There are a lot of reasons I love working for Intel, but what really impresses me about our company is that we have so many people who care passionately about others and want to make a difference. On January 18, 2010, while many people took the day off from work to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Intel employees were busy supporting the MLK “Day of Service”. Hundreds of employees from Intel sites around the country spent the day teaching, inspiring and motivating teens to make a difference in their communities. Not only did they dedicate their time and efforts, but they served as incredible role models to the students who partnered with them on several of the projects.

From making greeting cards for children suffering from life threatening illnesses through the Make a Child Smile Foundation to assisting with youth writing workshops at the Boys & Girls Club, the pairing of Intel employees with local school kids was certainly a memorable one. Highlights from the day included:

• Creating a virtual book of short stories about volunteer service and writing encouragement cards for the children of Haiti at the Intel © Computer Clubhouse

• Presenting speeches about service to the Mayor of Sacramento

• Collecting and sorting supplies for Treasures 4 Teachers – kits that help teachers with classroom instruction

• Conducting several food drives

• Volunteering at community centers

• Participating in “Unity in the Community” – a tribute to the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.

• Teaching students how to program robots in the Intel computer lab

• Presenting a $10,000 check to the Boys & Girls Club of Sacramento

By day’s end, more than 500 Intel employees helped 11 schools, 6 non-profit organizations and countless people in communities from California, Oregon, New Mexico, Arizona, Washington, and Massachusetts. As an added bonus, through Intel’s Matching Grant Program, organizations will receive $10 for every volunteer hour. Employees not only gave their time to make an impact but Intel reinforces their commitment to communities by matching employee’s time with community grants.

It’s impossible to thank every individual who made this day such a huge success, but, I would be remiss if I did not point out the key contributors in organizing this day of service. The cross-country coordination efforts and partnership between Intel Corporate Affairs and the Network of Intel African Americans (NIA – one of our many internal Employee Groups) was outstanding. It clearly demonstrates the collaborative nature of our company, while the number of employees who stepped up to serve demonstrates why Intel is a great place to work.