Plano, TX — EDS today announced that the EDS Foundation has approved a $40,000 grant to the Friedreich's Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA) to fund the organization's Website redesign and upgrade, as well as enhancements to its patient registry. Both projects will build upon technologies created and supported by EDS volunteers and will facilitate FARA's mission of education and advancement in treatments and a cure for Friedreich's Ataxia, a rare genetic disorder causing neurodegeneration. This marks the first year that the EDS Foundation has supported the Virginia-based nonprofit organization.
"We are thankful that the EDS Foundation has become the largest sponsor of this project, which will help us redesign our Website, and also facilitate recruitment for clinical trials through our patient registry," said Ron Bartek, president of the Friedreich's Ataxia Research Alliance. "This information technology solution will increase FARA's access to key audiences and support a growing technical infrastructure that has been developed by EDS volunteers and for which FARA is extremely grateful."
The EDS Foundation was created to support EDS' philanthropic efforts in communities where employees volunteer and work around the world. Since its inception in 2000, the EDS Foundation has donated more than four million dollars to 86 nonprofit organizations. "Our board of directors was pleased to provide a grant to FARA and six other worthy organizations during its April meeting," said Diane Spradlin, executive director of the EDS Foundation. "We are delighted to add FARA to the long list of nonprofit organizations we support, as they represent a cause that EDS employees are passionate about and provide countless volunteer hours to."
The EDS Foundation supports nonprofit organizations involved in education, health & human services and arts & culture. The majority of foundation funds will be directed to these organizations in support of the productive use of technology in programs and processes. The remainder of the funding will be directed to general program support. All programs funded by the Foundation must have a current EDS employee volunteer partnership.
About FARA
FARA is a national, public, non-profit, tax-exempt organization dedicated to the pursuit of scientific research leading to treatments and a cure for Friedreich's ataxia. FARA's mission is to slow, stop, and reverse the damage caused by this disorder. http://www.curefa.org
About EDS
EDS (NYSE: EDS) is a leading global technology services company delivering business solutions to its clients. EDS founded the information technology outsourcing industry 45 years ago. Today, EDS delivers a broad portfolio of information technology and business process outsourcing services to clients in the manufacturing, financial services, healthcare, communications, energy, transportation, and consumer and retail industries and to governments around the world. Learn more at http://www.eds.com
Contact
Paul Marcotte
Friedreich's Ataxia Research Alliance
(630) 699-7421
Annabelle Baxter
EDS
(972) 605-0978
