IBM Spearheads Servathon in the Philippines On Its 100th Birthday

More the 2.5 million hours of volunteer service to communities in over 120 countries worldwide

IBM Philippines joined forces today with Hands On Manila Foundation for a service marathon (servathon) to celebrate the 100th anniversary of IBM's founding by mentoring & teaching, facilitating arts & crafts, mural paintings and gardening activities at the following project sites: 

·        Tahanan Sta. Luisa, located at Old Balara, Quezon City – a shelter that provides psycho-social case management and counseling to exploited and sexually abused young girls, and aims to reunify them with their families;
·        Peace Child Care Center located at Culiat, Tandang Sora, Quezon City -- a daycare/ pre-school that assists children from indigent families through educational and feeding programs;
·        Jesus Loves the Little Children Foundation, located at Pinagbuhatan, Pasig City – an orphanage and a pre-school for homeless, abandoned, surrendered and street children.
  

Today’s service marathon is part of IBM’s global Celebration of Service, designed to allow employees, retirees, clients and business partners, to donate their time and expertise during the company’s Centennial year.  In Cebu, IBM employees in collaboration with the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) Visayas Regional Office, recently worked on a Mangrove Reforestation Project in Olango Island.  On June 25, IBM employees based in Metro Manila is set to plant 2,000 trees covering five (5) hectares to help preserve the La Mesa Eco Park in Quezon City. 
Since January 2011, IBMers, retirees and their families, have donated more than 2.5 million hours of service to communities worldwide.   Similarly, over 300,000 employees, close to three quarters of its global workforce are volunteering this Centennial year in more than 5,000 projects in 120 countries, meeting civic challenges and societal challenges serving millions in need.  

“To commemorate our 100 years as a corporation, IBM is setting a record for community service by sharing the best skills of our employees, making a real impact in the communities where we work and live,” said James Velasquez, Country General Manager IBM Philippines who is also leading the servathon.  “While this represents a historic and record setting amount of volunteer service initiative, what makes it meaningful is the high quality of the work being given to those who truly need help. The impact will go far beyond one day. We are building on our strong heritage of skills based service – a commitment that is in IBM’s DNA.”

About IBM:  For more information on the IBM Centennial, visit: www.ibm100.com.