Corporate Community Involvement in the San Francisco Bay Area

Abstract

In 1982, Steve Jobs, a founder and then chairman of Apple Computer, departed from Apple's tradition of avoiding political action to lobby successfully for the passage of California Assembly Bill 3194. This legislation, nicknamed the “Apple Bill,” gave manufacturers special tax credits for donations of scientific equipment to California schools. Through its “Kids Can't Wait” program, Apple has donated computer systems to more than 9,000 elementary and secondary schools. Apple also encourages companies that make products for Apple systems to add these products to Apple's systems donations. Del Monte Corporation began making product donations of occasional excess production on a decentralized basis many years ago. Products were given to local communities, food banks, and even company employees. However, these recipients were frequently unable to absorb large quantities of often single-product contributions. Concerned with the waste and inefficiency of this decentralized distribution method, Del Monte searched for a better way to contribute excess products to needy recipients. In 1985, it arranged with a national food-bank clearinghouse to distribute excess products through a network of local food banks.