Tech Conference Promotes Philanthropy
Nonprofits, kids services are part of the program at Computer Associates event.Emily Kumler, Medill News Service
LAS VEGAS-- In this city of self-indulgent temptations, 200 people from the computer industry instead indulged others, building a playground for the Boys and Girls Club of North Las Vegas.
Participants in Computer Associates' annual CA World user conference last week took some time out of technical sessions and customer meetings to work on this philanthropic project, in the works for more than six months. The company has partnered with KaBOOM!, a nonprofit group, to build 45 playgrounds in communities around the United States, in England, and in Australia.
Teaming Up to Build
"Every one we've built starts in a barren lot, or a dilapidated playground. We walk in and think 'how are we going to get this done?'" says Kevin Long, CA vice president of communications.
In the Las Vegas venture, CA invited its user group presidents to participate, rather than recruiting volunteers from just one customer as it usually does. Conference attendees from Japan, France, Germany, the Netherlands, England, and Australia rolled up their sleeves and built a playground for the 1900 children of North Las Vegas.
"We had breakfast there at 9 and were working hard until 3 p.m. I helped to build the playground, it was great," says Norbert Fluegel, a German consultant.
Lynne Mahoney, a CA vice president of marketing, notes the experience is a good networking opportunity as well as a service for children and the community.
"It is just an incredible experience," Long says. "People from different companies are working together. One may be holding a pole while the other is pounding it into the ground. People were sunburned and tired, but everyone was walking around asking for other things to do."
Because participants know their help is important, the mood on the site is overwhelmingly positive, Long adds.
"When the building is over and we dedicate the playground, it is just incredible. The kids all made thank-you bags for us; they decorated the outside of the bags," he says.
Turning Kids to Tech
The city of Las Vegas hosted 24,463 gatherings last year, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitor Association.
"We are trying to initiate a program that will link up incoming trade shows with local area philanthropies," says Marina Nicola, a Convention and Visitor Association representative.
CA also views its philanthropic projects as a way to encourage children's interest and education in technology and science.
"Hopefully we'll get them excited for a career in engineering," Long says.
Giving children opportunities to learn about everything from space exploration to designing a Web site obviously benefits the kids, but it is also in the best interest of businesses to promote scientific learning and curiosity, he notes. Children of today are the talent pool of tomorrow, he adds.
Inside the complementary bag they received at registration, CA World 2004 attendees found a $5 "casino chip" that they could donate to one of six invited community relations tables. If attendees made an additional financial contribution, CA matched the donation by 200 percent.
CA Digital School House was one of the six choices. Inside the makeshift schoolhouse, which looked like a big tent in the exhibit hall, 150 Las Vegas-area children received computer and Internet instruction. CA offers similar programs through its regional offices, inviting children from the community to come to offices for the day.
"The kids come in and are treated like professionals," says Lisa Mars, CA vice president and Digital School House organizer. "The children take a disc home with them so they can continue working on their projects and they can show their work to friends."
Other Outreach
Another charity in attendance was the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, a frequent beneficiary of tech industry fund-raising. CA also has a long history of contributing to that organization, Long says.
"This is a long commitment of grants, volunteerism, and donated technology," Long adds. CA has donated technology to the center to help workers manage the organization's computer infrastructure.
"CA's impact is everywhere, it's even on our desktops in the offices," says Oname Thompson, a communications assistant with the Center.
Other nonprofits participating in CA's community relations program are e-Missions.net at Challenger Learning Centers, Junior Achievement, and Starlight Children's Foundation. All of these organizations work to bring technology into children's lives.
"Some of the community relations booths will make $10,000 to $12,000 here," Long says about the invited participants.
Conventions of 10,000 people, like CA World 2004, spend approximately $10.5 million on nongaming activities while they are in Las Vegas, says Nicola of the Convention Bureau. Conventions bring 5 million people to Las Vegas each year.