For most parents and their Children, going back to school is a fun and exciting annual rite of passage. But for Dallas’ abused and neglected children, it’s particularly stressful and challenging.

That’s just one reason Cyrusone has supported Community Partners of Dallas (CPD) since 2017. Launched in 1989, Community Partners of Dallas began as a way to support the work of Child Protective Services (CPS) in Dallas County. Its mission is to provide abused and neglected children what they need urgently today so they can thrive tomorrow. In 2020 alone, it helped meet the needs of more than 20,000 abused and neglected children while encouraging and equipping CPS caseworkers.

On Aug. 25, 20 CyrusOne colleagues and executives under our CAREEE Group volunteered for four-hour shifts to pack and unpack schools supplies and backpacks for about 200 children in grades K-12 who CPD supports and who attend schools within the Dallas Independent School District. The industrious crew also developed its own assembly line strategy to packing and unpacking school supplies and made the most of its time. Our annual participation in the CPD Back-to-School Drive has its genesis in a former executive who was also deeply involved in the organization.

CyrusOne also participated in CPD’s Chick Lit Luncheon on Sept. 24 featuring Academy Award-winning actress, director and author Goldie Hawn as guest speaker. Ten CyrusOne volunteers helped the organization bring in guests for the event.

Up next, we will participate in the 2021 CPD Toy Drive, where it will team up to assist CPD in granting wishes to children in need. Colleagues will buy toys for the children directly or through wish lists. In 2020, the toy drive overcame pandemic-related obstacles to give gifts to more than 4,400 children, and we aim to help bring holiday cheer to even more this year.

We also hold annual fund drives for CPD to help it continue its valuable work helping disadvantaged children get a leg up in the community. CyrusOne believes when we help someone when they’re young, they’re will be that much more productive as adults.

“CyrusOne is honored to support the tremendous work of CPD and the team was excited to volunteer in connection with the back to school backpack program,” said Robert Jackson, EVP and general counsel. “On a personal level, it was truly humbling to experience the magnitude of the need and better appreciate the unthinkable challenges faced by the thousands of abused and neglected children in Dallas and the child protective services case workers who help them.  It was also simultaneously inspiring to feel the passion and determination of the CPD team. A big CyrusOne ‘thank you’ to CPD for the hospitality and for the difference making impacts to our community.”

Every year, CyrusOne and its employees are proud to participate in a variety of charities and organizations across the country, including partnerships, fundraising and food drives with North Texas Food Bank and Houston Food Bank. CyrusOne also supports Knowledge is Power Program, Carry The Load, Girl Scouts of the USA, Midtown Educational Foundation, Light The Night Cincinnati, Girlstart – STEM Education, Katy Trail 5K, March of Dimes, Big Brothers Big Sisters Community Partners of Dallas, Cotes de Coeur (American Heart Association) and Relay For Life.

Giving back to our communities where we do business is part of our DNA. We believe being great community citizens leads to great leadership and great relationships with our employees and customers.

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