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Pro Bono Partnership Recognizes IBM as Outstanding Volunteer of 2008


WEBWIRE

ARMONK, NY - IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced that it has been honored by the Pro Bono Partnership as an Outstanding Volunteer of 2008.

The Pro Bono award was bestowed upon IBM in recognition of free legal assistance the company’s attorneys have provided to the Partnership’s clients, which are nonprofit organizations serving the disadvantaged or working in the public interest in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. In collaboration with the Pro Bono Partnership, IBM lawyers provide important business legal services to nonprofits that otherwise are unable to afford the assistance and counsel of an attorney.

“IBM has long supported volunteerism and recognized the importance of community service. During the current challenging economic environment, it is more important than ever for companies to maintain their commitment to pro bono activities on behalf of nonprofit organizations,” said Robert C. Weber, senior vice president, Legal and Regulatory Affairs and General Counsel, IBM. “Working with the Pro Bono Partnership helps provide an important dimension of our pro bono efforts worldwide. We are honored to receive this award.”

IBM has been an active supporter of the Pro Bono Partnership since 1997. In recent years, the company has substantially expanded its pro bono participation with the Partnership, actively encouraging its lawyers to volunteer. In addition, Robert Weber and Michelle Browdy, vice president and assistant general counsel for IBM, joined the Partnership’s Board in 2007.

“We work with volunteers all the time and IBM is one of the best I have had the pleasure of working with,” said Joanna Straub, executive director of The Volunteer Center of United Way. “Over a two-year period, IBM helped us consider all the options in a sensitive situation involving a copyright issue and finally brought the matter to a successful resolution.”

During the last decade, IBM has been one of the largest corporate contributors of cash, equipment, and people to nonprofit organizations and educational institutions around the world and works hand-in-hand with public and nonprofit organizations to design technology solutions that address specific problems. This type of volunteer effort goes beyond business as usual, requiring IBM and grantee organizations to make significant commitments to work together, set clear benchmarks, and focus on measurable, achievable goals.

IBM’s global volunteerism initiative is encouraged and supported worldwide through its On Demand Community, which helps volunteers provide Web-based solutions and assistance to their communities. Today, On Demand Community includes 115,047 employees with 5,734,936 volunteer hours logged, and 12,649 retirees with 2,467,723 volunteer hours logged.

On Demand Community offers access to both IBM technology and talent to schools, not-for-profit organizations, economic development groups, and focuses on communities threatened by the digital divide - the gap between those who have IT products and skills and those who don’t.



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