Applied Materials Employee Giving Tradition Provides More Than 2M Meals

Applied Materials, Inc. today announced that for the third year in a row, the company’s annual employee Food Drive has directed more than $1 million dollars to non-profit agencies focused on hunger relief.   This investment will enable 34 organizations, including beneficiaries across the United States such as Second Harvest Food Bank, Capital Area Food Bank, Flathead Food Bank, and Oregon Food Bank, to distribute more than 2 million meals to families in local communities.

“Applied and the Applied Materials Foundation have a legacy of making community investments that improve the way people live,” said Mark Walker, Managing Director of Global Community Affairs. “Employees are passionate about making a difference and look forward to this annual tradition, which dates back to 1983.  Their competitive spirit increases participation and ultimately produces greater community benefit.”

The drive took place in November and December of 2010, where employees exceeded the company’s 2010 goal and raised more than $400,000 by donating online and participating in nearly 150 individual, and often competitive, fundraising activities organized by business units ranging from bake sales, solar car races, pie tosses, auctions, sports and trivia challenges and much more.  Employees also volunteered at local food banks, shelters, and Helping Hands Day.

“For the past decade, the Applied Materials Food Drive has consistently been one of the largest donors to the Food Bank,” said Hank Perret, Capital Area Food Bank Interim President and CEO.  “The generosity and innovation of Applied’s employees in coming up with new and creative events to help raise both money and food is unparalleled in Central Texas.  We cannot thank the Applied Materials employees enough for their efforts to help end hunger right here in our community.”

As hunger is a global concern, the 2010 drive included an online challenge to engage the company’s global workforce. The “Take 5; Invest 5” program encouraged employees to review a variety of resources produced by the United Nations World Food Programme and take 5 minutes to complete a quiz about global hunger. The Applied Materials Foundation invested $5 to a food bank for each completed quiz.

"It would be hard to overstate the importance of Applied Materials' support of Second Harvest," said Kathy Jackson, CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties. "Each year their partnership allows us to provide over 1.5 million meals to feed our neighbors in need. From a solar car race to wine tasting fundraising events to a family day of volunteering, we can always count on Applied Materials to come up with creative ways to show how much they care about their community."

To learn more about Applied Materials Corporate Responsibility initiatives, visit http://www.appliedmaterials.com/about/cr.