Dallas Sikh Gurvendra S. Suri, CEO, honored with 2010 Tech Award

Many people believe in giving money to charity. For Gurvendra Suri, it's about taking the next step. Indeed, Suri has so many civic and philanthropic efforts, it's hard to believe he can keep his day job as CEO of Irving's Optimal Solutions Integration Inc., a consulting shop specializing in tech-nology from software giant SAP.

Start with Beyond Borders, a charity he founded in 2003 to help disadvantaged people worldwide via medical care, educational scholar-ships and vocational opportunities. Launched with a $3 million endowment, Beyond Borders jumps feet first into everything from education programs and scholarships in the Third World to protecting civil rights for minorities, fighting AIDS in India and supporting free health clinics in Dallas.

In addition, Suri pro-motes the core values of his Sikh faith to youth and the world at large, including living ethically, remembering God at all times, and sharing with the needy.

"Writing a check is one thing," he said. "Being involved in different."

Suri takes that belief to the workplace. Under his stewardship, Optimal Solutions' roughly 675 employees are actively involved in a range of charitable works and good deeds.

For instance, the business sponsors the Clifton Early Childhood School, which is part of the Irving Independent School District and supports preschoolers from disadvantaged backgrounds. And with Optimal Solutions' participation in the Irving ISD's Partnership in Education program, Suri and his colleagues get involved in things like reading to students, organizing and running drives for school supplies and books and adopting families during the holidays.

And there's more. Optimal employees organize and participate in drives to collect goodies for U.S. troops stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan, ranging from popcorn, movies and hand-held games to beef jerky and lip balm. The company's headquarters office has coordinated canned food drives for Irving Cares, a nonprofit that helps needy residents of that city. And the business raised money for Hurricane Katrina victims by matching dollar-for-dollar employee donations through a one-time payroll deduction.

"It just gives personal satisfaction when you're helping someone," Suri said.