IBM has marked 100-year anniversary of its founding on June 16, 1911. To celebrate the milestone, the company today released a book, “Making the World Work Better: The Ideas That Shaped a Century and a Company,” debuted a new film “Wild Ducks” and marked the anniversary by ringing the Opening Bell at the New York Stock Exchange.

During its first century, IBM has played a leading role in transforming business, science and society. The company’s history can be seen as a succession of key milestones – from investing in a research lab in the depths of the Great Depression, to developing the first hard disk drive that created the data storage industry, to working with the U.S. government to develop the Social Security System. It continued with such “big bets” as a radical new computing model, the System/360 mainframe, the invention of the UPC code, the invention of the IBM Personal Computer that launched the PC revolution, and the recent development of Watson, the computer that triumphed on the TV game show Jeopardy!.
 
Series of IBM Centennial Initiatives Planned

IBM India, as part of the centennial celebrations, will align itself to a unique global initiative wherein IBM employees worldwide will significantly increase their service in their local communities. Over 50 percent of the employees will pledge a minimum of 8 hours of voluntary service each and work with over 100 NGOs engaged in different community programs. Additionally, IBM will provide grants worth US $ 12 million to support the Celebration of Service globally, with a part of this grant being given in India as well.  

Some of the major community initiatives for which IBMers in India will be volunteering time includes working with the following partners:

• Retina India where 100 IBMers will put together a website (with specific capabilities) which will match volunteers as scribes for people who are visually challenged and registered in with Retina India. IBMers will also volunteer as scribes.

• The National Entrepreneurship Network where around 400 IBMers will be available as experts to guide and advise start up as well as seasoned entrepreneurial ventures on different aspects like HR, Marketing, Finance, technical solutions etc across 12 mentoring melas in six cities - NCR, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Pune

• Centre for Sustainability Development where IBMers will work with CSD to  present a citizen perspective on Environment related issues. This will include an in-depth survey and preparing a report for submission to the Government a smarter city development.

• Pratham Foundation where IBMers will conduct workshops on the use of technology across 13 centres in Mumbai

• Spastic Society of Karnataka where IBMers will provide communication skill training to children

• Akshara Foundation where close to 15000 IBMers will volunteer at 1500 schools

• Agasthaya Foundation for hosting science fairs in Hyderabad and Chennai. Over 20,000 children are expected to participate in these fairs.

• Nanhi Kali, an NGO that supports education for the girl child. As part of this initiative, several IBMers will visit colleges for women and highlight diversity initiatives at IBM as well as employment opportunities

• SRF Foundation who support a literacy program in Mewat. Over a 1000 IBM volunteers will go to Mewat and take the children enrolled in the literacy program through any one of the 4 modules that have been short listed for school children.

ITVoir NewsDesk