March 18, 2008

IBM donated $1.48 million to Purdue during the 2006-2007 academic year, continuing a long-lasting partnership that has helped Purdue toward preeminence. IBM’s giving during 2006-2007 included support for diversity programming, a faculty award, and research projects in the computing field. In addition, IBM employees made gifts to Purdue that were matched three-to-one in equipment/services by IBM, for a total matching gift contribution of over $270,000.

IBM believes we live and work today on a global commons — of information, of commerce and of community. That commons has been created by three converging forces: the network revolution, the reality of globalization and the empowerment of diverse new stakeholders. And it offers new possibilities for shared decision-making, built upon trust and collaboration.

For IBM, these historic and disruptive shifts both require and enable nothing less than a new social and economic compact among individuals, organizations, and civil society. Indeed, they believe that triple benefit defines a corporation’s responsibilities in the 21st century:

For IBM, they aim to establish a stronger brand with longer-lasting shareholder value and become more attractive as a responsible company to clients, investors and to the public

• For IBMers, they enable them to acquire new skills, transition to other careers, improve the communities where their children, families, and neighbors live, and take personal control of their own destiny
• For communities and society at large, they bring their talent and technology to bear on tackling large, difficult societal problems

Purdue University is very thankful to IBM and all their employees around the world for developing and supporting this vision of Corporate Citizenship. We look forward to working together to improve Access & Success for young people.

Learn more about IBM Corporate Citizenship.