For the 4th consecutive year, several NetApp offices are joining in the cause to support the Annual St. Baldrick’s foundation dedicated to financing cancer research for children. The collective effort of NetApp teams in NYC, RTP, Washington, DC, and Atlanta, GA has helped raise over $500,000 in contributions. Our success has been based on the fundamental principle of “THE POWER OF MANY”. Simply stated, hundreds of $10, $20, $50 and $100 donations have helped us achieve our annual objectives. This year the New York team has earmarked March 11th as our shaving party and set our collective goal at $100,000 in fund raising. As of today, we have 34 shavees signed up (NetApp employees…VPs, Directors, SE’s, Sales Reps, children of NetApp employees, customers..Goldman Sachs, Partners, and friends). How can you help? #1 – If you are brave enough to join us, you can host your own shaving party. That’s right….shave those beautiful locks off, invite friends, family, customers and partners to attend and join in the NetApp cause!!! If you are wondering how, you can simply call Megan Quinn at (646) 313-3069 or email at meganq@netapp.com. #2 – you can be one of “THE POWER OF MANY” donators. No donation is too small and all are much appreciated. The NY event has been dubbed: “Bill & Joey’s 4th Excellent Shaving Adventure” and can be found at: https://www.stbaldricks.org/events/NetAppNewYork Thank you to the broad NetApp community for allowing me to share this message with you and for your kindness and generosity. If you would like to learn more, please read on……. St. Baldrick’s is a foundation dedicated to financing cancer research in kids, hosting “shaving parties” where participants raise money to shave their heads in solidarity and empathy for children who have lost their hair to chemo treatment. Newly sheered volunteers become walking billboards, further raising awareness for the cause. To date, over 106,000 volunteers have shaved their heads in solidarity with kids fighting cancer at more than 2,400 emotional events in 50 states and 24 countries in the world's largest volunteer-driven fundraising event for childhood cancer research! Each year, 160,000 children are diagnosed with cancer worldwide. Cancer is the number one disease killer of children in the U.S. and Canada. Research saves lives. The St. Baldrick's Foundation funds more in childhood cancer research grants than any organization except the U.S. government, more than $12 million in 2009 alone! NetApp continues to increase its efforts to contribute to the cause, building on the success of our first year in 2007. Four years ago Bill Hogan and Joey Santamorena decided to host a shaving party when approached by St. Baldrick’s co-founders John Bender and John Lacava to get involved. NetApp’s first St. Baldrick’s shaving party took place in the upstairs dining room of Connolly’s Pub in New York City. The success, hype and awareness sparked from 2007’s event necessitated 2008’s venue to accommodate three times as many people and “Shavees”. To date “Bill and Joey’s Excellent Shaving Adventure” raised over $400,000 galvanizing upwards of 100 people to volunteer their time and hair for the cause, including 25 boys from St. Agnes Elementary school ranging from 5 -11 years old. Thru careful planning we have now moved the day into the fold of the true NetApp culture which includes: customers, employees, partners, family, friends and giving back to those in need. The success of the New York based team has inspired other NetApp offices to host their own events. In 2009, NetApp expanded the number of “shaving parties,” hosting five nation-wide lead by Scott Bird in RTP, Dennis Walczak in Atlanta, Mark Ponte in DC, among others. Our goal this year is to raise record funds by increasing the number of shaving parties NetApp hosts nation-wide from 4 -10! Please join NetApp in helping support this cause by hosting your own shaving parties with your local teams! Support in the form of volunteering, spreading the word and financial donations are also great ways to help reach out goals. If you happen to be in NY on March 11th, please join NetApp in kicking off 2010 with our commitment to conquering Kid’s cancer at New York’s St. Baldrick’s event at the Public House hosted by Bill Hogan and Joey Santamorena. To register as a shavee, to volunteer, or to donate, please see our website: https://www.stbaldricks.org/events/NetAppNewYork. For More information on how to start your own NetApp shaving party, please call Megan Quinn at 646-808-219. Thank you to all for your encouragement and support. Regards, Joseph A. Santamorena