Applied Materials Employee Giving Tradition to Enable More Than 2
Million Meals for the Hungry
SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Applied Materials, Inc., today announced that its North American
employees have raised more than $480,000 for local food banks in the
past two months through a variety of fundraising activities, exceeding
the company’s 2008 fundraising goal. The Applied Materials Foundation
will match the employee giving amount, so that the total contribution to
food banks throughout North America will be $1 million, which will
provide more than 2 million meals for those in need.
“Since 1991 when Applied first set a national record for a corporate
food drive, our employees have set a standard for generosity that grows
each year,” said Mike Splinter, president and CEO of Applied Materials.
“With service organizations facing record need this year, we are
especially proud of this tradition and of our employees, who have shown
a real passion for addressing the hunger issue for so many years.”
“Applied once again is showing its commitment to making a meaningful
difference in the Austin area through the generosity of its employees,”
said David Davenport, President & CEO of the Capital Area Food Bank.
“Our need this year is higher than ever and it is corporate donations
and the creativity of employees like we see at Applied Materials that is
going to allow us to meet the need.”
The Applied Materials food drive takes place in November and December
when employees try to ‘out-do’ one another in a variety of friendly
competitions, often between buildings and work units, by raising money
in what are sometimes unusual and creative ways.
“This year employees pulled out all the stops to increase overall giving
in the face of these tough economic times,” said Mark Walker, Managing
Director of Community Affairs for Applied Materials. “In addition to a
significant online program, we had employees paying to throw cream pies
at their managers, holding auctions in their homes, canned food
sculpture contests, solar car races, bake sales and dozens of other
events designed to convince co-workers to donate a little bit more for a
great cause.”
“Many companies are generous in their giving to our program, but Applied
Materials has been a company we’ve been able to count on for decades,”
said Keith Flagler, interim CEO of the Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa
Clara and San Mateo Counties. “They are one of the most consistent and
creative in their approach and their employees never cease to amaze us
with new ideas for raising funds. The donations of both money and food
they provide help all year long and are an important part of our annual
fundraising efforts.”
About Applied Materials:
Applied Materials, Inc. (Nasdaq:AMAT) is the global leader in
Nanomanufacturing Technology™ solutions with a broad portfolio of
innovative equipment, service and software products for the fabrication
of semiconductor chips, flat panel displays, solar photovoltaic cells,
flexible electronics and energy efficient glass. At Applied Materials,
we apply Nanomanufacturing Technology to improve the way people live.
Learn more at www.appliedmaterials.com.
