10th CRY Cadence Corporate Citizenship Challenge strikes the gong for free and equal education

Company Brief

Mumbai, December 01, 2009

Child Rights and You (CRY), and Cadence Design Systems (India) Pvt. Ltd, continuing their long-standing partnership celebrated the 10th CRY Cadence Corporate Citizenship Challenge (5Cs), at the NOIDA Stadium, NCR Delhi. Inaugurating the 2 day event and supporting the cause Abhinav Bindra, ace shooter and India’s first individual Olympic Gold Medalist, said, "Education plays an important role in shaping a child’s life. We all know how our schooling impacted not only our childhood but our future development as well. We need you to join in the belief to ensure the rights of children." He took the first step by striking a symbolic gong for Free and Equal Education, calling upon all citizens of India to do the same.

Every year, for the last 9 years the 5Cs has united corporate India for the cause of children. Going far beyond conventional charitable events, it combines sport and citizenship, evoking in the corporate fraternity a feeling of responsibility towards positive change. The 10th 5Cs brought together 650 individuals from some of India’s best known companies to Strike the Gong for free and equal education for all India’s children.

"This resounding success and courage to walk a new path has been possible only due to the support of individuals and organizations who share our determination to ensure equal rights to every child. This is demonstrated by the fact our partnership is now in its 10th year, without a gap," said Mr Jaswinder Ahuja, Corporate Vice President & Managing Director, Cadence Design Systems (I) Pvt. Ltd.

Speaking at the event, Ms. Jaya Sharma, member of India’s international cricket team, said, "The importance of a sporting event in support of children’s right to education is a commendable opportunity for every one to stand up for what is right for India’s children."

In the 9 years since it started in the year 2000, 5Cs has raised over Rs. 2.7 crores to support CRY's effort to ensure a just world for India's children. "A major chunk of this would be given to specific CRY projects that are powered by a common vision to remove the root causes that lead to deprivation, exploitation and abuse, thus ensuring all children, their basic rights to live, learn, grow and enjoy childhood," said Anita Bala Sharad, General Manager, CRY.

The CRY Cadence Corporate Citizenship Challenge has brought together not only people from corporate India but people from various walks of life, each playing an important role in taking the child rights message forward. Smt. Shiela Dixit, Chief Minister, Delhi, Olympic medalist Vijender Singh, Yuvraj Singh, Jaspal Rana, Bishan Singh Bedi, David Johnson, Jaya Sharma, Sadanand Vishwanathan, Nisha Millet and Shikha Tandon, and notable personalities like Mahesh Bhatt, Sharmila Tagore, Kiran Bedi, Yukta Mookhi, Shovna Narayan and Nafisa Ali have all been part of the 5Cs over the years.

Schedule of the 10th 5Cs:

Date/Time/Venue: Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009 and Sunday, Nov. 29, 20098:30a.m. – 5 p.m.Noida Stadium , Sector 21A, Noida, India

Teams that participated in the event include FreeScale Semiconductor, Headstrong, QA Infotech, The Oberoi Hotel, KPMG, Sopra Group, DSCL, Polaris, Birla Soft, Punj LLoyd, Rockwell Automation and Cadence Design Systems.

For further information, please contact:

Hanmer MS&L

Priscilla Guite Sundar

Tel: +91 22-6752 4600

Email: priscilla@hanmermsl.com