Microsoft Celebrates Grandparents’ Day with “Grandchild Connection” Contest
REDMOND, Wash., Sept. 8, 1999 — When Marge Wolf, a computer lab manager in North Fort Myers, Fla., checked her email one day, she found a heartwarming note from her grandson Bryan Zarnowski: “I just want you to know that I miss both of you,” he said. “You are almost like my real parents cause you helped raise me when Mom was busy finishing college.” Although Bryan had no computer of his own, he used a friend’s computer to send weekly emails to Marge and her husband Al, who took care of Bryan while his mother pursued a teaching career.
Touched by her grandson’s email, Marge entered Microsoft’s Grandchild Connection contest, in which grandparents were asked to submit humorous, memorable or heartwarming email from a grandchild. Microsoft today announced that Marge and Bryan are the contest’s grand prize winners; they will each receive a new Dell computer and a library of Microsoft software and training materials. In addition, a third computer will be donated to Habitat for Humanity on their behalf.
“Something about [Bryan’s] email touched me very deeply,” Marge said. “I guess it’s because you don’t expect a 13-year old boy to be so emotive when talking about his feelings for his mother and grandparents.” Marge, who works as a computer lab manager at her local middle school, uses her computer to communicate with friends and family, read news, make purchases and keep up with her favorite football team — the Green Bay Packers. But the ability to keep in touch with her grandson Bryan, who lives in Auburn Hills, Michigan, is particularly special: “I’m always thrilled to get Bryan’s emails and look forward to reading them always.”