Children's Foundation Blossoms from Sirius Computer

Published: May 14, 2007

by Dan Burger

It's a great thing when someone gives back to the community. Often these types of stories are under the radar screen. What we more often hear about are the layoffs, the outsourcing, and the closed factories. We should be outraged by those things, but we can also take time to celebrate those who make a difference and are a positive influence in their communities. What follows here is a story that is something to feel good about, and it is intimately linked to the midrange community.

The name Harvey Najim may not be familiar to you. The company he was instrumental in building, Sirius Computer Solutions, might be. Sirius is an IBM premier business partner with more than 5,000 customers across the United States. Its roots are in San Antonio, Texas, where it began, in 1980, as a small technology solutions provider.

In November 2006, Sirius and the investment firm Thoma Cressey Equity Partners announced an agreement in which Thoma Cressey acquired an equity interest in Sirius. This injection of cash made Najim a rich man--well, probably a richer man than he already was--but it did not make him a greedy man. He used $75 million of the proceeds from that transaction to create the Harvey E. Najim Family Foundation. The purpose of his foundation is to support and help children in the greater San Antonio area.

Beneficiaries of the foundation will include public charities that advance children's education, children's medical treatment, medical research for illnesses and diseases affecting children, and other children's charitable purposes. Grants will be awarded by the foundation's Selection Committee, which consists of Najim and his two daughters.

"I am fortunate to be in this position," said Najim. "This community has provided so much for my company, my family, and me. I am excited about being able to give back. Awarding grants to non-profit organizations focused on children is my way of personally contributing to the future of San Antonio. I am hopeful that my foundation will help make a difference in the lives of children and increase the quality of life in our community."

Sirius is the largest reseller of System i servers in the country. Approximately 28 percent of the company's sales come from System i-related products and services. Sirius is also the largest reseller for its System p AIX and Linux servers. And, it is the second largest reseller of System z mainframes in the United States.

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