CompTIA is the voice of the global IT industry. As a vendor-neutral trade association, CompTIA provides the media with unbiased insights into the myriad of issues affecting the industry. This includes trends in technology, research, legal issues, public policy, workforce training, and business trends.
Press Releases
Back
Apr 05, 2010
McAfee, Inc. Donates Home PC Security Software to Creating Futures Participants
Individuals in Need Receive Free Training from the CompTIA Educational Foundation to Launch IT Careers
Oakbrook Terrace, Ill. and Santa Clara, Calif., April 5, 2010 - McAfee, Inc. (NYSE: MFE) donated 400 copies of the McAfee Total Protection 2010 software for home PCs to the CompTIA Educational Foundation so that its Creating Futures participants can secure their PCs while studying for their information technology (IT) training online.
The Creating Futures program provides career opportunities to groups of people historically under-represented in the IT industry, including military veterans, individuals with disabilities, minorities, women, at-risk youth and dislocated workers. Online IT training, mentoring, courseware, practice exams, and certification vouchers are provided at no cost to these individuals. Participants train toward CompTIA certifications — which are known throughout the IT industry as reliable predictors of employee success and are therefore some of the best ways to break into the IT field.
In 2009, the Foundation trained a record-setting 854 individuals in need, including nearly 200 dislocated workers, and hopes to retrain 50 percent more Americans for new technology careers this year.
Since most of the Creating Futures participants train online or at small public computer centers, the PCs on which they train on need to be secure from viruses, spyware and other threats. McAfee Total Protection software analyzes and blocks threats in milliseconds and works in the background while the participants train. The McAfee donation is worth $32,000, which will be matched dollar-for-dollar by CompTIA, thus doubling its value.
“McAfee has been a long time CompTIA member and feels strongly about supporting such worthy causes as the CompTIA Educational Foundation,” said Fernando Quintero, vice president of channel operations for the Americas at McAfee. “Providing the Creating Futures participants with the needed security software to protect their PCs is an important step in helping them achieve their training and certification goals to further their IT careers.”
“In-kind gifts such as computer software and online training are essential for making Creating Futures and its participants successful,” said John Venator, president and CEO of the CompTIA Educational Foundation. “We’re aiming to bring in more than $1 million in cash and in-kind donations this year so that we can train as many individuals in need as possible. Every gift counts and helps another worthy individual to gain a solid career in our industry.”
Individuals and companies can make a donation and prospective participants can apply for training by visiting the CompTIA Educational Foundation Web site, http://www.CompTIA-EF.org.
About McAfee Inc.
McAfee Inc., headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif., is the world's largest dedicated security technology company. McAfee is committed to relentlessly tackling the world's toughest security challenges. The company delivers proactive and proven solutions and services that help secure systems and networks around the world, allowing users to safely connect to the Internet, browse and shop the web more securely. Backed by an award-winning research team, McAfee creates innovative products that empower home users, businesses, the public sector and service providers by enabling them to prove compliance with regulations, protect data, prevent disruptions, identify vulnerabilities, and continuously monitor and improve their security. http://www.mcafee.com
NOTE: McAfee is a registered trademark of McAfee, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries.
About the CompTIA Educational Foundation
The CompTIA Educational Foundation provides career opportunities for individuals who historically have been under-represented in the IT workforce. With the support of individuals, industry leaders, companies and the government, the Foundation creates programs aimed at helping U.S. veterans, at-risk youth, women, minorities, dislocated workers, and individuals with disabilities to obtain the technical and business skills employers require. Since its creation in 1998, the Foundation has helped more than 1,000 individuals enter the IT workforce, helping the industry alleviate its shortage of skilled workers. For more information or to make a donation to the CompTIA Educational Foundation, visit http://www.CompTIA-EF.org.
About CompTIA
The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) is the voice of the world's information technology (IT) industry. Its members are the companies at the forefront of innovation; and the professionals responsible for maximizing the benefits organizations receive from their investments in technology. CompTIA is dedicated to advancing industry growth through its educational programs, market research, networking events, professional certifications, and public policy advocacy. For more information, visit www.comptia.org.
Donor Contact:
Dennis Zimmerman
Executive Director, CompTIA Educational Foundation
630-678-8477
dzimmerman@comptia-ef.org
Media Contacts:
Lisa Fasold
Communications, CompTIA Educational Foundation
703-509-1124
lfasold@gmail.com
Erica Coleman
McAfee, Inc.
408-346-5625
erica_coleman@mcafee.com
More
CompTIA In The News
More