WASHINGTON, D.C. — The NAB Education Foundation (NABEF) will present its Corporate Leadership Award to Cisco at the Celebration of Service to America Awards on Tuesday (6/12) at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium.
The award is given to a non-broadcast business that exemplifies an extraordinary focus on community service and corporate social responsibility.
In NABEF’s view, Cisco addresses the growing need for information and communications technology talent through its Cisco Networking Academy IT skills and career building program. “Through a global network of educators and public-private partnerships, the Cisco Networking Academy equips more than 1.3 million students each year – and 8 million to date – in 180 countries with entry-level career skills,” NABEF notes. “In 2017, the program reached 135,247 students (nearly 1.5 million to date) in the United States alone.”
NABEF President Marcellus Alexander said, “Cisco creates value and opportunity for people around the world through its innovative technology solutions and numerous education and social responsibility programs. We are honored to present Cisco with this year’s Corporate Leadership Award and to highlight the company’s far-reaching efforts to improve lives.”
Cisco’s Tactical Operations (TacOps) team utilizes technology to assist in crisis environments. The TacOps team, in partnership with the nonprofit NetHope, helped connect 250,000 Puerto Ricans, dozens of aid organizations and government entities to the internet following Hurricane Maria in 2017. This enabled access to lifesaving information such as the location and status of loved ones, relief support, and shelter. Additionally, the effort allowed response organizations to coordinate and manage their relief activities.
Cisco’s corporate social responsibility goal is to positively impact one billion people by 2025. Through a network of nonprofit partners, the company helps develop technology-based solutions for economic empowerment, education, critical human needs and disaster relief.
Examples include:
• Cisco partnered with MIND Research Institute to support the conversion of instructional math software to an online format, extending its reach from 12,000 elementary students to over one million
• Cisco joined Generation Yes to help prepare K-12 teachers and IT staff as they integrate technology to improve learning. In 2017, the program reached more than 70,000 people
• Cisco provided equipment and financial support to Digital Divide Data (DDD), which helps young people in developing countries build sustainable careers through technology training, scholarships and well-paying jobs. With this support, DDD was able to expand to the United States through the launch of Liberty Source, which hires and trains spouses of active duty military personal and veterans for careers in finance, accounting, HR and customer care.
According to the company, 232 million people have been impacted by Cisco’s initiatives as of 2017.
“At Cisco, corporate social responsibility has always been part of who we are and is core to our business and culture,” said Cisco Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs Tae Yoo. “We think that by combining technology with innovative, entrepreneurial, and passionate people, we can accelerate solutions that will create positive change for individuals, business, society and our planet.”
Cisco manufactures and sells telecommunications equipment, networking devices and other technology services and products. With a revenue of $48 billion in 2017, the company employs 72,900 individuals and promotes connectivity and collaboration across the globe.
