AOL was honored as one of the top ten Silicon Valley companies in employee cash donations and over 100 backpacks to the Backpack Drive at the Back to School Awards Luncheon, on August 30, 2006, attended by Patricia Mahan, Santa Clara Mayor. Thankyou to everyone who contributed !
It all started with the simple intention of one man who, “wanted to do the right thing.” Discussions over what to do with a cash honorarium awarded to the SLM Team for excellence by AOL Products and Technology had been brewing for a few weeks when, at the SLM Team’s staff meeting Chak Nanga, Development Technology Manager, proposed donating a large portion of the award to the AOL Backpack Drive. Immediately the entire SLM Team got behind the idea to support the Drive; which provides backpacks and school supplies to low income school children in San Francisco Bay Area.
Namita Khurana, QA Tech Manager for SLM , explained, “The Team won the AOL Products and Technologies Award for their hard work, then decided to turn around and give it back to children in need. That is truly the best gift of all.”
In the spirit of giving, The Comments and Journals Team, AOL Silicon Valley, were quick to follow suit, voting unanimously to donate their Products and Technology Team Award to the Backpack Drive. Yoel Crane, AOL Project Manager said of the Team’s donation, “After we heard there were still many backpacks needed, our team decided at once to step up and contribute what we could. It felt great to come to the aide of such a worthy cause.”
The contributions didn’t end with the cash donations, however, as SLM and Journals Team employees continued to support the Backpack Drive effort by taking time out of their busy workday to volunteer an afternoon, stuffing backpacks with school supplies donated by AOL. The Volunteer Team’s assembly line stuffed an incredible 50 backpacks in less than 15 minutes. Proving perhaps Margaret Mead was right. . . “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
Community Investment salutes everyone who contributed to this incredible effort! "
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