Why Businesses Should Adopt Schools

Are you from that giant tower? 

I was asked that question yesterday by a young student at Presidio Middle School, part of the San Francisco Unified School District. As I watched her help a younger boy find the right LEGO pieces to finish the rocketship he was building, I started to imagine where they would be in 10 years. 

After less than two years, the Salesforce Tower has become an iconic part of the San Francisco skyline.  But I don’t want these students to just think of Salesforce as a landmark. I want them to look at our tower and see it as their destination. 

That is why we are delivering strategic grants to public school districts in the cities where we live and work. 

I was born and raised in San Francisco and I have watched a huge influx of companies adopt the Bay Area as home, bringing with them jobs and economic opportunity. 

At the same time, I know that it can be challenging for long-time residents to see how they fit into our new digital economy. 

None of this is news. Similar stories are playing out all across the country.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. 

The solution starts right here, with our local public schools. 

Businesses need a skilled workforce. It only makes sense to invest in the schools that can develop that talent right in their own backyard. 

Yesterday, Salesforce announced $17.2 million in grants to local Bay Area schools and education nonprofits. This brings our total global education investment to more than $90 million.

Since we started partnering with the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) in 2013:

• 34,995 students have taken a substantial course in computer science. 
• 100% of middle schools offer a computer science curriculum.
• SFUSD became the first urban school district to reach 50% overall proficiency in math. 

This is how local communities can become a part of the digital economy: with students building a foundation today for the jobs of tomorrow. 

So adopt a school. There’s still a lot of work to be done. Teacher shortages are real. Access to computers and equipment remains a challenge in U.S. schools. 

When you support a local school, whether, through grants or volunteerism, you are working toward a stronger local economy and helping ensure that students in your area have equal access to education and opportunity. 

As for me, I’m off to go see if we can get some LEGOS in the office…