ANAHEIM, CA, Nov. 11, 1999 — The National Multiple Sclerosis Society today honored Microsoft as its Corporation of the Year, in recognition of the software company’s efforts to provide the latest technology to nonprofit organizations through its Nonprofit Technology Leadership Grant program. Microsoft received the award during the Society’s National Leadership Conference in Anaheim, Calif.
Microsoft’s Technology Leadership Grant program is designed to help nonprofit organizations capitalize on technological advances and provide better service by enhancing efficiency and freeing up other resources. Since the program’s inception in 1997, Microsoft has donated approximately $18 million in software to 20 organizations nationwide. Last August, Microsoft awarded grants totaling $7.1 million in software to 10 major nonprofits; the largest, $2 million, went to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society to support the organization’s technological expansion for the year 2000 and beyond.
“The Microsoft grant has enabled the Society to provide every employee in the organization, regardless of location, with the latest, most advanced technology at their fingertips, so that they can operate more efficiently and effectively in all business practices,” said General Mike Dugan, CEO and president of the Society. “With this new technological infrastructure in place, the Society can reallocate critical resources to focus on our mission — research and programs for people with MS.”
“Standardized, state-of-the-art software on the desks of all Society employees will streamline operations, eliminate duplication of effort, and enable the Society to generate significant cost saving – freeing up several hundred thousand dollars for education and research programs,” said Mindy Gumb, vice president of Database Marketing and Management, National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
