Cisco Systems Foundation Awards $750 Thousand in Grants to 57 Bay Area Non-Profits; Foundation Helps Local Charities Build Strong and Productive Communities.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 9, 2004

The Cisco Systems Foundation today announced the 57 recipients of its bi-annual San Jose Impact Grant awards, one of several grants programs supported by the Foundation.

The grants are awarded to nonprofit organizations with programs located within a 50-mile radius of Cisco System's headquarters in San Jose. The grants reflect Cisco Systems Foundation's dedication to providing vital food, clothing and shelter services to local community members who may be in need, expanding access to education, and to promoting and sustaining volunteerism and responsible citizenship.

The recipients of these grant awards provide essential community services such as enriching youth and adult education through technology and art, providing mentoring and leadership development to children and young adults, improving the local homelessness and hunger situation, providing healthcare services for low income families, and offering career and employment transition training for disadvantaged individuals.

"Cisco is committed to building lasting solutions for the many issues facing our community," said Sylvia Allen, senior director of worldwide diversity, philanthropy and ethics, Cisco Systems. "As an active member of the community in which we live and do business, we are committed to supporting public benefit organizations that provide vital services like education and basic human needs, such as food, shelter and health care."

"In a time of shrinking public funding, it is more important than ever for companies like Cisco Systems to support effective community based organizations," said Dorothy Ridings, president and CEO of the Council on Foundations. "As local, State, and Federal grant funds are reduced or redirected, corporate support becomes even more vital to the continued survival and success of quality direct service organizations."

The 57 San Jose Impact Grants were awarded to local programs such as:

-- The Morgan Center, in Santa Clara, serving the community for

over 30 years offers programs for children and young adults

with autism spectrum disorders. The Morgan Center helps every

child and adult in its care to maximize his or her potential,

to be in a dignified, positive and loving environment, to

remain in the community, and to lead a productive and happy

life. The Morgan Center is making a difference by creating

opportunities for success.

-- In Milpitas, Public Allies Silicon Valley has intentionally

supported the leadership development of over 150 diverse,

young leaders since 1995. In partnership with other local

agencies, Public Allies has collectively served over 153,000

Silicon Valley residents, and involved more than 4,000

individuals in volunteerism.

-- New Horizons School, in Soquel, brings hope to homeless

children living in shelters, motels, vehicles, storage sheds,

tents and on the streets of Santa Cruz County. New Horizons

School helps the children escape the bonds of poverty and

hopelessness by providing education, food, clothing and above

all a caring environment that will empower them to

successfully transition into the mainstream of society.

-- In San Jose, RotaCare Bay Area, Inc. brings free medical care

for the relief of pain and suffering to those who have the

most need and the least access to medical care. Founded in

1989 by a Rotary Club member in Santa Clara, RotaCare clinics

are licensed as free clinics that provide primary health care

at no cost to families at nine locations in the Bay Area,

including San Jose, Mountain View and Santa Cruz.

-- The Bright Horizons Foundation for Children was founded in

1999 by Bright Horizons Family Solutions, which is the world's

leading provider of employer-sponsored child care. The

Foundation aims to improve the lives of at-risk children in

the areas of child and youth education, and childcare in the

communities where we live and work. Bright Spaces in San Jose

will create an innovative playroom for homeless children at

InnVision in San Jose, so that children living in shelter can

develop through play.

The Cisco Systems Foundation grants are awarded twice a year through the San Jose Impact Grants program. Interested not-for-profit organizations can view complete information at: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/about/ac48/about_cisco_grant_programs_list. html (Due to the length of this URL, it may be necessary to copy and paste this hyperlink into your Internet browser's URL address field.)

The Cisco Systems Foundation's giving is based upon three core values: Living (basic human needs), Learning (access to education) and Giving Back, with emphasis on technology and innovation in non-profits. Since its inception, the program has awarded more than 800 community grants amounting to over $11 million to San Francisco Bay Area nonprofits.

About the Cisco Systems Foundation: The Cisco Systems Foundation was established in 1997 by a gift from Cisco Systems, Inc. As Corporate Philanthropy's primary cash investment vehicle, the Foundation provides grants to select organizations with long-lasting, local or global impact. More information on the Cisco Systems Foundation is available at www.cisco.com/go/foundation.