IT Industry Leaders and CompTIA Commit $200,000 to New Giving Program

Channel Chief Giving Circles reaches 30 organizations with first round of donations

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Jul 12, 2016, 09:30 ET

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill., July 12, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Thirty charitable organizations in 14 states and four countries are the inaugural recipients of cash donations from the Channel Chief Giving Circle, a new philanthropic effort led by technology industry leaders and CompTIA, the nonprofit association for the technology industry.

CompTIA will donate up to $200,000 this year to worthy charities selected by senior executives from technology product vendor, distributor and solution provider companies. A donation of $1,000 will be made in the name of each executive participating in the program.

The first round of donations revealed today totals $33,000 and includes 30 charities around the world.

"Philanthropy is an important part of the IT industry and one of the core principles at CompTIA," said Todd Thibodeaux, president and CEO, CompTIA. "Involving so many of our industry's leaders in the Channel Chief Giving Circle allows us to share our resources with many worthy organizations."

"In some instances our donations are staying close to our industry home, assisting organizations that help young people and adults pursue careers in technology or promote diversity in the tech workforce," said Amy Kardel, chairwoman of CompTIA's Board of Directors and co-founder and director of IT services firm Clever Ducks. Kardel selected Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo, Calif., as her donation recipient.

"We're also reaching groups committed to helping at-risk children, the homeless and our veterans; to groups helping in the search for medical breakthroughs and cures; and in promoting education and career opportunities," she added.

"The Giving Circle elevates the impact that we can have as leaders, extending our ability to create positive change from the channel to our communities," said Meredith Caram, member of the CompTIA Vendor Advisory Council and executive director of Strategic Reach for AT&T Partner Exchange®. "AT&T is proud to be a member of CompTIA, an organization that supports giving back to the community."

Bob Stegner, Senior Vice President, Marketing, North America, SYNNEX Corporation, and a former CompTIA board member who has served multiple times throughout his career said, "By launching the CompTIA Channel Chief Giving Circle, senior technology executives across the globe are able to unite in the spirit of charitable giving and further contribute to the nonprofits they support in their own communities. We are honored to be part of this program and commend CompTIA for continuing to set a great example of how global companies can share their resources to make lasting impacts on a local level."

For a complete list of charities receiving donations from the Channel Chief Giving Circle, and their benefactors, visit https://www.comptia.org/about-us/channel-chief-giving-circle.

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SOURCE CompTIA