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Partner Stories
Spansion fills Empty Bowls with money, time, talent and technology
For the past two years, Spansion has been an integral part of the Empty Bowl Project, providing underwriting for supplies and other costs associated with the event so more of the proceeds can be used for meals. But money isn’t all we bring to the table. Employees’ artistic talents and technology are also part of the equation.
Several weeks before the event organizer Hester Weigand brings bowls to Spansion for employees to paint during their lunch break. Employees decorate as many as 50 bowls in a day, and some of their creations have even ended up in the silent auction. Everyone from technicians to executives get in on the act.
On the day of the Empty Bowl Project, always the Sunday before Thanksgiving, employees work in teams to enter donations into a database so that CAFB staff can download information into their tracking system quickly and easily. Entries are balanced against deposits to ensure security and accuracy.
In 2007, we added two more elements to our investment in the Empty Bowl Project – space and organizational leadership. A member of the Spansion staff now serves on the planning committee for the Empty Bowl Project, and Spansion is providing secured space to store equipment, bowls and materials for the event.
Because we are a new company with limited resources to invest, Spansion makes every effort to leverage our financial contributions with volunteerism, technology, leadership and expertise. Our partnership with the Capital Area Food Bank enables us to make a real impact for our community and our employees.
Tokyo Electron Season of Giving Campaign Raises Funds for Those in Need
Campaign Includes Food Drive for Families across the US
The Tokyo Electron annual food drive launched Nov. 14, 2007 to aid families in need throughout the holidays. Employees brought cash and food donations to collection centers at TEL US sites across the nation though Dec. 14 of last year. The food drive was included in the Season of Giving Campaign that also encompassed raising funds for the United Way, American Cancer Society and the American Red Cross, as well as a nationwide toy collection drive. Tokyo Electron thanks its employees for the generous support of families in need as the benefits are critical to maintaining the health and safety of our community resources and infrastructure across the US.
There were many giving options this past fall, and TEL specifically targeted support of the food drive during Thanksgiving. A few current hunger-related facts for Central Texas include:
Hungry Households
Catch of the Day: Fishing to Feed Hungry Central Texans
Applied Materials has long held the title as the largest contributing Food & Fund Drive to benefit the Food Bank. How do they make it happen year after year? They coordinate events that ensure great attendance and a great time. By focusing on events that primarily raise funds, and by taking advantage of their matching gift program, Applied Materials employees made donations in 2006 resulting in the equivalent of 1.2 million nutritious meals for hungry Central Texans in 2006.
This doesn't happen overnight. Applied Materials schedules events throughout the year to encourage staff to participate in fundraising efforts to help end hunger. They hold many creative food and fundraisers including a softball tournament in the summer and a Food Drive Olympics and Fun Run in the fall. Varying activities ensure participation across the company, and opening events to the families of staff helps increase participation.
Recently, Applied Materials held a fishing tournament for employees and family members on the Applied Materials campus. When asked why her company chooses to do such a relaxed and down-to-earth event, Michele Walker-Moak explained, "Applied is always looking for unique fundraising opportunities to support the Food Bank. We have a beautiful campus with a fully-stocked lake. Employees look forward to bringing their families to enjoy a morning of low-key fishing." How often does one get the opportunity to fish on a private pond with friends, family and colleagues and help end hunger all in one day? Many Applied Material employees look forward to this experience each year because it is family-friendly and conveniently located in a familiar location. While most employees come out for the leisurely quality time and bonding, some arrive with an intent to win the anticipated annual fishing contest.
This year, Applied Materials employee, Will Longenecker, reeled in the catch to secure his spot in the winner's seat for the largest and longest fish of the day (a 21-inch bass at 4 pounds, 10 ounces). When this three-year veteran of the event was asked about his time at the tournament and support of the Food Bank, he mentioned how much he loved attending the event with his wife and daughter and noted his company's focus on community giving: "I am very fortunate to work for a company that is not only the global leader of semi conductor manufacturing equipment but also the best example of how multi-national corporations can better the communities in which they do business."
