- Cisco announced it is committing $225 million to aid in combating COVID-19 (coronavirus). The announcement was made by Cisco Chairman and CEO Chuck Robbins in a blog post on Sunday night.
Cisco announced it is committing $225 million to aid in combating COVID-19 (coronavirus). The announcement was made by Cisco Chairman and CEO Chuck Robbins in a blog post on Sunday night.
“As part of our commitment, we are allocating $8 million in cash and $210 million in product to the global coronavirus response. We are focusing these resources on supporting healthcare and education, government response and critical technology,” wrote Robbins. “We are focusing these resources on supporting healthcare and education, government response and critical technology. Part of this will go to the United Nations Foundation’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund, supporting the World Health Organization’s (WHO) worldwide efforts to help prevent, detect, and manage the spread of COVID-19.”
Cisco is also rallying its 77,000 employees and encoring them to provide what they can to help community partners on the front lines.
“Through our Country Digital Acceleration (CDA) program, we are providing funding for heads of state, government agencies, and businesses to rapidly deploy COVID-19-related technology solutions. We are also empowering those on the front lines with access to our critical technologies with our free Webex and Security offers,” added Robins.
And to date, Robbins pointed out that the company is helping secure over 2.2 million people online and has facilitated virtual response meetings for the French, Canadian, German, Colombian, and other governments around the world.
Cisco has seen an outpouring of employees reaching out to contribute to nonprofits helping communities in the past few months. And to support this, the Cisco Foundation has launched a campaign allocating $5 million in grants and matching the funds.
Plus Cisco also established several funds to support a range of non-governmental organizations in APJC, EMEAR, the Americas, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
Cisco is also launching a 72-hour employee giving campaign called “Let’s Give Together.” this week to encourage donations to funds and see how much can be raised in a few short days.
“I am so excited to see our teams work together virtually to support these causes. To support this, Cisco Foundation has launched an employee matching gift campaign of up to $4 million in total giving, and is allocating $1 million in additional grants to help nonprofit partners,” explained Robbins.
Locally, Cisco is working closely with the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, Destination: Home, Second Harvest and leaders from a number of technology companies. Over 30 CEOs came together last week and pledged support for those organizations along with a number of others in the area over the coming days and weeks.
Cisco and several other companies also announced a multi-million-dollar financial assistance program for at-risk people. And with support from Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez, San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo, and Destination: Home’s CEO Jennifer Loving, Cisco is rapidly supporting low-income individuals during this time.
