different companies came together to create Ireland’s first pop up orchard.
The orchard was designed by Make Hand Stands in partnership with Dublin Community Growers and after the orchard has been enjoyed in situ, the trees, shrubs and plants supplied by Tully Nurseries & Plant Centre will find new homes in community gardens and groups that are part of the Dublin Community Growers network.
