Community Voice Mail & Cisco:
Winner of the 2004 Washington Software Association Outstanding Contribution to the Community Award
Washington state’s oldest and largest technology association honored Community Voice Mail with its 2004 Industry Achievement Award for “Outstanding Contribution to the Community” at its awards ceremony on February 26. Community Voice Mail (CVM) utilizes technology to provide free, 24-hour voice mail access to people in crisis and transition nationwide, helping them to secure jobs, housing and stability. CVM’s partnership with Cisco Systems to upgrade its technology, increase impact and reduce costs was singled out by the WSA for this year’s award.
Industry Event of the Year
The Washington Software Association’s Industry Achievement Awards (“IAA”) celebrates companies which best demonstrate innovation and excellence in technology. Noted as the industry event of the year, IAA annually attracts 1,000 business and community leaders. Jennifer Brandon, Executive Director of the Community Voice Mail National Office, notes, “We are pleased and honored to be recognized at this prestigious event for our ongoing commitment to providing accessible technology to citizens who are most in need.”
Cisco & Community Voice Mail Partnership
“The unwavering commitment of Cisco Systems' Enterprise Communications
Software Business Unit – all of whom volunteer their time and
resources to customize their technology for our needs – sets
a new standard of volunteerism in producing real change for the common
good. Through Cisco’s Unity product, we will utilize VoIP technology
(voice over Internet protocol) to reduce telephone costs, eliminate
equipment redundancies, and increase our service areas nationwide,” added
Brandon.
Kevin Chestnut, General Manager of Cisco’s Seattle
Business Unit, says, “Each member of our volunteer
team recognizes the importance of CVM’s mission and the role
that we can play in expanding access to communications for thousands
of people in need nationwide - a requirement to advance in today’s
world. We are proud to be working with Community Voice Mail to deliver
broad-based and cost-effective technology to meet this basic need.”
Community Voice Mail: Free and Easy To Use
Community Voice Mail enrollment is free, and takes less than 3 minutes to set up. Each client receives his or her own voice mailbox, and activates it by recording a personalized greeting in their own voice. A Community Voice Mail (“CVM”) number looks like any other local telephone number and therefore does not signal the client’s status as a homeless or phoneless person.
Results
With a decade of service and 34 sites in 20 states nationwide, Community Voice Mail helps people avoid long-term unemployment and homelessness, to escape domestic violence, and to become more productive and self-sufficient. Despite record unemployment and lack of affordable housing, nationwide statistics show that in 2003, 48% of CVM users looking for jobs found jobs, and 53% of CVM homeless users found housing. Overall, last year over 47,000 people had access to Community Voice Mail.
Community Voice Mail, in partnership with Active Voice, LLC, was privileged to win this award in 2002.