-Valerie Halverson Pace, West Region Manager, IBM

We are all extremely proud of the work that ABC does for its clients and for our community!   IBM is able to support this work through our volunteers and two special programs, IBM’s On Demand Community and Teaming for Technology. 

Through the On Demand Community, the IBM volunteers have earned a Community Grant for ABC each year.  This is always a team grant for technology to support the work of ABC. 

For more than ten years, IBM has partnered with the United Way of Olmsted County to help nonprofits increase their technology capacity and innovation.  ABC has been a long-term partner in Teaming for Technology and they have demonstrated a great focus on the importance of technology in meeting their mission.  To earn these competitive grants, organizations must develop a technology plan, have a governance and management system that supports the strategy and be reviewed by the United Way Technology Solutions team.  ABC has been exemplary, indeed a role model in adapting technology for innovation and achieving measurable results.

From 2000 - 2007, $45,000 in technology grants have been awarded to ABC through these programs.  ABC has brought their remote locations online, improved business software and streamlined processes.  In the earliest days, it was about processing speed, data storage and basic business operations. 

Increasingly, ABC has moved to more strategic opportunities for its clients through direct services and jobs.  This past year, ABC earned Teaming for Technology grants of $70,000.  The two projects to be supported include the paperless office opportunity for new jobs for ABC’s clients, and the implementation of IBM’s Accessibility Works software by PACTT, People Achieving Change Through Technology.  Using aWorks software, clients will be able to receive customized Web pages that address their unique visual, auditory or other special needs.   

The bottom line is that by innovating with technology, ABC has had more resources to focus on their clients and has delivered more value to us all.  This doesn’t happen without strong leadership from the board and the staff.  We are grateful that ABC recognizes the important role technology can play to help it achieve its mission and remain viable.  IBM is proud to be a partner in this work!

IBM’s philanthropic focus is to engage our talent and technology to help make the world work better.  We partner with community organizations in order to achieve this goal, and it’s an honor to celebrate the achievements we have made together.

Let me first focus on the talent, for it is the IBMers who have helped found and support ABC over this half century that make our partnership so special.  

Of course it was Ken Zubay who was a founder of both ABC and IBM Rochester!  How fortunate our community is that IBM selected Ken to come to establish IBM here . . .and that he reached out to help establish ABC.   

Others from IBM have served this organization in leadership roles.  Presidents of the ABC board of directors include: 
Ken Zubay, Dick Quinn, Tom Murray, Greg Lea, Bill Ketchum, Fred Jones, Robert Zachery, Bruce Remme. . .and of course the current chair, Steve Kann.   Steve Kann calculated that nine IBMers have served as President of the Board, and at two years/term, with Tom Murray serving two terms; IBMers have led for 20 of ABC’s 52 years!  

Many other IBMers have served on the board and engaged in ABC through IBM’s Days of Caring and other opportunities to serve.  

Our own Arne Fockler was the IBMer who got the errand/messenger service started at IBM more than 25 years ago!   And while benefactors and volunteers are important and make a significant difference in the work ABC is able to do, real jobs for clients is the core support that enables ABC’s success. 

Of course we should all remember that when IBM built the Saarinen building in the cornfields on 37th Street, ABC was also looking to expand.  After a short interim when Crenlo used the facility as a warehouse, ABC struck a deal to move to this space.  Converting a warehouse to useable space was a daunting task, and Tom Murray was able to broker a deal whereby delaying ABC's move, they could lease space in the building to IBM, who would do necessary renovations.  It was a win-win for us both!  

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ABC received 10 desktops and 4 laptops through these initiatives