Interactive Intelligence Foundation Names 2014 Grant Recipients

By Peter Bernstein
Senior Editor

One of the best developments of the past several years has been the number of companies that not only believe in what has become known as “Corporate Responsibility,” but have invested the time of their executives and employees, money and a host of other resources into being not just good but outstanding citizens. In fact, in many businesses “giving back” has become part of their DNA.   

I mention this because customer experience solutions market leader Indianapolis, IN-based Interactive Intelligence (News - Alert) has made giving back a core of their corporate culture since the company’s inception. In fact, the Interactive Intelligence Foundation, a not-for-profit corporation whose mission is to use resources and funding to foster life improvements for at-risk youth, has consistently been recognized over the years for its outstanding work, and justifiably so.

The nice news is that the Interactive Intelligence Foundation has just released the winners of this year’s grants. This comes on the heels of Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck being added to Interactive Intelligence’s INTERACTIONS 2014 event (June 2-5 in Indianapolis) where he will participate in an All-American Tailgate-themed party whose proceeds will go entirely to the enhance the amount of money the Foundation has for such grants. 

"We received 426 grant applications this year, up from 72 last year, and only wish we could've said yes to them all," said Joe Staples (News - Alert), Foundation president and Interactive Intelligence chief marketing officer. "To our recipients, we are grateful to help such worthy causes and hope that these funds will give the youth you serve added opportunities to develop useful life skills."

The following are the 2014 Interactive Intelligence Foundation grant recipients:

• AR Inc., Staten Island, N.Y. (http://africanrefuge.webs.com/). Provides hands-on learning projects to help at-risk youth, primarily West African refugees.
• Breakthrough Greater Boston, Cambridge, Mass. (http://www.breakthroughgreaterboston.org/). A six-year after-school and summer program that prepares at-risk youth for college.
• GENaustin, Austin, Texas (https://genaustin.org/). Provides programs that support and guide girls to make wise choices as they navigate the unique pressures of girlhood.
• Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana, Indianapolis, Ind. (http://www.gleaners.org/). Secures, stores and redistributes donated food to 350 Hunger Relief Agencies throughout Indiana.
• Happy Hollow Children's Camp, Indianapolis, Ind. (http://www.happyhollowcamp.net/). Offers a summer program to economically disadvantaged and certain special needs children from Indianapolis and Central Indiana.
• The Julian Center, Indianapolis, Ind. (http://www.juliancenter.org/). Provides support and services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and other life crises.
• Marian Middle School, St. Louis, Mo. (http://marianmiddleschool.org/). Provides a STEM program for at-risk youth.
• Penny Lane Centers, North Hills, Calif. (http://www.pennylane.org/). Provides an array of children's social services, including residential care, transitional housing, foster care, and more.
• Quality Life Center of Southwest Florida, Fort Myers, Fla. (http://www.qualitylifecenter.org/). Provides structured youth development programs that focus on arts, character and education.
• STEM Academy, San Antonio, Texas (http://www.neisd.net/stem/). Provides programs that engage and expose students to STEM instruction.
• St. Francis Community Services, Salina, Kan. (http://www.st-francis.org/). Provides an array of child and family-based services.
• TRAC SA, South Africa (http://www.trac.sun.ac.za/). Provides programs that encourage students to enter careers in science, engineering and technology.

Interactive Intelligence notes that the grants will be used for a variety of purposes, including summer STEM education programs, an after-school mobile application development program, summer camp funding for economically-challenged youth, a mobile STEM classroom, weekend food supplies for in-need youth, and other hands-on science and technology learning programs.

The Interactive Intelligence Foundation distributes the funds it raises to not-for-profit organizations whose missions are aligned with the mission of the Foundation. It raises funds through corporate donations, an annual fundraising event, and through employee and "friends of the foundation" contributions. To-date, the Foundation has raised more than $750,000, which has helped more than a dozen charities in Indiana and throughout the world improve the lives of young people.

The Foundation is not the only way in which Interactive Intelligence over the years has found ways to support great causes around the world.  In fact, you may remember and hopefully took part in their innovative campaign where if you met with Interactive Intelligence a donation in your name was given in the form of a goat or cow your to Oxfam, who provides life-essential and practical capabilities to people with diminished means in developing countries around the world.

There is a current saying that is driving the growing recognition of executives around the world that businesses can, “Do well by doing good.”  The correlation is demonstrable, although nobody should believe that this diminishes the fact that the emotional satisfaction of doing well is more than reward enough. 

Congratulations to the winners and to Interactive Intelligence for making such terrific choices from a list that was filled with them. 

Finally, if you are going to be attending INTERACTIONS 2014, or our popular CX HotTrends Symposium (with Diamond sponsorship from Interactive Intelligence, and Platinum sponsorship from Zendesk and Orgspan), don’t forget to say hello. See you soon!