HCLTech, a renowned global technology company, has announced the recipients of the inaugural HCLTech Grant Americas. Brazil-based Argilando, Canada-based No. 9 Contemporary Art and the Environment, and US-based The Longleaf Alliance have won this prestigious grant program.
Launched in September 2023, the HCLTech Grant Americas program has pledged $5 million in grants over five years to support Not-For-Profit organizations (NPOs) with innovative projects aimed at combating climate change and restoring ecosystems and biodiversity across the Americas.
Each year, three NPOs undergo a rigorous screening process to receive grants totaling $1 million. The top recipient receives $500,000, while the remaining two receive $250,000 each.
Among the winners of the inaugural edition, Brazil-based Argilando will receive a $500,000 grant for their “Atitude Jovem” project, which mobilizes youth-led environmental activism across Brazil. Canada-based No. 9 Contemporary Art and the Environment will be awarded $250,000 for their project “Imagining My Sustainable Community,” which utilizes art and design to raise awareness of sustainable design solutions in Canadian schools. The Longleaf Alliance, based in the US, will also receive $250,000 for their project “Restoring America’s Great Southern Forest through Climate Action by Empowering and Enabling Landowners,” aiming to restore 8 million acres of longleaf pine forests in the US Southeast.
“Congratulations to the winners of the first HCLTech Grant Americas. Whether it is fostering sustainable design literacy or spearheading vast ecosystem restoration projects, these endeavors showcase a collective resolve to address environmental challenges with innovative solutions. We are delighted to support these projects as part of the collective effort needed to combat climate change,” said Dr. Nidhi Pundhir, Vice President, Global CSR, HCLTech.
Since its inception, the HCLTech Grant Americas program has garnered significant interest from NPOs across the Americas. Within 19 weeks of its launch, the program received 238 registrations and 91 eligible applications from 10 target countries. After a thorough vetting process, the top 10 applications were selected, with the HCLTech Grant Jury nominating the final three winners.
HCLTech is deeply committed to sustainability, aiming to achieve net zero emissions by 2040 and reduce scope 1 and 2 emissions by 50% by 2030. The company has already made substantial strides in this direction, reducing per capita scope 1 and 2 emissions by 22% since the baseline year of FY20. Additionally, HCLTech is the first India-headquartered IT services company to join the Water Resilience Coalition and endorse the CEO Water Mandate.
With over $175 million invested in CSR globally, HCLTech has positively impacted millions of lives, brought thousands of acres of land under green governance, harvested billions of liters of water, and made a significant difference to thousands of animals. The company’s commitment to ethical practices has been recognized by Ethisphere as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies 2024, and it has been included in the S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook 2024 for the second consecutive year. Moreover, global environment non-profit CDP has awarded HCLTech with an A- leadership rating for its climate change initiatives.
Also read – Sony XAV-AX3700 Unveiled: A Next-Gen Car AV Receiver
Join our WhatsApp News Channel for quick updates – FYI9 News WhatsApp Channel
