REDMOND, Wash., Oct. 20, 1999 — Microsoft Corp. today announced it will team up with Hewlett-Packard Co. to launch a nationwide
“Y2K Week of Service”
to help local nonprofit organizations as they prepare their computing environments for the upcoming transition from 1999 to 2000. Microsoft employees will work with Hewlett-Packard employees and others Oct. 21-28, 1999, at locations nationwide in this effort. More than 300 employees from the two companies will be available to offer technical assistance to selected nonprofit agencies during the Y2K Week of Service.
Most enterprise customers have nearly completed their Year 2000 (Y2K) preparedness, and small businesses are now beginning to take action. Of particular concern now are nonprofit organizations, which tend to have older technology and limited technical staff available to adequately prepare their computing environments.
“Microsoft and HP are committed to providing the time and resources to help these critical organizations on which so many in society depend,”
said Jeff Raikes, group vice president of Sales and Support at Microsoft.
“Today’s announcement is an important step in ensuring that nonprofits have the tools and resources to move smoothly into the new millennium.”
The Y2K Week of Service is targeted at 20 U.S. cities, including Chicago; Atlanta; Dallas; New York; Washington, D.C.; and Los Angeles. These cities were chosen for their high percentage of nonprofit organizations. Approximately 100 nonprofit organizations will receive technical assistance in revamping their computing environments.
Nonprofits serve many vital needs, including housing the homeless, feeding the hungry, caring for the elderly and supporting environmental concerns.
“People depend on these organizations every day,”
said Congresswoman Jennifer Dunn of Washington state.
“I applaud the efforts of Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard as they support these agencies that provide hope, as well as a helping hand to ensure that no one is left behind in the new millennium.”
The Y2K Week of Service is based on a similar volunteer effort Microsoft participated in last spring that was spearheaded by N Power ( http://www.npower.org/ ), a Seattle-area nonprofit group that provides technology training and support for a wide range of charities near Puget Sound. Based on the success of this volunteer effort, Microsoft is coordinating with N Power again to provide training tools to the volunteers to help ensure that they can properly use the diagnostic software and determine the specific areas of vulnerability for a nonprofit’s PCs. The diagnostic software to be used during the Y2K Week of Service will be provided by WRQ Inc.
Users can obtain the latest information on Microsoft® products and other Y2K resources at http://www.microsoft.com/y2k/ , by calling (888) MSFT-Y2K (673-8925) within the United States, or by contacting a local Microsoft subsidiary.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.