Feeding the hungry is part of the fun and is central to Applied Material's focus at these year-round events. Employees like Will are made aware of the issue of hunger in Central Texas and are committed to supporting their community, in part, because of their company's fervent dedication to the Food Bank's mission.
Spansion and CAFB – a tradition from the start!
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2006 FamFoodSort |
In December 2005, just days before Spansion’s IPO, employees gathered at the Capital Area Food Bank with their children to start the holidays by giving back to the community. Since that day, Spansion has continued to invest volunteer time, artistic talents, financial support, and even technology expertise to help feed hungry families in
As part of Spansion’s Season of Sharing, volunteers and their families spend a Saturday morning sorting food at the Food Bank’s warehouse. Employees enjoy having the opportunity to volunteer with their children, and it gives them an opportunity to focus on the true spirit of the holidays while they take a break from the hustle and bustle of shopping malls. Employees and their children come away with a fresh perspective on the meaning of giving, and appreciate the holidays more for the experience.
The holiday volunteer tradition started when Spansion was a joint venture of AMD and Fujitsu, and it continues to be an annual tradition for many Spansion families. We have seen employee kids grow up over the years, and many tell us that they have continued to make volunteering part of their holiday.
Sally Lawrence, a Spansion Process Technician has volunteered for years with her three children. "Thanks to the volunteer program at Spansion my family has had so many wonderful years at the Capital Area Food Bank. Glad to of been a part of it."
Robert Tamble, a Director at Applied Materials, took a pie in the face in exchange for a $200 donation to the company's Food & Fund Drive. Robert's involvement in the Applied Materials Food & Fund Drive has evolved over the years.
In 2003, his department sponsored a site-wide horseshoe tournament and fajita cook-out. Robert personally paid for a local blues musician to play during the tournament. The fajitas helped to raise quite a few monetary donations for the Food Bank, but he decided the horseshoe tournament was too much work.
So, in 2005 he decided to start selling something that everyone was willing purchase...food. This was no small undertaking in that he needed to cook for 200-300 people each week. “Most of the food I would prepare a day in advance and reheat at work. All the food was home-cooked and served by my staff every Friday for 6 weeks (view the menu). This was a very strategic move because there is no cafeteria readily available for Building 36 occupants.” Bottom line, the participation, creativity and enthusiasm of Robert and the Applied Materials employees enabled Building 36 to raise over $52k for the Capital Area Food Bank in the past 14 months.
Cathy Roach, CAFB Volunteer Leader
Cathy Roach has volunteered for the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas nearly every Saturday since 2000. Her ability to network and recruit volunteers at AMD and within her community has led to a visible increase in group volunteer hours.
"At AMD, we got a group together to work the Mother's Day 24-hour Sort-A-Thon on May 14, 2000," Cathy explained when asked about her first volunteer experience with the Food Bank. "I went, had a blast, met a lot of people, and have been going back ever since."
Cathy was drawn to volunteerism since a childhood disability left her partially dependent on the help of others. "I figure there were some volunteers that helped me out, so it is my turn to help others," she said. Before volunteering at the Food Bank, Cathy divided her time between Family Eldercare, Smith Elementary, AIDS Services of Austin, the Heart Walk, March of Dimes, and Walks for Safe Families. Now you can find her nearly every Saturday in the Food Bank's Product Recovery and at major Food Bank events.
Cathy's generous nature and kind heart extends to her fellow volunteers. One Saturday, Cathy had the opportunity to work with an unenthusiastic, court-appointed volunteer. "He would only respond with grunts and glares," she said. "By the end of the shift, I got somewhat of a smile on his face, and the next week, he came in, smiled, said 'hi,' and asked what he could do."
As one of the Food Bank's STAR Volunteers, Cathy truly makes a difference in our community.
