SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 14, 2002 —
— Microsoft Corp. today announced the distribution of the summer 2002 Technology Enriched Community (TEC) grants, totaling more than $45,000 in cash and $245,600 worth of software, and bolstering the efforts of several nonprofit organizations in California. In addition, the company released its fiscal year-end giving numbers (June 2001 to June 2002), which total more than $53.2 million in cash and software for California nonprofits. Microsoft donations support a variety of projects that are helping to build community and strengthen services provided by local nonprofit agencies.
The most recent round of Technology Enriched Community grants further underscores Microsoft’s long-standing commitment to the Bay Area and Southern California. The grants will enable nonprofit organizations such as the American Red Cross and Easter Seals of California to expand critical technology access and training to program participants and enhance their technology infrastructure to streamline organizational operations.
“In the current economic slowdown, nonprofits are challenged to serve our communities with potentially limited resources and funds,”
said John Yi, senior disaster manager of the American Red Cross, Bay Area Chapter.
“The American Red Cross responds to more than 67,000 disasters each year, with more than 200 responses a year in San Francisco alone. The Technology Enrichment Community grant, in combination with Microsoft’s giving over the past year, has enabled us as well as other nonprofits throughout California to provide much-needed services to our local communities.”
“Microsoft is delighted to help nonprofit organizations in California increase access to technology and offer enhanced services to their constituents,”
said Bruce Brooks, director of community affairs at Microsoft.
“Microsoft believes that technology can help people achieve their goals today and in the future, and, through our corporate giving, we are committed to providing underserved communities with the resources they need to generate opportunity.”
Since the Technology Enriched Community program began in 1996, a total of 207 TEC grants have been awarded to 194 nonprofit organizations nationwide, for a total in donations of more than $2.84 million in cash and $9.33 million worth of software. Supporting Microsoft’s goal to give back to the communities in which employees live and work, TEC grants are made through the company’s U.S. field offices and are regional in scope. They are designed to enhance learning and communications in disadvantaged communities by expanding access to information technology. Projects range from technology centers in or near public housing to support for the local chapters of national organizations.
In 1983, Microsoft established one of the first philanthropic efforts in the high-tech industry. Today, Microsoft Community Affairs’ Giving program is aimed at providing underserved communities with the resources they need to help realize their full potential. The program supports innovative programs and projects that enhance technology access, strengthen nonprofits through technology, diversify the technology work force and help build community. In the fiscal year 2001–2002, Microsoft Community Affairs gave more than $36.6 million in cash and $179 million worth of software to more than 5,000 nonprofit organizations. In addition, Community Affairs’ Employee Giving program supports individual acts of giving and the organizations that inspire them by matching, dollar-for-dollar, employee charitable contributions up to $12,000 per employee annually. More information on Microsoft Community Affairs can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/giving/.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software — any time, any place and on any device.
Microsoft is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft®
Web page at http:/www.microsoft.com/presspass/ on Microsoft’s corporate information pages. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may since have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/contactpr.asp .
