TechBridge Helps Area CIOs Create Atlanta's First Tech Leadership Community Service Project
IT Execs Mobilize to Build Home for Atlanta Habitat for Humanity
April 21, 2005
TechBridge, a nonprofit supporting nonprofits with technology solutions, announced today that eight of metro Atlanta’s leading information technology (IT) organizations are partnering for the first time in a community service venture that will allow them to benefit the community while building professional relationships.
The venture’s 2005 project, organized and supported by TechBridge, brings together CIOs from AGL Resources, BellSouth, Coca-Cola, Delta Technology, GE Energy, Georgia-Pacific, Federal Home Loan Bank and Southern Company, to oversee the building of a house for Atlanta Habitat for Humanity. The IT organizations these CIOs lead will provide the funding and the volunteers needed to build the house. The CIO team chose the Habitat project because of the organization’s reputation and popularity with employees. Each of the parent companies of their IT organizations has been involved with Habitat projects in the Atlanta area.
The goal of the project is to build a house in seven days over the course of a five-week period. The build will kick-off Thursday, April 21, 2005 and will feature a "Wall-Raising" ceremony at 11:30 a.m. at the build site located at 950 Smith Street. Members of the CIO team will be on hand at the event to direct activities.
"This Habitat build provides an exciting opportunity for the technology community in the Atlanta area to come together and give back to the community that has been so good to us all,” said Curtis Robb, recently retired CIO of Delta Air Lines. “Delta Technology is proud to be a part of this team. The CIOs of the major companies in Atlanta have been collaborating on a number of issues. This joint activity gives our extended teams a chance to learn more about one another while creating a lasting change for the community.”
Executive Director of Atlanta Habitat, Larrie Del Martin also shared sentiments about the upcoming project, "Atlanta Habitat is honored and excited to be the beneficiary of new support from the technology sector of Atlanta's business community. The leadership of TechBridge has helped this pilot project run smoothly and seamlessly, and the result will be a new home for a hardworking Atlanta family. We welcome and celebrate the strong support of Atlanta's top technology professionals and we look forward to working with them in the future."
Other CIOs participating in the joint service venture include Kristin R. Kirkconnell, CIO, AGL Resources; Fran Dramis, CIO, BellSouth, Jean-Michel Ares, CIO, Coca Cola Company; Marian M. Lucia, CIO, Federal Home Loan Bank; James Dallas, CIO, Georgia-Pacific; John Seral CIO, GE Energy, and Becky Blalock, CIO The Southern Company. Blalock and Dallas also serve as co-chairs for the 2005 TechBridge Digital Ball.
In addition to helping the founding CIOs organize the project planning team, TechBridge approached other technology companies to get them involved. TechBridge succeeded in recruiting a number of supporting sponsors, including ADS, IBM, Intellinet, Macquarium, Microsoft, Sapient, Synergis and Unisys. These companies will be assisting with on-site hospitality for the employee volunteers.
“Our working relationships with technology leaders in Atlanta’s business sector make TechBridge a natural focal point for pulling together a collaborative community effort,” said Jack McMillan, CEO of TechBridge. “We envision that this will become an annual joint service project for Atlanta technology professionals.”
In addition to building the home, the CIO team is adding a uniquely “tech” touch, supplying it with a personal computer donated by IBM. “We want to ensure that the family has the opportunity to succeed in a technology driven workforce and educational system, “ said Robb. “It’s fitting that the technology community is drawing from its own element to help break the chain of poverty and disadvantage.”
About TechBridge
TechBridge is a nonprofit supporting nonprofits with technology solutions. TechBridge is part of the national NPower affiliate network and provides professional, affordable technology consulting services, innovative technology solutions and access to the financial, technical and human resources that nonprofits need to be successful. TechBridge provides a high-impact opportunity to leverage philanthropic dollars across many nonprofit organizations. Since its inception, TechBridge has facilitated the donation of more than $2 million in free Microsoft software. In 2004 alone, we delivered over 9,000 hours of professional and programming services to help more than 80 nonprofit clients enhance their operational efficiencies and improve the delivery of essential services. For more information visit www.techbridge.org
About Atlanta Habitat for Humanity
Atlanta Habitat for Humanity, one of over 1,700 U.S. affiliates of Habitat for Humanity International, is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing affordable housing to Atlanta’s low-income families. Since 1983, volunteers from corporations, faith-based and civic organizations have worked in partnership with qualified homebuyers to construct quality, affordable homes, which are then purchased through no-interest, no-profit mortgages. To date, more than 800 homes have been completed. For more information about Atlanta Habitat, please visit www.atlantahabitat.org or call (404) 223-5180.
