By Jarina D'Auria

Social responsibility isn't just for CEOs anymore. As the CIO role continues to change and expand into the business, some technology executives are also making it their mission to transform how IT is viewed by and can benefit the community.

One CIO who is making a difference is Steve Scopellite, winner of the CIO of the Year Award from Computers for Youth (CFY), a nonprofit organization that provides computers for low-income families. Scopellite, managing director and co-CIO of Goldman Sachs, is committed to creating an environment that can sustain a diverse workforce at Goldman Sachs; he also works with schools and other organizations to engage young people in technology.

"We need to get technology in the hands of kids at an early age. And I don't mean Game Boys," says Scopellite. His work mentoring and recruiting future IT workers is why he was chosen as this year's CFY winner.

Recruiting new talent for Goldman Sachs became Scopellite's main focus after he realized the company could do a better job of getting women and minorities more interested in technology careers. "I visited schools, worked with our recruiters and vendors, and together with our management team, we changed the process with some very positive outcomes," he says.

Scopellite is the sponsor for the Technology Black Network within Goldman Sachs, a network that is part of its diversity strategy. He also helped establish the Career Development Committee and the Diversity Committee for the Technology Division.

"Recognizing CIOs for being socially responsible sends an important signal about how critical the role of CIO has become," says Elisabeth Stock, CEO and co-founder of CFY.

Previous CFY award winners include Becky Blalock, CIO of Southern Company, and Fran Dramis, CIO of Bell South. For more information about CFY, visit www.cfy.org.