Arrow Electronics Releases 2019 Corporate Social Responsibility Report

Jun 22, 2020 12:35 PM ET

CENTENNIAL, Colo., June 22, 2019 /3BL Media/ -  Arrow Electronics expanded the reach of its corporate social responsibility program to 18 locations around the world in 2019, while supporting nearly 21 million people, according to the company’s just-released Corporate Social Responsibility Report: CSR 2019 in Review.

The annual report is an interactive look at the company’s program, encompassing social, environmental and diversity and inclusion initiatives.  Arrow reached 2.7 million directly through its 2019 CSR efforts and worked with outside organizations to support a total of 20.8 million people worldwide. 

“Arrow’s CSR impact continues to expand globally, both in our markets and in places where technology delivers opportunity and education,” said W. Victor Gao, senior vice president and chief marketing officer of Arrow Electronics, “At Arrow, we believe technology and the power of innovation makes life better not for the few, but the many.”

The company supported 450 scholarships and grants and served more than 53,000 students in 2019 through such initiatives as the DigiTruck, a fleet of mobile, solar-powered  tech classrooms located in emerging tech markets. Last year, 1,000 DigiTruck students in Kenya were certified in digital literacy, e-commerce skills and electronic waste handling. 

In the U.S., Arrow supported education programs and competitions devoted to project-based learning and developing innovation skills, as well as STEM. 

Closer to Arrow’s headquarters, engineers traveled to the tiny ranching community of Eads, Colorado, to help students apply new technologies to improve the efficiency and safety of their families’ cattle operations.

Other highlights of the 2019 report include: 

  • The Arrow SAM Car project continued to expand opportunities for the disabled community. In 2019, quadriplegic former race car driver navigated the challenging streets of Boston, Mass. with the car’s unique head controls. Sam also coached student racers with MIT’s experimental vehicle program. In Las Vegas, eight drivers with a variety of disabilities participated in the “Drive to Conquer Paralysis” fundraiser, using head controls to drive at SpeedVegas, a 1.5-mile desert racetrack. 
     
  • Arrow and Analog Devices Inc. launched a mission to Kenya this fall to help social enterprise Close the Gap train a new generation of IT workers and support young tech entrepreneurs. The nonprofit hosts an annual pitch competition for innovators, with 10 participants earning seed funding and mentorship last year. 
     
  • Arrow helped We Care Solar develop a more affordable and powerful version of its Solar Suitcase, a portable, solar-powered battery unit that provides electricity to off-grid medical clinics in 36 nations since 2011. The collaboration earned Arrow and We Care Solar the  2019 Edison Award for social innovation. 
     
  • Arrow demonstrated progress in both environmental sustainability and Diversity & Inclusion, including a 100 percent rating in the Corporate Equality Index, the leading benchmarking survey for LGBTQ equality.

View the full CSR 2019 in Review here

About Arrow Electronics

Arrow Electronics (NYSE: ARW) guides innovation forward for over 175,000 leading technology manufacturers and service providers. With 2019 sales of $29 billion, Arrow develops technology solutions that improve business and daily life. Learn more at FiveYearsOut.com.