Catherine Wellesley

Catherine Wellesley

"The focus of IBM philanthropy continues to be education," says Catherine Wellesley, IBM Canada's Manager of Corporate Community Relations.

"The focus of IBM philanthropy continues to be education," says Catherine Wellesley, IBM Canada's Manager of Corporate Community Relations.

These education grants are consistent with IBM's goal to work with the school boards to support the most effective education that will produce the highest level of student achievement for all children , in every community , said Catherine Wellesley , manager of IBM Canada's Corporate Community Relations program.By helping to create more opportunities for students , more resources for educators and by encouraging more parental involvement , we feel these technology contributions can help to enhance the quality of teaching and learning in our public schools..

In addition to its focus on education and workforce enablement , IBM Canada also supports specific programs in the areas of health , human welfare and the arts.It made philanthropic contributions in Canada last year valued at more than $ 2-million.

For Cathy Wellesley, manager of IBM corporate community relations, the employees involved are "skilled, talented people who have a lot to offer schools and not-for-profit agencies in their communities."

"They're also dedicated volunteers. (This program) combines two of the company's best assets - our employees and our technology - into a dynamic new program that enables employees to increase the impact and value of their volunteer efforts," says Wellesley.

Wellesley says the new program really seems to bring meaningful work and volunteerism together.

The results - now available in six languages - have children around the world exploring, experimenting and enjoying science," said Cathy Wellesley, Manager, IBM Corporate Community Relations, IBM Canada Ltd."This exercise and many more TryScience activities are a valuable resource for the classroom.But the web site is equally accessible to parents and children at home to keep firing the imaginations of future scientists."

Wellesley also announced that by the end of this year, IBM will have donated 75 "Around the World" kiosks to major museums throughout the U.S. and abroad, where visitors can get acquainted with TryScience and continue their discoveries on the web site at home or schools.

TryScience: Three Years of "Bringing Science Home" to the World

In its 2002 Science and Engineering Indicators report, the National Science Foundation in the U.S. reported that sixty-six percent of those surveyed in 2001 had visited a science or technology museum during the past year.This percentage - the highest ever recorded - indicates the continuing fascination with science and technology.

"TryScience.org and its related kiosk project are a key part of an overall effort by IBM to make science and technology more accessible and exciting to children and classroom teachers", Wellesley said.

"IBM's commitment to education goes to the very heart of who we are as a company," said Catherine Wellesley, IBM Canada's manager of Corporate Community Relations."We've created very successful programs with the purpose of raising student achievement in elementary and high schools.With our KidSmart program, and now with the launch of this Web site, IBM is extending its education initiatives into the preschool setting, where we're providing all parents and teachers with the tools they need to support early learning."

Launched in Canada in 1999 in collaboration with the United Way of Canada - Centraide Canada , IBM's KidSmart Early Learning program includes colourful Young Explorer computers (computer centres built into Little Tikes play stations), educational software and teacher training.To date, IBM has donated more than 190 computers across Canada . The vast majority of children served in the United Way supported agencies are from families with little to no access to computers at home.

Says Cathy Wellesley, IBM's manager of corporate community relations: "When we talk about volunteering to the employees we remind them that it's a great thing to do in terms of skill development that they can bring back to their own work."
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"When your executives have bought in, it's clear, it's consistent," says IBM's Cathy Wellesley.