June 8, 2011
Nonprofits Across the Charlotte Area to Receive Tech Training
from IBM Volunteers on June 15
Charlotte, NC – NPower Charlotte Region today announced that it will partner with local IBM employees as part of IBM’s Centennial Day of Service on June 15, a program designed for employees, retirees and business partners, to donate their time and expertise during the company’s Centennial year. IBMers around the world are volunteering in their local communities, helping with civic challenges and societal needs.
As part of this celebration, IBM and NPower Charlotte Region, a nonprofit that provides technology support to other nonprofits, will launch a Tech Day of Service on Wednesday, June 15 to provide opportunities for IBM employees to conduct IT, skills-based volunteering with local nonprofits. This program will help solve technology-related problems for more than 200 individuals from 26 nonprofits.
“As IBM turns 100 this year, what better birthday celebration for a company devoted to technology innovation than to have a Tech Day of Service,” says Chris Meade, executive director at NPower Charlotte Region. “We’ve invited nonprofits from all over Charlotte to celebrate – and in true birthday party fashion, the party favor will be lasting technology improvements that help more nonprofits achieve their missions.”
NPower and IBM worked closely with United Way of Central Carolinas’ Volunteer Center and the Arts & Science Council to identify nonprofits across our region that need technology support. Each nonprofit participating in the program has unique IT needs and the Tech Day of Service allows NPower to pair the appropriate IBM volunteer with a nonprofit that needs help.
“We are excited about helping with the Tech Day of Service, and are very thankful for the ongoing generosity of both IBM and NPower,” says Jane McIntyre, executive director of United Way of Central Carolinas. “This is a great way to provide skills-based IT volunteers and celebrate the positive impact technology can make in the nonprofit community.”
Scott Provancher, president of Arts & Science Council is also enthusiastic about the impact of the program. “By participating in Tech Day of Service we hope to raise awareness of the powerful impact technology can have in the nonprofit community,” Provancher says. “We have seen first-hand, as a client of NPower, how technology can make nonprofits more effective and efficient.”
IBM is sending two to four volunteers to each nonprofit to address a variety of nonprofit IT needs including technology inventory, data security audits, personal computer clean up, antivirus updates, tech coaching, website visioning, social media and mobile device training.
Participating organizations come from a variety of nonprofit sectors including health and human services, arts, science and culture, and are located in Charlotte, Matthews, Huntersville, Davidson, and other parts of Union and Mecklenburg Counties. The location of participating nonprofits represents the footprint of where Charlotte-area IBM employees live, strengthening ties to the community.
“As IBM celebrates its 100 year anniversary as a corporation, it’s fitting to commemorate this milestone by sharing our technology skills across the communities where we live and work,” said Anne McNeill of IBM Corporate Citizenship. “By partnering with NPower on Tech Service Day, together we are able to help make a difference in the lives of our neighbors across the Charlotte region.”
In recognition of 100 years in business, the 2011 IBM Celebration of Service spans more than 170 countries where IBMers live and conduct business.
About NPower Charlotte Region: NPower Charlotte Region is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit technology consultancy that works exclusively with 501(c)(3) organizations. NPower Charlotte Region is part of the national NPower network and serves the 14 county region surrounding Charlotte, NC. NPower works with nonprofit organizations to improve current technology and implement needed technology programs to achieve improvements that enable them to better serve their clients. Visit NPower Charlotte Region at
www.npowercharlotteregion.org.
About IBM: For more information on the IBM Centennial, visit:
www.ibm100.com.