Microsoft Donation Enables March of Dimes to Strengthen Mission to Save Babies

WASHINGTON, D.C. — April 6, 2005 — A nearly $1.4 million software grant from Microsoft Corp. will allow the March of Dimes to centralize and better focus its mission activities to improve the health of babies, and will help improve the way the charity uses technology, the two organizations announced today at the March of Dimes Gourmet Gala at the National Building Museum.

“The software generously donated by Microsoft will enable us to move forward on a project we are embarking upon this year to centralize access to files and data,” said Alan Kauffman, vice president and chief information officer for the March of Dimes. “The software included in this grant will allow our staff to work and collaborate more efficiently. Whether they’re working in our national office, in regional or local chapter offices, or on the road, March of Dimes staff and volunteers can be connected and more effective in their work to save babies.”

“Microsoft is proud to be able to help the March of Dimes carry out its invaluable work even more effectively with improved technology,” said Jeff Raikes, group vice president of the Information Worker Business at Microsoft. “Our mission is to deliver the tools to help individuals realize their potential, and we see this donation as a contribution to the well-being of countless children who are helped every day by the March of Dimes.”

The donation builds on a previous Microsoft donation made in May 2004 and will provide 1,000 seats and licenses for Microsoft® Windows® XP, Office Professional Edition 2003, Office Publisher 2003, Exchange Server 2003 Enterprise Edition, SQL Server (TM) 2005 Enterprise Edition and Office Project Standard 2003, which are needed to complete the plans to centralize and modernize the computer system operations of the 250 March of Dimes offices and 1,500 staff nationwide.

The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects and infant mortality. Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community services, education and advocacy to save babies, and in 2003 launched a multiyear, multimillion-dollar campaign to address the increasing rate of premature birth. More information about the March of Dimes is available at http://marchofdimes.com or, on its Spanish language Web site, at http://nacersano.org.

Microsoft and its employees have long recognized the importance of being engaged in supporting communities around the world. Last year the company donated $48 million in cash and $362 million in software to 8,000 nonprofit organizations. Although a majority of the company’s community investments are made in support of Unlimited Potential, a global program that supports community technology centers in information technology skills training, the company also makes software available to improve the use of technology by nonprofit organizations. Information on Microsoft’s community investments is available at http://www.microsoft.com/unlimitedpotential.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

Microsoft and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks 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.mspx.

Related Posts