"As a global company, Symantec is committed to helping create vibrant economies and greater opportunity around the world," said Steve Bennett, Symantec president and CEO. "Our investment in STEM education allows young people to obtain the skills they need to pursue their aspirations in today's information economy."
Providing STEM and literacy education to children and young adults, particularly women and minorities, is a business imperative in order to build a diversified and innovative workforce for the future. Symantec's grant dedication includes:
- Teach for America is a national corps of outstanding recent college graduates and professionals who commit to teach for two years in urban and rural public schools. Symantec has provided educational grants to Teach for America, helping them to place more math and science teachers in underserved school districts across the United States. In Los Angeles, the Twin Cities, and the San Francisco Bay Area, corps members can apply for the Symantec Innovation Award based on their innovation, collaboration and results in the classroom. Exceptional corps members are then recognized at an end of year celebration and awarded a cash prize.
- Science Buddies helps children from all walks of life build their literacy in science and technology by pairing them with science and engineering role models to create science projects and participate in local science fairs. Since 2007, Symantec has provided educational grants to Science Buddies, which have primarily covered core programming support with a focus on computer science. In addition, Symantec employees have provided time and effort to help this organization in meaningful ways such as curriculum development, student assistance, helping with Science Buddies' back end processes and serving in a leadership role on their advisory committee. The newly awarded grant will be used to continue the computer science related work and expand it with the development of a prototype for a hands on computer science project kit with hardware components to complement online educational information for students, teachers and parents.
- The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) is the largest voluntary movement dedicated to girls and young women in the world, regardless of religion, ethnic group or background. In January 2012, Symantec partnered with WAGGGS in the development and delivery of Surf Smart, an online safety education resource, which provides skills and tools for young people to identify online risks and safeguards, understand online ethics and recognize the wider impact of their own actions and other people's actions online. In addition, Symantec employees in France, Germany and the United Kingdom volunteered their time and expertise to support the delivery of Surf Smart's non-formal education curriculum, which includes peer education, practical application, and community outreach. The newly awarded grant will be used to expand the curriculum into Africa.
- Room to Read is a global nonprofit organization focusing on literacy and gender equality in education across Asia and Africa. Symantec's three-year grant focuses on establishing libraries, supporting girls' education, and expanding Room to Read's programs to Maharashtra, India. Of the 759 million people in the world who cannot read or write, 35 percent live in India, so Symantec's strategic investments in India are a key part of furthering Room to Read's mission to transform the lives of millions of children in developing countries by focusing on literacy and gender equality in education.
- NPower brings the tech community together for social good through two core programs: Technology Service Corps (TSC), a free, sector-based IT workforce development program that responds to the needs of underserved, low-income youth and young adults and The Community Corps (TCC), a unique online platform that connects nonprofits and schools to skilled tech volunteers who can help them achieve their mission. Since 2009, Symantec has provided educational grants to NPower to sustain the operations of both programs. In addition, Symantec employees have provided invaluable professional experience and IT training in both programs, which has made a measurable and lasting impact on the success of those NPower serves. The newly awarded grant will be used to continue to sustain general operations, as well as support the opening of its first TSC program site serving veterans in Dallas, Texas and the San Francisco/Silicon Valley area.
Finally, employee volunteers at 26 Symantec sites around the globe are partnering with local education nonprofits to address specific education concerns in their own communities, through a combination of cash grants and volunteer time.
"We could not be more pleased with our Symantec relationship," said Stephanie Cuskley, CEO, NPower. "What began several years ago as a single volunteer teaching in our workforce development program has now grown to include support for all our programs, including broad skilled employee volunteering, donations of Symantec security products and services, as well as leadership roles on our TSC Advisory Council. Through the power of technology and the support of the Symantec community, we look forward to growing our partnership and to doing more social good together."
As part of Symantec's commitment to its employees and global corporate responsibility initiatives, the company partners with non-profit organizations to advance the company's mission. Its partnerships with these organizations continue to expand and reach more children and adults to build their literacy in science and technology. Grants listed here were awarded through the Symantec Foundation, a corporate advised fund at the Silicon Valley Community Foundation. Learn more about our global corporate responsibility initiatives at http://www.symantec.com/corporate_responsibility/.
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Jaime Barclay Symantec Corp. 650-527-5092 Email Contact Shelby Watts Weber Shandwick 415-262-5919 Email Contact