* Server vendors pony up for Katrina victims
Server, processor and operating system vendors last week were generous with their contributions of money, network gear and services to the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
As we all know, Katrina devastated New Orleans and much of its outlying areas. Residents were without homes, missing relatives and friends they may never see again.
Texas alone is housing 250,000 survivors of Katrina. Austin, the state capital, has taken in 20,000 of these survivors. The city called off the donation of goods – peanut butter, disposable diapers, canned tuna fish – because of the generosity of its citizens.
IT-related news of the disaster can be found on Network World’s Web site.
But it is the generosity of companies like IBM, Dell and Intel that can make a huge difference. Microsoft donated the time of .Net programmers to build a Web site where New Orleans residents can locate missing relatives and friends. Microsoft also contributed $1 million; the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation donated $1.5 million.
Here at home in Austin, Texas, Dell and its employees expect to donate $2 million, while the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation donated $4.5 million.
IBM and Intel contributed IT equipment and services. IBM provided 100 ThinkPad laptops to relief workers at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. Along with SunGard, IBM is also making sure the American Red Cross Web site stays up. IBM donated 15 KidSmart Early Learning Centers to children in Houston shelters. The company estimates it donated more than $1 million in goods and services.
HP also made a $1 million donation of cash to Katrina victims and said it would match employee donations up to another million.
Sun estimates that its contributions and employee-match program will exceed $1.2 million.
Intel got in line with a $1 million check, 1,500 laptops to the Red Cross and 150 wireless access points in shelters. The company is also helping New Orleans rescue workers establish wireless Internet service.
AMD will be matching employee contributions.
