For the past two years Ipswitch’s iCare program has been supporting, through CARE, Early Childhood Development centers in Rwanda. As this video shows, the ECDs teach kids life  skills and free parents from day care so they can earn a better living.

Ingram, dressed for a concert

Four years before joining Ipswitch as IT director in 2000, Al Ingram began volunteering, organizing — and singing — with the Boston Gay Men’s Chorus (BGMC). The 175-voice, 30-year-old non-profit gives three public concerts a year — its holiday shows are Dec. 11, 16, 17 and 19 (Tickets)  in Jordan Hall at the New England Conservatory of Music.

Now operations director for Ipswitch, Ingram is in his second term as president of the Board of Directors of  BGMC.  “Our mission is to create a more tolerant society through the power of music,” says Ingram.  In between concerts, an ongoing task for BMGC members is their work in Boston-area high schools — where members help with anti-bullying and anti-homophobia education — through musical appearances.  Ipswitch supports BGMC through our iCare program.

Ingram grew up in Colorado Springs, Colo., when it was still a small city.  Starting down a track of interest in science and engineering, he got a degree in computer science and ended up a part of the mini-computer boom working at Digital Equipment Corp.  for 18 years.  He recalls that in 1999, Ipswitch CEO/founder Roger Greene attended a BGMC concert.

STORY CONTINUED . . . (with video)

Alex Awoke and family, with son, Kaleb, in stroller

Story and photos contributed by Dan Pitre and Alex Awoke

ATLANTA – Marking an increased commitment to Down syndrome education and research, two Ipswitch-team families took part last month in a four-hour, half-mile “Buddy Walk” around Centennial Olympic Park which raised more than $172,000.

October in Atlanta is a wonderful time of the year; the leaves turn, color bursting in vibrant reds and yellows under clear blue skies. It was in this idyllic setting that the Down Syndrome Society of Atlanta (DSAA) held its largest annual fundraiser.  Among walkers enjoying live music, entertainment, clowns and bounce houses were Dan Pitre’s family, walking with son Jacob, and Alex Awoke’s family walking with son Kaleb. Both Dan and Alex work with network management in Atlanta. Dan’s a technical product manager and writer; Alex does quality assurance.

Ipswitch has in the past had individually sponsored employees and their families who participated in the DSAA Buddy Walk. This year the company, through the iCare program, upped the ante and became a corporate sponsor of the event at the $1,000 silver-sponsor level.

In the advertisement for the Oct. 9 Buddy Walk, DSAA Executive Director Cynthia Jones wrote:

Dan Pitre and son, Jacob

“Corporate sponsors make this event possible. We have the opportunity to let the entire community know of your support of families and individuals with Down syndrome. With your help, the projects of DSAA can continue to grow and raise awareness while educating the Atlanta community to the importance of individuals with Down syndrome to the community as a whole.”

The “Buddy Walk” was developed by the National Down Syndrome Society in 1995 to promote awareness and inclusion for people with Down syndrome and to raise money for research and education programs. The program has expanded from 17 walks the first year to more than 300 expected in 2011. Last year over $11.2 million was raised nationwide for the Down syndrome community.

Down Syndrome is a genetic condition caused by the presence of an extra 21^st chromosome (Trisomy 21).  It takes its name from the English doctor John Langdon Down, who first described the syndrome in 1886. The poem entitled “Welcome to Holland,” written by Emily Perl Kingsley, speaks to the experience of raising a child with a disability.

Looks like another run-of-the-mill meeting, but it’s not. They are discussing a recent road trip to Angola prison in Louisiana.

The U.S. is the only country in the world that sentences children to life in prison without parole.* The people in this picture work at Equal Justice Initiative and have made it their career to strive for balance and fairness in our judicial system. Imagine you are 14 years old. Your mother’s boyfriend regularly attacks her. The police do nothing to stop or punish him. One day he beats her so badly that you can not revive her and think she is dead. The only thing you can think of is to take the boyfriend’s gun and shoot him. The state decides to try you as an adult and aggressively prosecute you. The people at EJI think that you deserve representation. So do I.

EJI is in Montgomery, Alabama. The drive from Montgomery to Angola takes over seven hours each way. EJI staff make that drive regularly because of their passion for fair and equal justice, and because so many of the children sentenced to life in prison without parole are at Angola. I think that with an understanding of what actually happens, most would agree there is too much injustice in our judicial system. I am glad that the people who work at EJI have it as their mission to represent people who suffer from it.

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*Thanks to EJI, the Supreme Court last year declared life sentences without parole unconstitutional for children convicted of most crimes. Getting state courts to acknowledge that decision, however, is another story. Much work remains.

Dan Kirkland, Atlanta tech support, at the start of the MS ride

Blogger Dan Kirkland is a three-year veteran of the Ipswitch Atlanta office, where he is a senior support engineer.

By Dan Kirkland

I’m not a person that will exercise just for the sake of exercising; I need some purpose or goal other than trying to get in shape.  Bike MS gave me a great reason to get on my bike and ride over the rolling hills of Central Georgia.

The “Bike for MS” is a nationwide fund raising event for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

The Ipswitch iCare program contributed $250 as a sponsor of my ride. I have registered for next year’s ride, so I will begin a new fund-raising campaign soon.  During the two-day event Sept. 16-17, over 1,800 riders raised over $1 million to help find an MS cure.  Many of the riders sported high-end road bikes, a few recumbent bikes, a couple of hand powered trikes and even a unicyclist.

