Applied Materials is committed to being a responsible corporate citizen in communities where we do business. By donating our time, energy and resources where we can have the greatest impact, we are collectively acting upon our belief that making a positive social contribution defines not only who we are, but what we do.
Included below are this quarter's highlights of our activities in the community, demonstrating our dedication to corporate social responsibility. For previous reports, visit our archive.
Applied Materials Disaster Response
Immediately after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit the United States, Applied Materials and its employees responded to disaster relief efforts, with contributions reaching more than $1.1 million.
To support the needs of the thousands of evacuees in Austin, Texas, where Applied Materials has a large number of employees, the company committed $500,000 to provide assistance and services to those sheltered in Texas: an immediate contribution of $250,000 to the American Red Cross and an additional $250,000 to be directed to Austin relief efforts. The company also opened its online donation program to all employees globally while offering an unlimited, dollar-for-dollar match to double the donations made by employees.
In addition to financial assistance, Applied Materials and its employees got creative in lending support. For example, the company opened one of its buildings in Austin to the American Red Cross to use as an operations headquarters. Employees in Austin held a successful diaper drive and Santa Clara employees rallied to collect nearly one ton of bedding, towels and pillows for evacuees who are faced with furnishing new homes. Numerous employees are volunteering special skills to help relocated families adjust to their new environment.
Also, in the aftermath of the devastation caused by the October earthquake in South Asia, Applied Materials has launched a funding drive to support the relief efforts of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
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Community Commitment
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Corporate Social Responsibility Recognized in China
The company's commitment to social responsibility recently was recognized when the Guangming Daily —one of China's most influential newspapers—selected Applied Materials to receive a Guangming Corporate Social Responsibility Award in Beijing, China.
Launched in 2004, the award recognizes the outstanding contributions to public welfare made by multinational, Fortune 500 corporations in China.
Applied Materials has a long history in China of supporting creative programs that inspire students to pursue careers in the sciences. In 1994, Applied Materials, along with the Shanghai Science and Technology Commission, formed the Shanghai Research and Development Fund. Applied pledged $1 million over the next five years to help with the funding of R&D projects and scholarships at universities and research institutions in the Shanghai area.
The Company has since twice renewed its commitment. As a result, the fund has helped finance 55 research and development projects, and more than 40 scholarships at Shanghai-area universities and research institutions.
With more than 300 applicants, Applied was one of 20 companies to win the award and the only recipient in the semiconductor industry. Other 2005 winners include DaimlerChrysler, Motorola, Coca Cola, Carrefour, Siemens, Microsoft and L'oreal.
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Social Responsibility
Technology Initiative
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Environmental Leadership Honored
The International SEMATECH Manufacturing Initiative presented its inaugural Supplier Environmental Leadership Award to Applied Materials, Inc. in recognition of the company’s dedication to resource conservation in the semiconductor equipment industry.
The Award honored the company for implementing effective internal processes to characterize and improve the environmental performance of it products, influencing industry standards for resource conservation, and demonstrating improved performance and roadmaps for 300mm semiconductor manufacturing equipment product lines.
Months earlier Applied Materials released a report detailing its environmental, health and safety (EHS) performance from 2002 through 2004 to inform key stakeholders—including employees, customers and investors—of the Company's commitment to social responsibility in these areas. The report emphasized several key focus areas for Applied, including energy management, climate change and supply-chain management.
The report provides information on the company’s supplier EHS programs which include supplier self-assessments and audits that focus on environmental, occupational safety and product safety performance. Particular attention has been placed on "special process" suppliers that perform tasks with potential environmental issues.
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EHS
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Support of Arts Applauded
As a long time supporter of arts and culture, Applied Materials continues to demonstrate its leadership in local and national arenas—winning a prestigious Arts & Business Award (ABBY) in Silicon Valley, California and helping to host the Americans for the Arts Annual Conference in Austin, Texas.
In October, Applied Materials was honored by the Arts Council Silicon Valley when it awarded the Company its annual ABBY award for sustained commitment for the arts from a business. Teatro Vision, a San Jose, California-based nonprofit dedicated to promoting Chicano theatre and staging new work by leading Latino playwrights, nominated Applied for the award.
During the summer, thousands of leaders representing arts groups, funders, arts service and advocacy organizations gathered in Austin, Texas for learning and networking at the Americans for the Arts Conference. In order to showcase local creativity, Applied Materials supported “ArtVentures” which provided opportunities for conference participants to visit with Austin artists and experience their work.
Through its arts grant program, Applied Materials supports efforts that bring the full spectrum of artistic expression to the greater community. In addition to supporting arts organizations that have broad community appeal, Applied Materials is especially interested in programs that take art and culture outside of traditional settings to reach people of diverse backgrounds, expose youth to artistic expression and creativity, support the infrastructure of small- and mid-sized organizations, and build on a foundation of cross-sector collaboration and visionary leadership.
Applied Materials has also been nominated for the second time to receive a national Business in the Arts Award. Applied previously received such an award in 2002, following nearly a decade during which no California business had received such a distinction.
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Art@Applied
Arts & Cultural Grants
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Students Learn at Applied Materials
Programs involving students from California, Texas, Israel and China helped make young visitors to Applied Materials more aware of the Company, its values and operations.
“Bring Your Child to Work Day” in Austin and Santa Clara found students exploring their parents’ workplace, learning about the company, making their own "gack" or silly putty-like substance, experimenting with circuit legoland, and building the strongest and tallest structure out of spaghetti and marshmallows. The interactive demonstrations and games worked to increase the kids' interest in math and science as they relate to the semiconductor industry.
Each year, the Rehovot, Israel, site hosts an eight-day “Applied Dudes Summer Camp” for employees' children that includes a "Science Day." The camp, which was attended by 150 children during the last week of their school holiday, is offered as a service to employees and provides an opportunity for children to come to work with their parents. During "Science Day," the kids learned about and experimented with dry ice, made jelly bracelets and created their own kaleidoscopes.
Five top science students from Shanghai, China, recently visited Silicon Valley to get an up-close look at the region's engine of innovation. The delegation came as part of Shanghai's Future Science Stars program, which is run by the Shanghai Municipal Science & Technology Commission and the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission. As the primary sponsor of the program, Applied Materials hosted the delegation's visit to the valley where they toured the Maydan Technology Center and visited AKT manufacturing operations. They also met with several Applied Materials executives and showcased their research projects, which earned them a spot in the Future Science Star program. |
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