Indulging in Misanthropy (I actually looked that up, its a real word) is not something that a lot of Fortune 500 companies can successfully claim to be doing. But as in other things, AAPL takes the lead here too. The loved and revered Cupertino Company which has made news recently by entering the top 5 PC makers list in the United States is most miserly when it comes to charity.

While this blog, like myriad others has indulged in Microsoft bashing - this is one area where no one doubts that MS has done good work. Its not just the Gates Foundation that I am talking about , but the company itself which also indulges in lots of charity work including software give aways along with computers in third world nations. While this has been the topic of some debate, given that it helps to convert and make youngsters addicted to MS software, its infinitely better than having no access to computers at all.

To return to Apple, I have a source of no less than Fortune . Indeed a cursory search on Google and some follow-up research failed to reveal any significant philantrophic activities of Apple that befits a company of its status. I quote Fortune here:

Last year the founder of the Stanford Social Innovation Review called Apple one of Americas Least Philanthropic Companies. Jobs had terminated all of Apple's long-standing corporate philanthropy programs within weeks after returning to Apple in 1997, citing the need to cut costs until profitability rebounded. But the programs have never been restored.

The article itself makes for some excellent reading by giving us a rare insight into Mr. Jobs and the work environment that he has created. While I dont care about his policies in the workplace and treatment of employees, especially given that he delivers results ; I really cant understand why would Apple not show some good old social responsibility? Perhaps because no one has thought about questioning them so far? The press has helped immensely to Apples cause by garnering unheard of publicity for their products. Maybe its time Apple felt how being on the opposite bench to the press felt?

Sure there were the occassional appeals made by Apple on behalf of Red Cross through iTunes during hurricane Katrina , but these were for donations that you and I made , not by Apple themselves. Even if they did, donating in a disaster is one thing and being a socially responsible company , one of the largest and richest in the United States, is completely another.

If I am mistaken, and in this case I would be happy to be, please drop me a note.