BY HAMILTON NOLAN
PRINCETON, NJ:
Tyco International is canceling its final year of commitment to a minority internship program with the Lagrant Foundation and asking the foundation to pay back $70,000 that would have been spent on the program this year.
In a letter to the foundation, Tyco SVP of HR Laurie Siegel wrote, “Due to Tyco’s recent announcement of its intent to spin off various business segments, Tyco is unable to provide an environment conducive to providing the appropriate level of interaction necessary for an internship program for the upcoming 2006 calendar year.”
PRWeek editor-in-chief Julia Hood is a member of Lagrant’s board and received the letter along with other board members.
The letter goes on to state that “it is Tyco’s understanding that Lagrant has already expended approximately $30,000 of the $100,000” already paid for this year’s program and asks the foundation to refund the remaining $70,000 to Tyco by March 24.
Lagrant works to increase the number of minorities in the PR, marketing and ad professions. The Tyco money was part of a three-year, $300,000 commitment by the company, signed in 2004, to place at least 10 interns per year in Tyco’s marketing and communications departments.
Foundation founder and president Kim Hunter, who also heads Lagrant Communications, called Tyco’s request “ludicrous.”
“I have never heard of a company of this size…[making] a donation to a foundation based upon what we agreed upon, and because the company and the board made a decision to sell off divisions, they would ask for the money back,” he said.
Sheri Woodruff, Tyco’s media relations head, declined to comment on any aspect of the matter.
Tyco’s initial commitment to the program came under the stewardship of Charles Young, former SVP of marketing and communications, who left in January.
Asked what the impact of losing the money would be, Hunter said: “It would be devastating. Tyco was our largest funder.”
Posted By: Joyce Brayboy
Monday, April 3rd 2006 at 9:36AM
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