logoCisco employees donated time and money to RAFT during the holiday season to help support hands-on learning.

Bay Area tech company Cisco volunteered by the masses during this holiday season at Resource Area for Teaching (RAFT). Seven groups led by department heads participated in kit-building activities at RAFT’s Volunteer Center located in in Sunnyvale, California, and constructed kits that will be used to support hands-on learning for over 800,000 children across the Bay Area, Colorado, and Sacramento.

The Cisco volunteers cut, wrapped, and counted material to ready kits for teachers and students. RAFT’s hands-on activity kits help educators transform their students’ learning experience and give them the skills to succeed in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) careers.

“It’s very rewarding to know that we’re helping kids and their teachers move forward with STEM. This is a very unique volunteer opportunity and I’m very happy to be able to participate, ” says Chandra Krishnamurthy, Director of Software Development at Cisco.

Cisco has been an important partner for RAFT in increasing student interest and engagement in science, technology, engineering, and math subjects (STEM). Cisco’s own CSR education program improves access to quality education for students worldwide using the combined power of network technology and human collaboration.

“At Cisco we are determined on making our world a better place. Our CSR education program is a very important part of our company because future generations need to have access to a quality education. Our work with RAFT really instills that mission in our employees,” says Alma Morales, Cisco employee.

Cisco has donated a total of $57,000 to RAFT in volunteer hours and monetary donations this year. RAFT’s CEO, Grainger Marburg, thanks Cisco for their support and devotion to the shared mission of improving hands-on education.

“Cisco has been very gracious with their time and support for the past 16 years. Their support has really contributed to this community and enabled us to continue developing the tools our educators need to connect with hands-on learning.”

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About RAFT
RAFT believes the best way to spark the love of learning for the next generation of thinkers, innovators, problem-solvers, and creators, is through hands-on learning. A nonprofit organization since 1994, RAFT serves 12,000 educators each year who teach over 900,000 students. Find out more about RAFT and how to get involved at http://www.raft.729solutions.com.