Many close observers of Silicon Valley have noted that few of the valley's top executives are community leaders in the manner of HP co-founder Packard. As a natural outgrowth of his long and deep personal ties to the valley, Packard used his fortune to build the Monterey Bay Aquarium and preserve vast swaths of undeveloped land across the West. Yet it is also true that those identified as the valley's most powerful have shown leadership on a broader stage. Top-tier leaders like Chambers, Doerr and Barrett step into new civic endeavors with some regularity. That is at least part of what separates them from tech titans like Oracle Corp.'s Larry Ellison and Apple Computer's Steve Jobs, who did not break into the Top 10.
Education seems to interest the high-tech leaders most.
Some of the valley's top leaders are also beginning to focus on social issues such as closing the gap between the valley's digitally connected and the unconnected. And some of the high-tech industry's enormous economic power is flowing into community philanthropy as companies channel profits into local programs. It's too soon to say if that reflects a deepening commitment to community. But some are optimistic. Writer Jack Fischer contributed to this report.