FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NATICK, MA, USA janvier 29, 2009
Cognex Announces 2008 Corporate Donations
Highlighting this year’s gifts was a pledge of $50,000, payable over five years, to the Natick Technology Initiative, a program initiated by a group of parents in Natick, Massachusetts, to help equip each of the town’s public school classrooms with a laptop computer, LCD projector, and interactive white board.
“Teaching is all about communication, but some of the technologies that help us communicate and share information more effectively have been slow to make it into public school classrooms,” said Dr. Robert J. Shillman, Cognex Chairman and CEO. “Cognex is very proud to help enhance education in our local community by making these technologies available to teachers and students.”
Dr. Shillman continued, “This project was made possible by a group of local parents who decided to make a difference, and reached out to the local school system, and to Cognex. Their effort is an example of the positive results that can be achieved when different groups working in the community come together to support a cause of common interest: education.”
Contributions made under Cognex’s corporate donations program reflect the company’s philosophy of working hard, playing hard, and staying healthy. Some of the gifts announced by Cognex in each of these three categories for 2008 include:
Work Hard – Cognex gave a number of grants that support local education initiatives. These include $1,500 to purchase science lab equipment for the Gwinnett School of Math, Science and Technology in Duluth, Ga.; $5,000 to the Alameda Education Foundation to support science education at elementary schools in Alameda, Calif.; and $2,000 to the Nathan Hale High School in West Allis, Wisc., to purchase digital video and camera equipment.
Play Hard - Cognex sponsored events that promote community recreation and celebration, including $1,000 to Natick High School to fund an alcohol-free graduation party; $2,000 to Natick Parks & Recreation Department for a “Spooktacular” Halloween party for kids and free summer concert series; and $3,000 to support the local July 4th parade and family celebration in Natick.
Stay Healthy – In recognition of the fact that Cognex manufactures vision systems and sensors that enable machines to “see,” Cognex dedicates its “stay healthy” awards to organizations that provide assistance to the blind and vision impaired. Gifts for 2008 included $4,000 to Guide Dogs for the Blind in Portland, Ore. which trains guide dogs to work with the blind; $1,000 to provide transportation for visually impaired residents to receive services at the Center for the Visually Impaired in Atlanta, Georgia; and $3,000 to the Massachusetts Association for the Blind of Brookline, Mass., which provides transition services to the newly blind and visually impaired to help them continue to live as independently as possible.
In 2008, Cognex was recognized by the Boston Business Journal and Mass High Tech as one of the top charitable contributors in Massachusetts.
“At Cognex, we believe strongly in giving back to the community,” said Dr. Shillman. “We have a saying that when Cognex wins, everybody wins—and that includes sharing our success with our community and local organizations that need support.”
For the first time in 2008, Cognex expanded its contributions beyond North America. The Cognex office in Tokyo, Japan, was also given a budget to give donations to its local community.
25-Year Perseverance Award – In addition to its community donations program, Cognex also gives back to the community through its Perseverance Award program. When a Cognex employee reaches 25 years of service, the company opens a $25,000 charitable gift account in their name. Employees can donate the funds to the IRS-approved charities of their choice. In 2008, three Cognex employees with 25 years of services were given this award.
CONTACT:
Robin Pratt
Sr. Manager, Corporate Communications
Cognex Corporation
Phone: (858) 350-5065
Email: robin.pratt@cognex.com
