Global Service Month at Cisco: Mid-Month Round-Up

Global Service Month (GSM) is in full-swing mid-September. We’re excited to see Cisco employees from all over the world continuing to #BetheBridge in their communities. I am constantly in awe of the spirit of generosity of our employees as we look to serve many causes in need of support. Cisco’s Global Service Month is a part of My Making a Difference, one of Our People Deal Moments that Matter.

Within our culture of giving back, lending a helping hand to address critical needs in different countries is at the heart of our values. The wide spectrum of diversity at Cisco gives us broader perspective and deeper insights on opportunities to expand our impact in our communities and across the world.

Global Service Month is the perfect complement to the year-round impact of Cisco’s employee volunteerism and giving initiatives, as well as our thriving Inclusion & Collaboration community.

Employees have many choices: they can create and lead volunteer events, participate in opportunities in their local area through our online volunteering and giving platform, or become a virtual volunteer through Cisco’s work with Missing Maps.

Spotlighted in our August 22  blog post, Missing Maps is the result of a collaboration between the American Red Cross and multiple humanitarian organizations. Their goal: to map out the most vulnerable places in the developing world so disaster teams can reach them.

Following below are variety of global efforts underway that exemplify Cisco’s commitment of giving back:

Missing Maps

Several hundred worldwide employees came together this past week to build virtual roads for first responders. Sites included China, Bangalore, Singapore, Pune (India), Sydney (Australia), Richardson, Atlanta, Austin, Lisbon, Boxborough, San Jose, RTP and more!

RTP has been busy hosting Missing Map-a-thons in partnership with the Operations team, Cisco’s Early Career Network and other teams. In recognition of the National 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance, a donation drive was also initiated to support recent relief efforts for Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, and Save the Children.

Bangalore, India

The “Paint for a Cause: School Transformation Project,” worked with the Akshaya Patra Humanity Foundation to make a local school environment more engaging and colorful. The event kick-started Operations Service Month in India, and included participation from V C Gopalrathnam, SVP, Information Technology Leader, benefitting approximately 400 students in government high school, Panathur.

Galway, Ireland

Cisco Galway won the Corporate Social Responsibility award, “Contribution in the Community,” for their work on Age Action Classes. Cisco Galway has worked with Age Action for over five years, offering computer classes to baby boomers and beyond. The team currently runs a five-week course, where students come on-site to receive 1:1 tutoring on technology-related topics — from sending a text message to booking a flight. The team is working across generations to prove that anyone can be tech savvy, and that learning has no age limit.

Japan

On September 6, several Cisco Japan employees worked together with Second Harvest Japan, the only nationwide food bank in Japan, to improve food security through donations for those in need. The small but mighty team of Midori Matsui, Yukinobu Yamamoto, Akira Sakai and Sayako Christensen, packed over 70 large boxes of food to deliver to a local child care facility.

Over the next few weeks, there are over one hundred additional volunteer events that Cisco employees are leading around the world, working to improve the lives of those in need.

Stay tuned for a wrap-up blog from co-executive sponsors, Karen Walker, SVP and Chief Marketing Officer, and Joe Cozzolino, SVP, Cisco Services following the conclusion of Global Service Month!

Together, we can all make a difference. Throughout September, spread the word on social media and share your stories by using #ServiceMonth, #WeAreCisco, and #BeTheBridge hashtags.

If you’re a Cisco employee, learn how you can make a difference by visiting the Global Service Month Jive page.