Humble gifts from high-tech sector - Bill Gates donates $3 billion, Xerox employees have been contributing to charitable organizations for many years - Company Business and Marketing

Communications News, March, 1999

Bill Gates' recent donation of some $3 billion dollars---the largest philanthropic gift ever recorded worldwide--was spectacular, to be sure. But, for some 27 years, employees of Xerox Corp. have been steadily contributing to national organizations, making life a bit better for less-fortunate citizens. Xerox Foundation's Social Service Leave program has granted paid leaves to nearly 450 employees in those years and is believed to be the oldest program of its kind in American business.

The program was established after former Xerox president Archie McCardell and another company executive agreed a true philanthropic commitment would be to allow its employees to be able to voluntarily participate in bettering their own communities. In 1999 eight Xerox employees are on six- to 12-month sabbaticals:

* Brian E. Agard-United Cerebral Palsy Association of Suffolk County, N.Y.;

* Dennis DeWayne DeSilva-Delaware, Ottawa, and Craig Counties (Okla.) Senior Services;

* Susan Jo Goldberg-Brent Eley Foundation HOMEStay, Denver, Colo.;

* Mary E. Hegarty-Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange;

* Denise D. Pieratti-Sojourner House, Rochester, N. Y.;

* Rodney Eugene Pryor-Chicago, Ill.'s ABJ Community Service;

* Larry Riis-Marin Jobs & Career Services, San Francisco, Calif.; and

* Christopher Ryan-Trips for Kids, San Francisco, Calif.