CONTINUED . . .

Staden said he and his girlfriend  joined 570 bicyclers who  rode either 26 miles (“radish route”) or 63 miles (“rutabaga route”)  in rain and 50-degree temperatures around the rolling plains of Madison, Wis., to benefit the Madison Area CSA Coalition. “CSA” stands for “Community Supported Agriculture,” and in this case it applies to a 20-year-old non-profit association of 50 food-growing farms within about a 100-mile radius of Madison.

Steve Staden gearing up for "Bike the Barns"

Despite the rain, the $50,000 was “more than we have ever raised before in a single bike event,” said Gini Knight, community-program manager for the CSA Coalition. They’ll use proceeds from Sunday’s ride to provide 50-percent subsidies to the 200 needy families who purchase an annual family “share” of food. That would otherwise cost them $570 for 20 weeks of fresh produce – in quantities sufficient to feed a family of four.

To fortify the bicycle riders along the rolling route pit stops were at participating farms with names like Wholesome Harvest and Sprouting Acres. They included – all locally sourced – a breakfast of yogurt waffle cups with fruit and  lunches of either roast beef or veggie sandwiches, bean salad, green salad and homemade ice-cream sandwiches. Menu for  the post-ride after party? Tacos, coleslaw, root-beer floats and beer from a local brewery.

Staden’s registration fee and contribution for the ride will be matched by Ipswitch’s iCare program.  He’s still taking friends-and-family donations at his pledge web page. His next charity ride is Oct. 1 to benefit 12 health-related services via Tomorrow’s Hope.

Baylee Hale, right, with Madison-Area Technical College mascot (center) and a friend (left)

MADISON, Wis. — Ipswitch Inc. was represented by Madison, Wis., office manager Jami Noble on Sunday, Sept. 18 as more than $430,000 was raised in a three-kilometer family walkathon to benefit juvenile diabetes research.

The “Walk to Cure Diabetes,” in Madison’s Warner Park drew nearly 1,500 people despite rain, said Jamie Weissburg, executive director of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation chapter for western Wisconsin.

Noble joined a 35-member, blue-shirted volunteer team calling themselves “Baylee’s Possee,” (see photo) named for eighth-grader Baylee Hale (shown in the photo to the right), daughter of one of Noble’s friends, who participated.

“It was a great turnout,” said Noble.  “Nobody expected to see so many people.”  Among participants were individuals dressed as the Klement’s “racing sausages,” and “Bucky Badger.”

Noble’s personal donation will be matched by Ipswitch iCare.

Ipswitch volunteers help with "seasonal switch"

Volunteers from Ipswitch, Inc.  took time out of the office this week to help Room to Grow with its “seasonal switch.”

Boston-based Room to Grow’s innovative program provides parents raising babies in poverty with one-on-one parenting support and essential baby items throughout their child’s critical first three years of life.  During Room to Grow’s bi-annual Seasonal Switch more than 100 volunteers from different corporate groups lent a helping hand to pack up summer gear for storage, and replace it with winter wear to serve more than 300 babies and their families.

Ipswitch, Inc.’s Network Management Division is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the company with a new community service program called “Twenty4Twenty.” The goal of the program is for every Ipswitch Network Management employee to complete 20 hours of community service during the next year with a charitable organization of their choice. Room to Grow was one of the first beneficiaries of this service program.

(Thanks to Elizabeth Chernack of RoomToGrow for the photo) 

Applying decals

BOSTON — Some 40 Ipswitch Inc. employees were among those volunteering to join a Red Sox-affiliated foundation in giving up to 200 needy Boston children and family members a hearty lunch and a much-needed chance to socialize. The Foundation To Be Named Later (FTBNL), the Red Sox affiliate, organized the event as part of a national day of service to mark the 9-11 World Trade Center terrorist tragedy.

For the Saturday, Sept. 10 luncheon, FTBNL reached out to a charity which helps infants in poverty — Room To Grow — to help organize and support the luncheon at the Bank of America Pavilion at the Waterfront Seaport in South Boston.  Other beneficiaries and invitees to the luncheon were coming from the West End House Boys and Girls Club and Horizons for Homeless Children. Six Boston-area restaurants were donating nourishing food and catering the event, along with water and juices donated by Nestle.

Parents raising babies in poverty face many challenges including isolation and lack of resources, say organizers of the event. A special social gathering over lunch can provide meaningful social connections and much-needed respite.

Some of the Ipswitch volunteers

FTBNL is an Ipswitch iCare partner.  The Ipswitch volunteers are helping serve lunch, and to entertain the infants and families through things like face painting, balloon animals and music.  Other Ipswitch team members not attending donated such items as toys, feeding and toddler supplies, clothes, furniture and books.

(Click on additional photos courtesy of Ennio Carboni) :

• Roger Greene with team
• Blowing bubbles in the sun
• Decal distribution  

Fast forward to today, and take a look at the most recent GiftsToGive photos. In what had been a scene of neglect and decay has arisen an organization full of life, activity and impact. In any part of our business, whether it is making and selling software or our iCare community program, there is nothing that gives me more satisfaction than finding talented people with vision and helping them realize their dream.

We support Jim because he thinks big, has the expertise, and is just crazy enough to take on such a monumental challenge. I feel proud that GiftsToGive has become part of the fabric of New Bedford in just three years and enriched the lives of so many people through community service in a town that urgently needs opportunities and messages of hope.