TI recognizes, promotes employee volunteerism

Throughout the year, TI employees everywhere donate their time and talents to make their communities better places to live. The company recognized those efforts recently to encourage worldwide volunteerism.

"TI has had a long tradition of employees giving back through community service, and in tough economic times, our communities need volunteers more than ever," said Trisha Cunningham, TI worldwide director of corporate citizenship.

"We took the opportunity recently to recognize the passion and commitment that TI employees have to help others, acknowledge their tremendous impact and challenge all employees to actively volunteer in their communities," she said.

Employee involvement around the country
TI encourages community involvement through the company's "Tech Smart Big Heart" program and tracks hours that employees donate at TI-sponsored volunteer activities. In 2008, TI employees volunteered more than 11,000 hours through these activities at schools, United Way agencies, mentoring network groups and other organizations. Employees also provided untold hours to other community agencies on their own.

• TI employees in Dallas volunteer each year at the Dallas Arboretum by welcoming guests and providing directions as well as helping with crafts and entertainment, educating visitors and working as guides. Click here to see a video that offers a closer look at TI's volunteering efforts during this year's Dallas Blooms event.

• Employees in Tucson, AZ recently conducted an e-mentor program for a high school located in an economically-disadvantaged part of town near TI's former plant site. TI Tucson was also a sponsor for the Southern Arizona Regional Science & Engineering Fair where 10 employees served as judges.

• Employees in Stafford, TX participated in United Way's "Day of Caring" by volunteering at the Fort Bend Family Health Center. Nineteen TI volunteers helped revamp the landscape at the facility, re-covered several exam room tables and read to children waiting in the lobby.

• In Manchester, NH, employees participate in food drives for a local homeless shelter, a yearly Christmas Tag Tree benefitting a local charity and United Way's "Day of Caring." They also sponsor three local high school robotics teams and have recently started a women's networking group that plans to sponsor a college scholarship for a local high school girl who will major in technology or engineering.

• Employees in Shanghai, China recently helped plant trees for an event organized by Shanghai Municipal Government.

• In the Philippines, TI employees have adopted a watershed area in Baguio City. Volunteers maintain the area by regularly cleaning it and planting trees. Volunteers have also adopted two elementary schools, feeding undernourished children at one and conducting environmental, safety and health programs at the other.

• In TI Japan Hiji, employees, contractors and their families participate in a seaside cleanup campaign every July.

• TI India organizes the Jack Kilby Science and Technology Quiz for school children each year in five major Indian cities.

• Also in India, TI employees raised money for scholarships to send more than 100 underprivileged children from Bangalore to school. Additionally, TI India sponsors seven balwadis, or preschool centers, in underprivileged areas of Bangalore. Volunteers regularly visit the balwadis to keep in touch with the students' progress and meet with parents.