Falkor Group To Receive Act Award From Alternatives, Inc. For Its Commitment To Youth And Education
Chicago—Falkor Group, Chicago's premier information technology management firm for small to mid-size businesses, is honored to be named the recipient of the 2008 ACT (Action, Commitment, Teamwork) Award from Alternatives, Inc. The award will be presented to Falkor Co-Founder Brent Allen at the Alternatives' annual benefit on Saturday, April 12, 2008, at The Club at 151, 151 E. Wacker Drive.
Alternatives, Inc. is a not-for-profit youth and family services agency that facilitates personal development, strengthens family relationships, and enhances the community's well-being through leadership development, academic enrichment, counseling, and violence and substance abuse prevention. Throughout the past year, Falkor Group has taught Chicago-area students about information technology providing practical training and mentorship designed to foster careers in IT. One student at Alternatives will be offered a summer internship at Falkor Group.
"When my business partner Ben Wilson and I started Falkor, we did so with the express intent of giving back to the community in as many ways as possible," says Co-Founder Brent Allen. "As a parent of children with disabilities, I am personally committed to supporting organizations that provide necessary life skills and positive attitudes to our community's children."
Since its inception, Falkor Group has been committed to giving back to the Chicago community. In addition to its work with Alternatives, Falkor supports the following organizations:
- Children's Memorial Hospital
Falkor's affiliation with Children's Memorial Hospital began in 2006 when co-Founder of Falkor Group Brent Allen participated in the Ironman competition in Lake Placid to raise $13,000. Months of difficult training preceded the July 23rd, 2006 event. Currently, Brent Allen, co-founder of Falkor, is an active member of the Children's Memorial Corporate Champions Board.
Falkor Group also supports the annual Create for a Cure design competition that raised over $70,000 for Children's Memorial Hospital last year. Falkor is the sponsor of the 'Most Interactive Award. Create for a Cure is a design competition among Chicago's top architecture firms where each firm designs a custom children-oriented play table and chairs. The firms can pick their own themes and be as creative as possible. The tables are then auctioned off at the event. Falkor is an annual sponsor and will again sponsor this award in 2008 - Silk Road Theatre Project
Falkor Group is a financial contributor to Silk Road Theatre Project (SRTP), a professional theatre company that showcases of works of Asian, Middle Eastern, and Mediterranean playwrights in response to the anti-Arab and anti-Muslim sentiments blanketing the U.S. in the aftermath of the September 11th attacks. Malik Gillani, SRTP Co-Founder and Managing Director, is a member of the Falkor Sales Team. Silk Road Theater Project is located in the Historic Temple Building on Washington in Chicago. Co-Founder Brent Allen is an active member of the Silk Road Board of Directors. - Gay Games VII
In 2006, Falkor Group lent its technology expertise to the Gay Games VII, at no cost, by means of project management, infrastructure and network support, IP services and application development. "Falkor Group is proud to sponsor the Gay Games," said Marvin Korves, Director of Consulting Services. "We understand the value and importance of diversity. A key part of our success comes from our diverse workforce, including our LGBT employees. The Gay Games gives Chicago another opportunity to prove it is a world class city. We felt this event was a perfect match for us."
About Falkor Group
Falkor Group creates custom-developed solutions to meet all of the IT needs of its clients. This ensures that each client received extremely cost-efficient, totally responsive, advanced technology solutions, which helps them track, manage and reduce costs. It also provides them with a differential advantage in their markets through the most productive and efficient use of technology.
Falkor's services focus on creating client value by effectively aggregating and successfully managing multiple service providers – both internal and external – from different areas of each business. Overall, Falkor helps organizations develop and implement a strategy that addresses the complexities of operating in a multi-sourced environment and enables them to transform their support operations into drivers and deliverers of business objectives.
About Alternatives, Inc.
Alternatives, Inc. is a not-for-profit youth and family service agency established in 1971, serving Chicago's northeast communities of Uptown, Edgewater, Rogers Park, Lakeview, North Center, Lincoln Square and West Ridge. The agency's mission is to facilitate personal development, strengthen family relationships, and enhance the community's well-being. The organization has grown from a small, single site offering substance abuse services to a multifaceted agency that employs 50 full-time staff, manages over 175 volunteers and serves over 3,000 youth and families annually.
Alternatives services are offered at little or no charge, are available in Spanish, and are at 13 locations throughout the community. We collaborate with over 100 organizations including schools, hospitals, police stations, congregations, local businesses and other not-for-profits. Current programs and services support youth and families through the following strategies: Leadership Development, Academic Enrichment, Counseling, and Violence and Substance Abuse Prevention.
Alternatives' programs and services use an asset-based model that focuses on enriching a youth's life by building upon individual strengths within the context of family and community. Alternatives provides comprehensive, accessible and affordable programs that increase young peoples' opportunities to succeed and grow as individuals and community members. For more information about Alternatives and its Annual Gala, call 773-506-7474.