Microsoft Donates $2.7 Million to Seattle-Area Nonprofits

REDMOND, Wash., April 12, 2001 — Microsoft Corp. President and Chief Operating Officer Rick Belluzzo today announced a series of grants that will bolster the efforts of 15 nonprofit organizations in the Puget Sound region. Among the recipients are the Corporate Council for the Arts, the Seattle Center Foundation’s McCaw Hall Campaign, Senior Services of Seattle-King County and the YWCA of Seattle, King County and Snohomish County. Microsoft’s donations will support a variety of projects that will help to build community and strengthen services provided by local nonprofit agencies, including a much-needed renovation of the 1927 Seattle Center Opera House and the opening of five new YWCA facilities to help meet the ever-increasing demand for services.

This most recent round of grants, totaling more than $2.7 million in cash and software, underscores Microsoft’s long-standing commitment to the Puget Sound region. Over the past three years, Microsoft has made 2,600 grants to Seattle-area nonprofits totaling over $60 million in cash and software.

“Microsoft is proud to have been involved in the Seattle-area community for over 20 years,”
Belluzzo said.
“In Seattle, as well as in our many locations across the country, we strive to be a good corporate citizen by participating actively in the communities where our employees live and work.”

“With the help of Microsoft, we will be able to transform this aging facility into a magnificent performance hall for the whole community to enjoy,”
said Tracy Robinson, executive director, Seattle Center Foundation.
“We are grateful to have such a generous contributor in our community and look forward to bringing many seasons of first-class performances to Puget Sound residents.”

The YWCA, too, will use its donation to enhance its current community programs and services.

“Our organization currently serves 35,000 people in 32 locations, and by 2002 we expect to serve as many as 45,000 people,”
said Rita Ryder, executive director, YWCA of Seattle, King County and Snohomish County.
“Microsoft’s contribution will help to ensure that we meet the growing needs of our community.”

Other recipients of the spring grants are the Anti-Defamation League, the Cybercamps Foundation, Federal Way Youth and Family Services, the Fremont Public Association, Long Live the Kings, Northwest Ecosystem Alliance, NPower, Puget Sound Neighborhood Health Centers, the Seattle Emergency Housing Service, the Technology Access Foundation, the Washington Early Learning Foundation, and the YMCA of Greater Seattle.

About Microsoft Community Affairs

Community Affairs manages and administers Microsoft’s corporate philanthropy programs. Microsoft and its employees long have recognized the importance of the communities in which they work and live and since 1983 have been high-tech industry leaders in making contributions. Through its giving, Microsoft is committed to empowering people to discover and create a better future. Last year, Microsoft gave more than $34.3 million in cash and $200 million in software to nearly 5,000 nonprofit organizations to enrich people’s lives through advanced technology access, to strengthen nonprofits through technology, to expand and diversify the technology work force, and to build vibrant communities. The company also supports its employees’ acts of giving by matching, dollar for dollar, employee charitable contributions to nonprofit organizations up to $12,000 per employee annually. More than 20,000 Microsoft employees participate in the program. More information on the Microsoft Giving Program is located at http://www.microsoft.com/giving/ .

About Microsoft

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.

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