Earlier this week, I was privileged to join Cisco employees and executives to sort 27,100 pounds of food at the Second Harvest food bank in Silicon Valley. This food will go to help the 1 in 4 Santa Clara and San Mateo County residents at risk for hunger -roughly 625,000 individuals.

This event is just one part of Cisco's largest annual giving campaign to help stop global hunger in Silicon Valley and around the world. We're in the middle of our 12^thannual Global Hunger Relief Campaign, involving over 160 food agencies worldwide.

Since we started this effort, we have raised$40 million dollars for hunger relief, which translates into 160 million meals for those who need it most.

And this year, the bar is set high.  We're in the midst of a two-month effort to raise$1.8 million in employee donations for hunger relief, most of which will then be matched by the Cisco Foundation.

At Cisco, giving back is part of our DNA.  I'm proud to be a part of this effort to help stop global hunger.  And I'd encourage all of my Cisco colleagues to consider making a donation or volunteering at a local food bank during this holiday season.

Together, we can really make a difference.