Cegid : Foundation presents its accomplishments and first partnerships at the "Blend Web 14" digital event

Cegid, the French provider of management software for private companies and the public sector, will present its philanthropic initiatives supported by the Cegid Foundation at Blend Web Mix in Lyon.

Cegid implements its initiatives via two philanthropic organizations:

- The Cegid Foundation, registered as a French corporate foundation whose purpose is to support philanthropic initiatives related to healthcare, education and social integration,
- The Cegid Fund for Entrepreneurship and Digital Technologies, which brings together supporters of other philanthropic initiatives and supports entrepreneurial projects in the public interest.

Cegid announced the launch of the Cegid Foundation and the Cegid Fund for Entrepreneurship and Digital Technologies at its 30-year anniversary celebrations in June 2013, and officially inaugurated them during the summer of 2014. An initial budget of €2 million has been allocated for the next five years, effectively doubling Cegid's philanthropic efforts.

As Jean-Michel Aulas, Chairman of Cegid explained, "Our aspiration for the Cegid Foundation is to develop the Group's community initiatives focusing on four areas in the public interest, namely healthcare, education, social integration and entrepreneurship. We also firmly believe that digital technologies can be an effective driver of initiative, innovation and transformation in these key areas for the future of our country". 

Technological innovation and corporate commitments are Cegid's DNA, and these values directly inspire our Group's philanthropic initiatives. Technological innovation is an incredible driver of progress for society and businesses alike. It can transform medical practices, facilitate everyone's access to knowledge, open new career possibilities, promote access to employment, and create new business activities and new jobs.

Patrick Bertrand, Chief Executive Officer of Cegid, added, "By providing financial support, donating our skills and products and getting our partners involved, the Cegid Foundation is not solely a participant but also a catalyst, giving everyone the necessary means, resources and energy to turn their entrepreneurial dreams into reality. We all benefit from encouraging companies, nonprofits, startups, researchers and young people to work together on high-tech philanthropic projects, because innovation and growth are born from shared experiences and collaboration."

The Foundation's initiatives are based on using the skills and projects of its individual partners* and working together to create synergies. A number of partners are already involved in and supported by the Cegid Foundation, including La Web@cadémie , Entreprendre pour Apprendre (Learning through enterprise), the EM Lyon incubator , Sport dans la ville , and the Léon Bérard center .

The French National Order of CPAs also supports our philanthropic initiatives through a framework agreement allowing for regional support of entrepreneurial philanthropic initiatives. The first initiative is already underway in the Rhône-Alpes region.

The Cegid Foundation and Cegid Fund have enabled many employees to give back to the community. In an employee survey conducted at the beginning of the year, more than 60% of our 2,100 employees expressed an interest in participating in one form or another in the Group's charitable initiatives. Since the Foundation and Fund's launch internally at the beginning of July, dozens of employees have become involved with our initial partners, collecting money for research, sponsoring young people, mentoring entrepreneurs with business ideas, supporting professional integration and donating their skills.

In 2014, Cegid also launched an initiative to provide financial support to projects led by Group employees that are related to one of the Foundation's four areas of focus. This collaborative approach, rallying the support of both the Foundation and Cegid employees, will create excitement around those projects that receive sponsorship. In 2014, the Foundation will sponsor eight projects from among those presented to the selection committee and will allocate financial support of €1,000-€5,000 to them.

The Boards of Directors of the Cegid Foundation and the Cegid Endowment Fund, chaired by Jean-Michel Aulas and Patrick Bertrand respectively, are composed of Cegid employees and independent members who are actively involved in collective philanthropic initiatives (Florence Poivey, Sidonie Mérieux, Bruno Bonnell). Jean-Michel Monin, a member of Cegid's Management Committee, has been appointed Executive Director and will be in charge of the foundation's and the endowment fund's operations.

Health:
• The Léon Bérard Center is a leading oncological hospital and nationally recognized research center. The Foundation is providing financial support to a major technological project for sequencing the DNA of tumors. Cegid employees are also involved in sporting events and fundraising activities.

Education and Entrepreneurship
• Learning through enterprise: The purpose of this federation of 20 nonprofit organizations created under France's "1901 law" is to promote an entrepreneurial spirit among young people and develop their entrepreneurial skills. The network offers students aged 8 to 25 (elementary school to higher education) support from business professionals and academia. The Cegid Foundation provides financial support, sponsoring the students, equipping the nonprofit with software, and promoting the association's initiatives through the Cegid Education network.
•  EMLYON Incubator: Involved right from the start of the entrepreneurial process, the EM Lyon incubator provides a robust support structure to people with innovative business ideas and facilitates meetings and contacts with entrepreneurs and decision-makers. The Cegid Foundation offers new types of financial support for high-tech startups, "Young entrepreneur" grants to cover living expenses, technical and general mentoring for startups under an incubation program, as well as staging events on digital innovation.

Social Integration and Entrepreneurship
• Sport dans la ville is one of France's leading nonprofit organizations using sports to facilitate the social and professional integration of its 4,000 registered youth members. The "Job dans la ville" program facilitates training and integration into the workplace of its members aged 14 and above. Cegid employees in Lyon and Paris sponsor these young members.
• Entrepreneurs dans la ville: Created by EM Lyon and Sport dans la ville, this program helps young people aged 20 to 35 bring their business idea to life. The Foundation provides financial support, helps to equip the entrepreneurs' incubation premises with high-tech equipment, contributes to the seed fund and offers help from Cegid employees.
• The Web@cademy: Cegid will finance and sponsor young people taking part in this training program. Aimed at 18 to 25-year-olds who left school before completing their baccalaureate, this free program gives them the opportunity to train to become a web developer. The training course lasts 24 months, with 12 months spent on the Epitech campus and 12 months on a professional contract with a company. Earlier this year, Cegid hired one program participant on a part-time professional contact. Another program, named eGirls, will be dedicated to raising awareness of careers in digital technology among girls and women. Five Cegid employees are already involved in this program and will go and meet girls in middle schools.

The Cegid Fund for Entrepreneurship and Digital Technologies is supported by the French National Order of CPAs (CSOEC) through three common objectives: training youths to develop an entrepreneurial spirit, offering advice to youths with a business idea, and better informing young people of new financing methods, such as crowdfunding.  

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