Press Release
Contact:
Jocelyn Sese |
919-549-7500
ext.119 |
Cingular Wireless and Deloitte & Touche Commit $100,000 to CED
October 21, 2002, Research Triangle Park, NC - Cingular Wireless and Deloitte & Touche have each pledged $100,000 to the Council for Entrepreneurial Development's (CED) Innovation to Impact campaign. CED has raised over $4 million for the five-year strategic initiative designed to support area entrepreneurship.
"This generous pledge reflects the firms' strong commitment to regional entrepreneurs and CED's ability to continue to offer programs of value to the community's future generations," said Monica Doss, CED president. "Their commitment undoubtedly demonstrates incredible leadership and vision for entrepreneurs."
Through Innovation to Impact, CED will embark on the following:
- Provide a wider and deeper set of services in the areas of management and leadership development, especially to companies further along in their life cycles.
- Engage government, civic, academic, corporate, and technology organizations for both the delivery of entrepreneur-oriented services and programs, and for regional positioning, promotion, and message-shaping.
- Expand the pipeline of potential high-growth companies by actively encouraging their development in traditionally under-represented areas and groups.
"Innovation to Impact is a terrific program for developing and nurturing entrepreneurial businesses in the Research Triangle region," said Pam Temple, general manager-Raleigh, for Cingular Wireless. "Cingular is proud to support CED and this worthy initiative."
"CED has made a significant contribution to the entrepreneurial community over the past several years," said Tim Gillam, audit partner-Raleigh, for Deloitte & Touche. "Deloitte & Touche is excited about the opportunity to support CED and this campaign, which will go to ensure CED's continued support and services to the entrepreneurial community."
Other current $100,000 investors to Innovation to Impact include: Bank of America; Cherry, Bekaert & Holland, LLP; Comerica Incorporated Technology and Life Sciences Division; Daniels & Daniels, P.A.; Ernst & Young, LLP; Grant Thornton; Gray Ventures, Inc.; hesketh.com; Hutchison & Mason PLLC; Intersouth Partners; Kennedy Covington Lobdell & Hickman, LLP; Kilpatrick Stockton LLP; Maupin Taylor & Ellis, P.A.; PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP; RBC Centura; Smith, Anderson, Blount, Dorsett, Mitchell & Jernigan, LLP; Southeast Interactive Technology Funds; Springboard Managed Hosting; US Trust; Wachovia; Wakefield Group, L.P.; Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, PLLC; WUNC Radio; Wyrick Robbins Yates & Ponton LLP.
Current $150,000 investors to Innovation to Impact include: Alexandria Real Estate Equities Inc.; Alston & Bird LLP
About Cingular Wireless
Cingular Wireless is the second largest wireless carrier in the United
States, and a joint venture between SBC Communications (NYSE - SBC)
and BellSouth (NYSE - BLS). As a leader in mobile voice and data communications,
Cingular serves more than 22 million voice and data customers across
the U.S.. Cingular provides cellular/PCS service in 43 of the top 50
markets nationwide. Cingular's Mobitex-based wireless packet data service
operates throughout the U.S., covering more than 93 percent of the urban
business population located in 492 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs)
and non-MSAs, with a total population of 200 million people. Cingular
offers customers advanced technologies in simple, cost-effective ways
that permit them to tap the creative potential of wireless through their
own self-expression. Details of the company are available at www.cingular.com.
About Deloitte & Touche
Deloitte & Touche, one of the nation's leading professional services
firms, provides assurance and advisory, tax, and management consulting
services through nearly 30,000 people in more than 100 U.S. cities.
The firm is dedicated to helping its clients and its people to excel.
Known as an employer of choice for innovative human resources programs,
Deloitte & Touche has been recognized as one of the "100 Best Companies
to Work For in America" by Fortune magazine for five consecutive years.
Deloitte & Touche refers to Deloitte & Touche LLP and its related
entities. Deloitte & Touche is the U.S. national practice of Deloitte
Touche Tohmatsu. Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu is a Swiss Verein, and each
of its national practices is a separate and independent legal entity.
For more information, please visit Deloitte & Touche's web site
at www.deloitte.com/us.
About CED
The Council for Entrepreneurial Development, located in Research Triangle
Park, NC, is a private, non-profit organization formed in 1984 to stimulate
the creation and growth of high-impact companies in the greater Research
Triangle region. CED provides education, mentoring, and capital formation
resources to new and existing high-growth entrepreneurs through annual
conferences, seminars, workshops, and monthly programs on entrepreneurial
management and finance. CED is the largest entrepreneurial support organization
in the nation, with more than 5,000 members representing 1,100 entrepreneurial
companies, financiers, and professional firms. For more information,
visit www.cednc.org.