I would also very much be interested in learning more about the “World Ahead Program” specifically… I found this link

I am inspired to read this! Intel has the resources and leadership to make a real impact; I wouldn’t expect less and look forward to hearing more from “intel inside”. Sharing this informaiton, I know, will inspire more change within the organization, within the industry and beyond.

Hi everyone, I’m new to the site, so bear with me. Just as a background, I come from the biotech industry if that gives any perspective at all.

The extent to which we should rely on such private action is, of course, a matter of much political debate. Advocates of smaller governments and the “thousand points of light” perspective would prefer to see decentralized private initiative play a larger role in social problem solving. These who believe in state responsibility would urge the reorganization of institutions like the patent system and/or the creation of a national health insurance scheme to minimize the need for private action. Of course there are those who would argue against either public action or private responsibility —exactly because they didn’’t put a very high value on egalitarian concerns.

However, I believe that while most would agree the corporate social responsibility demonstrates extreme moral worth (especially since it by no means is our right, nor your obligation to do so), they would also know that a company’s fiduciary duty is to investors to provide returns for their investments. Sociopolitical backlashes regarding intrinsic biases and sheer lack of ability typically keep industry executives out of the realm of solving complex social problems, an obligation normally attributed to the power of government and taxes if there was one. Things become even more dicey when the corporate monetary donation begins to be significant in comparison to the nations GDP, just intimating that if the company really wanted to, it could just buy the country. However true, definitely not an image any company wishes to maintain.

I think what’s being done here is great, but it’s critical to be absolutely transparent in the public domain regarding the methods, aims, and mentality of these acts from the corporate perspective in balancing these economic and moral imperatives. Otherwise, the message or the beneficence that drives the action is lost.

Intel is serving both a diplomatic and economic goals by assisting Lebanon create a promising future for its citizens. Their actions in collaboration with other American corporations demonstrate a long range plan for a peaceful world. Reading about their project on this website both inspires and encourages me that we have American leaders who comprehend the com- plex world problems and are willing to respond. This is the kind of investment that makes sense for both shareholders and world citizens interested in the endurance of human life on the planet.

I think this is an excellent forum for this type of information and it should be publicized. This allows consumers to support the corporations who are doing more than making a profit and compels other businesses to find ways to be socially responsible. The advantage of this website is it gives me information I would never have time to find on my own.

It’s all too easy in a society so apt for information overload to miss the really relevant stories, the ones about companies working to make an impact on a global level. Sites such as this allow us to focus on the positive, and in a lot of ways can serve as inspirations for other companies to shift their focus to what really matters. I applaud Intel for their participation in this important project, and look forward to hearing more about their involvement.

Kudos to Intel. Great job Love to work for you guys if have So CA center. Like to work with Pros., Link to local missions & missionaries for villages too. Imagine Lebanon a wired Muslim Nation. Wow.

A wonderful story of the corporate world coming together for the common good. But as to the poster’s original question, my two cents is to not advertise the concept or the first steps but as you say let people discover them. When the program is in place and pays off (which may take years) then that is the time to let the world know. It should not be that corporate/for-profit companies gain kudos for merely throwing money at social problems no matter how well intentioned. The kudos should be gained when there is demonstrated success in such effort; that is the time to advertise. Humility and discretion is in order when you take on these causes. But when your efforts result in real change, shout it from the mountain tops to take your well deserved bow and to be an inspiration to others that the corporate world can initiate social change.

This is a great, and really important discussion.

I personally believe that there exists a significant difference between doing the right things (and sharing information with consumers through appropriate channels), and attempting to create perception that a company is doing the right things.

While I find it admirable that Intel and companies like it might choose to let their efforts with positive social or environmental aims go unadvertised, I personally believe that authenticity is of more value than is “corporate humility.” Today, consumers are actively considering the social and environmental impacts of the companies from which they buy. They see right through giant PR campaigns to create false perception about companies. For example, Wal-Mart is spending a significant amount of its available resources to demonstrate its desire to reduce the impacts of its activities on the environment, but none of it would have altered consumers’ perception of the company’s desire to do the right things, unless Wal-Mart actually followed though by setting and working toward goals so aggressive that other retailers are likely to have Greenpeace at their doors if they don’t make adjustments to match these new standards. From what I have seen on this site, Wal-Mart has taken some significant steps in the right direction and consumers appear to be receptive to and appreciative of the changes.

