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Perot Systems was recognized as the 2006 Corporate Citizen of the Year by the Plano, Texas Economic Development Board for the company’s positive role in the community, exemplified by associates’ contributions.

The award acknowledges Perot Systems associates’ fundraising and volunteer involvement throughout Plano, where the company is headquartered, and the surrounding area.  The award also acknowledged the company and its associates’ support of members of the military deployed on active duty and associates’ efforts to provide relief to hurricane and tornado victims.

Darcy Anderson, chief people officer and vice president of corporate support, accepted the award on behalf of the company during the awards presentation September 14.

“Thank you on behalf of Perot Systems and, more importantly, on behalf of our 3,000 associates here in Plano involved day to day with a wide range of projects and activities across the community,” said Darcy. “It's especially rewarding to know that the core values of Perot Systems, which include unwavering support and encouragement of our associates to be involved in the community, are appreciated by the community and can be a role model for all.”

With more than 3,000 associates in Plano and more than 18,000 associates located in North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific, Perot Systems has a history of giving back to local communities.

Since its founding, the principles of corporate citizenship have been part of the company’s core values. In fact, when the company was formed—by eight founders at the kitchen table of Ross Perot, Sr. —their first action was to draft five key values that embodied the company. They are (1) customer service, (2) our people, (3) integrity, (4) our stockholders, and (5) community: “We contribute to our community by using our talents and resources to better the conditions in the diverse communities in which we work.”

An important part of corporate citizenship at Perot Systems is the company’s support and encouragement of its associates to be actively involved in the community. Associates and teams at locations worldwide participate in a number of community service and charitable activities throughout the year.

Examples from Plano associates include regular pancake breakfasts benefiting local charities and colleagues in crisis, as well as contributing their time at various organizations such as the North Texas Food Bank, Toys for Tots, Parkland Children’s Burn Camp, Habitat for Humanity, and the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

Perot Systems also corporately sponsors important community service programs in Plano and the surrounding area, such as “Operation Support,” which helped associates “adopt” other associates deployed on military duty.

For two weeks in 2005, associates went daily to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport to greet plane-loads of soldiers coming home. Soldiers received breakfast, a goody bag, a custom “thank you” DVD created by associates, and disposable cameras used to capture special homecoming moments between soldiers and their families.

In 2005, following hurricane tragedies that affected a number of associates in Texas and other coastal regions, the company initiated the Hurricane Relief Fund—matched 100 percent by the company—that helped affected associates and their families. The Fund continues and has since also helped area tornado victims and more.