High-tech companies in New York's "Silicon Alley" are providing money, volunteer time and technical help for nonprofit groups that use technology to improve their services to the community, the New York Times reports.

Firms such as Internet companies Earthweb and Theglobe.com and the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation are just a few of the New York-based companies offering time and technology to help a wide variety of technology-savvy online nonprofits, the Times reports.

While the companies generally haven't made huge cash grants, the other services they provide have been substantial, the Times reports.

Groups benefiting from Big Apple largesse include:

• Mouse (Making Opportunities for Upgrading Schools and Education), which helps wire New York public high schools
• H.E.A.V.E.N. (Helping, Educate, Activate, Volunteer and Empower), which operates a technology-oriented job-training and internship program for inner-city youth
• Digital Clubhouse, a community-based multimedia education and training center
• Silverlining Network, which provides families of seriously ill children with a variety of online resources to help deal with those illnesses.

High-tech firms have been willing to help such groups both for philanthropic reasons and to increase their customer base for online services, the Times reports.

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