“Bobbi Silten is passionate about creating new ways of
supporting the communities in which we live and work,” said
Glenn Murphy, Chairman and CEO of Gap Inc. “By serving on
the Council, she will bring her innovative thinking to a
wide range of ideas and solutions. We’re proud she’s
building on Gap Inc.’s 40 year legacy of making a positive
contribution to the community.”
The Council has been tasked with three key functions:
enlisting leaders in the non-profit, private, and
philanthropic sectors to make progress on key policy goals;
providing strategic input and recommendations to help the
federal government promote greater innovation and
cross-sector collaboration; and honoring and highlighting
those making a significant impact in their own communities.
The Council will be composed of leaders from non-profits,
corporations and foundations who are committed to social
innovation and civic engagement.
Visit Serve.gov/CommunitySolutions to learn more about the
White House Council on Community Solutions.
“I am delighted by the prospect of joining the President’s
Council for Community Solutions and partnering with other
leaders to develop solutions that meet community needs,”
said Silten.
For more than five years, Silten has led Gap Foundation,
overseeing national and global community investment, skills
development training initiatives, and employee volunteer
programs. In the past year, Gap Inc. employees volunteered
more than 318,000 hours. Gap Foundation was established in
1977 by the company’s founders, Doris and Don Fisher, and
the company has since contributed more than $100 million to
community organizations.
Gap Inc. also partners on “Skills for America’s Future,” a
new White House initiative focused on workforce development
through strategic job and career building skills. Gap
Inc.’s “Gap for Community Colleges” program includes skills
training and job placement for community college students in
seven American cities.
Gap Inc. currently supports a number of specific community
investment programs, including:
·
Gap Inc. Leadership Initiative
– This program provides skills and leadership training by
Gap Inc. employees to our nonprofit partners.
·
This Way Ahead
– This youth education and skills training program offers
job readiness training and paid internships in Old Navy and
Gap stores.
·
Plan Ahead
– This is a public/private partnership between Gap Inc., The
Pearson Foundation and the San Francisco Unified School
District that helps students map out and achieve their
academic, personal and career goals.
·
P.A.C.E. (Personal
Advancement, Career Enhancement) – An award-winning program
that provides life skills and technical training to female
garment workers in developing countries.
About Bobbi Silten
Bobbi Silten is the Chief Foundation Officer at Gap Inc.
Silten currently serves as Chair for the Reimagining
Service, a national cross-sector initiative to increase the
impact of volunteerism. She is also a national board member
for Summer Search, a leadership program that helps
underserved U.S. high school students complete high school
and go on to college. She was formerly a co-chair of the
Business Track of the 2009 National Conference on
Volunteering and Service and the inaugural co-chair for the
California Volunteers Business Partners Program. Prior to
joining Gap Inc., Silten spent 10 years at Levi Strauss &
Co.
About Gap Inc.
Gap Inc. is a leading global specialty retailer with about
135,000 employees, offering clothing, accessories, and
personal care products for men, women, children, and babies
under the Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Piperlime, and
Athleta brands. Fiscal 2009 sales were $14.2 billion. Gap
Inc. operates about 3,100 stores in the United States,
Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Ireland, Japan, China
and Italy. In addition, Gap Inc. is expanding its
international presence with franchise agreements in Asia,
Australia, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. For
more information, please visit
www.gapinc.com.