Intel has said that it will not donate
to Boy Scouts of America troops which discriminate on the basis of
sexual orientation.
The chip giant was responding to a The
American Independent report which identified Intel as one of the
Boy Scouts of America's largest corporate donors in 2010, giving more
than $700,000.
The Boys Scouts of America has come
under heavy criticism for its ban on openly gay scouts and leaders.
Intel clarified in a statement given to
progressive blog Think Progress that the donations were made to local
troops and councils, and that the company has already adjusted its
policies to ensure recipients align with Intel's nondiscrimination
policies, which include sexual orientation.
“Intel and the Intel Foundation give
millions of dollars annually to great organizations doing valuable
service around the globe,” said
Rosalind Hudnell, chief diversity officer at Intel. “Intel has
not provided funding to the National Boy Scouts of America
organization. The $700,000 in funding from the Intel Foundation was
donated to local Boy Scout troops or councils where our employees
volunteer their time, through our volunteer matching grants program.”
“In an effort to recognize our
employees commitment to the communities we call home, Intel expanded
its volunteer matching grants program in 2009. Through it, Intel
matches the amount of time employees' volunteer with non-profits with
dollars from the Intel Foundation. Due to significant growth in the
number of organizations funded, earlier this year we revisited our
policies associated with the program, and applied new rigor that
requires any organization to confirm that it adheres to Intel’s
anti-discrimination policy in order to receive funding,” she added.