Consumers (that’s all of us) need a central, objective place online to go for information about the social and environmental impacts of companies. Therefore, I might suggest that we look at our participation on this site as collaboration toward the creation of the world’s first comprehensive resource about the non-financial impacts of companies, organized according to the interests of its users, and a space using which companies and consumers may collaborate to align their interests.

My advice: keep it coming—if a company is genuinely interested in impacting society and the environment in significant, positive ways, it will be recognized for doing so.

Why am I just now hearing about this? Too often the media coverage of big corporations is limited to their slip-ups or oversites. Its nice to have a place to read about their grace and charity.

I found the article on Intel’s world-wide contribution an absolute inspiration. It is evidence that the private sector can be, and in many cases is the greatest contributor to humanity and progress.

So, should businesses like Intel tell us about their giving by posting ads like this one? Absolutely. Non-profits do it every day in an effort to get donations, which are applied to their cause only after paying the salaries of all employees. Politicians take credit every chance they get for charitable programs they have participated in. Even celebrities let people know whenever their dolars go to charity. So why should big business be discouraged from doing what others do as a matter of course?

I say, let us know when you give. Just do so in an objective and honest manner. This article is an excellent example of that. Intel, keep it up!

I actually work for Intel and didn’t realize how much we were doing in Lebanon. It’s great to here that Intel is putting a good amount of resources out to help a country that has recently been hit by war. The Middle East is such a turbulent part of the world, and hopefully the aid that Intel and others are providing can kick start progress in education and technological advancement that is bound to create more economic opportunities, more jobs, and more overall stability in the region. It is good to see that Intel is not afraid to aggressively contribute to causes in the Middle East and I hope to hear more about contributions from Intel in other war torn countries of the region.

I think its great that Intel is taking on such a philanthropic effort. Hopefully this will inspire more companies to realize the benefit of “doing the right thing..” One company I’ve always respected, salesforce.com has one of the best models of corporate philanthropy . Their model has proven to be so great that even Google has adopted it. I just hope more companies will learn from these models and adopt their own policies.

Congratulations to Intel for leading the initiative to be socially responsible in Lebanon. It’s smart PR for any company to blow its horn when they make a contribution to the greater good. If they don’t, we can’t fully appreciate their humanitarian efforts and the importance of making a difference in the world. I believe being socially responsible and being Green is new new thing. It’s a new demographic, a new culture, and a new responsibility. It’s a step we must take and it’s great to see Intel making a difference.

This is a great example of a company’s own interests correlating with the needs of the community. Here the people of Lebanon will benefit greatly from the donated hardware, connectivity, and training, while at the same time Intel benefits by creating goodwill with people that will likely remember its efforts and be inclined to purchase from them in the future. These actions also help create long term demand for its products, as more people get online and computers become more tightly integrated into their lives.

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with the dual nature of this form of philanthropy. There’s no doubt that people benefit from it. I’m inspired especially by the fact that Intel is purchasing computers through local ISVs.

Keep up the good work!

Regarding Mr. Stangis’ question about publicizing these efforts: I don’t see any downside here. People are smart enough to see what’s real and what’s just corporate PR spin. In this case, there are real benefits for the people of Lebanon, and there’s no reason why you shouldn’t tell people about it. It inspires us all to do more.

I briefly met Craig Barret at the “UN Meets Silicon Valley” event in Feb (http://www.un-gaid.org/fr/node/155). I was impressed at how driven Craig and Intel were in making a positive impact in developing countries. Too often, ICT companies can donate computer equipment to developing countries only for it to fail in a few weeks or months due to the heat, dust and the lack of technical support.

The Intel project detailed above in Lebanon is very interesting as it includes extensive training, support and the sourcing of local computer hardware. Also the use of entrepreneurial training and an incubator to kickstart a local ICT economy is a great step forward.

Will there be video coverage of this project available via the project site or YouTube etc.? Like many others readers, this is the first I’ve heard of this project and would like to know more. Great work!