Tech giants AOL, eBay, IBM, Intel, Microsoft and Oracle contributed more than €5.3m to local community groups and charities in 2012, according to Business in the Community Ireland, which has compiled an online interactive ‘Business Impact Map’ of the activities of 46 socially minded Ireland-based companies.
National statistics show, that more than €21m was contributed by business to the community and voluntary sector in Ireland. Some €11.9m was given in cash donations, €6m was contributed through in kind donations and €3m was raised through employee fundraising.
Employees also volunteered more than 139,000 hours to local groups and projects during the year.
The map and details on all the projects may be viewed online.
Social issues that received the most support were health at €6.9m, employment programmes at €3.5m, community projects at €2.3m and education programmes at €1.5m.
“This is our fourth year to compile these national statistics on the Business Impact Map,” said Tina Roche, CEO of Business in the Community Ireland.
“A trend we have noticed over the years is that as times are getting tougher, companies are contributing more in the way of in kind donations and employee volunteering hours.
“In kind donations increased almost 100pc on last year’s figures rising from €3.3m to €6m this year.
“This shows that companies are still keen to have an impact on society and on their local areas but are providing support in different ways and using their own skillset to provide pro bono work or other products and services free of charge to local groups and charities,” Roche said.
