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A Celebration of Service

Rochester, Minn. IBMers mark the company’s centennial

As part of its centennial celebration, IBM encouraged employees, retirees, clients and business partners to donate their time and expertise in a “Celebration of Service.” IBM estimates that throughout the year, more than 300,000 volunteers in 120 countries will invest 2.5 million hours of service into 5,000 service projects.

"To commemorate our 100 years as a corporation, IBM is setting a record for community service by sharing the best skills of our employees, making a real impact in the communities where we work and live," says Stanley S. Litow, IBM VP of corporate citizenship and affairs, IBM. "While this represents a historic and record setting amount of service, what’s most important is not the large number of employees volunteering nor the millions of hours of service they are providing, it’s the high quality of the work that’s being done. The impact will go far beyond the one day. We’re building on our strong heritage of skills based service – a commitment that’s in IBM's DNA."

For example, Chairman and CEO Sam Palmisano taught a classroom of middle school students in his hometown of Baltimore, Maryland about science and math through a discussion around Watson, the computer system that IBM invented which triumphed on the “Jeopardy!” TV game show. On June 15, the day before IBM officially recognized its founding 100 years ago, IBM Systems Magazine followed some of the volunteers as they volunteered in Rochester, Minn.

At the Ability Building Center IBMers worked to put computers together before offering them to needy families and teaching family members how to use them. ABC will distribute 100 refurbished computers to nonprofit agencies and families.

As part of an outreach program to senior citizens, IBM offered several programs at the Shorewood Senior Living Campus. Volunteers taught residents how to use technology such as personal computers, iPads and cell phones. They also painted bird houses for a charity sale and taught seniors how to use the Wii gaming system. A competitive game of Wii bowling ensued.

The Rochester Area Family YMCA, Rochester Public Library and Boys and Girls Club focused on literacy and providing young children with the critical precursor skills to reading which can offer a path to improved overall achievement. IBMers paired up with local kids at the Boys and Girls Club to read books and do related crafts in an effort to promote reading.

See the entire IBM Systems Magazine video from the day of service:
www.ibmsystemsmag.com/power/trends/whatsnew/day_of_service

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