Cisco Systems, a worldwide leader in networking technology, is committed to using its resources to improve people’s lives and create positive impact around the world. For the last dozen years, Cisco has matched employee volunteer time and donations to address the immediate need of hunger and food insecurity globally. The annual Cisco Global Hunger Relief Campaign supports more than 160 nonprofits to deliver millions of meals in the U.S. and internationally. Last year’s campaign raised $5.7 million in employee contributions and company matching to charitable organizations.
This is the first year that Stop Hunger Now will be included as one of the nonprofits Cisco employees can select for personal donation and receive the company match through the campaign.
“We know that millions of people in our global community do not have enough to eat and we recognize our good fortune. We’re committed to making a difference. That’s why hunger is the focus of Cisco’s employee giving and we invited Stop Hunger Now to partner with us this year,” said Randy Pond, executive vice president.
The Stop Hunger Now relationship with Cisco began in 2012 when employees first packaged 50,000 meals for disaster relief and the food insecure. In 2013, more than 350 Cisco volunteers packaged 120,000 meals, and the company donated $43,000 in matching gifts and awards. Jessica Graham, Cisco Community Relations Manager, reported that the 2014 Global Hunger Relief Campaign is right on track with 165,000 Stop Hunger Now meals anticipated.
More than two hundred Cisco employees at corporate headquarters in San Jose, Calif. contributed 50,000 of those meals in less than 90 minutes during a volunteer challenge on Nov. 19. Volunteers selected from 10 different functional teams (i.e. Sales, Engineering, Marketing, etc.) participated in a friendly meal packaging competition. The Global Business Services volunteers were the victors, reaching 5,000 meals (23 boxes) before the other teams.
Volunteers make a real impact
Throughout 2014, Cisco sponsored 14 Stop Hunger Now events for U.S.-based employee volunteers in San Jose, Atlanta, Ga., Richardson, Texas and Raleigh, N.C. Their contributions will result in more than 250,000 meals and feed 3,125 people (80 meals each).
At each event, Cisco employees work in teams to package nutrient-rich meals including rice, soy, vegetables and micronutrient powder. The meals support schools, orphanages, nurseries and medical clinics in vulnerable communities. Recent shipments from Stop Hunger Now’s Northern California location in San Leandro supported children and families in Afghanistan, Haiti, the Philippines, and Vietnam.
Executive Director Nancy Letteri, Children of Vietnam, recently shared, “Stop Hunger Now meals empower us to serve a hot meal each day in school — for many of our students this is the only meal they receive. Once fed, our children are better able to learn and grow.”
To learn more about Stop Hunger Now employee engagement solutions for your corporation, please contact Corporate Relations Director Karen Sanders Noe at knoe@riseagainsthunger.org.