Microsoft Alumni Foundation Announces Its 2015 Integral Fellow
2015 Integral Fellow Paul Shoemaker to be honored at October 9 event
REDMOND, Wash., September 9, 2015 /3BL Media/ — Today the Microsoft Alumni Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Microsoft Alumni Network, is excited to announce the addition of one extraordinary individual as our 2015 Integral Fellow -- Paul Shoemaker.
Paul is the Founding President of Social Venture Partners International. With insights from 17 years of this unique vantage point, he is the Northwest’s leading expert on activating social change agents and a global thought leader on how individuals can be the most effective philanthropists. In 2011 and 2012, Shoemaker was named one of the “Top 50 Most Influential People in the Nonprofit Sector” by The NonProfit Times, and in 2013, was named “Philanthropist of the Year” by Future in Review.
Now in its 7th year, the Integral Fellows program recognizes and supports Microsoft alumni who are making meaningful differences in the daily lives of others by using their talents, time, and resources to make a difference. Paul is the 15th Integral Fellow and joins a group of incredible change makers. As part of this award, Paul will receive a cash grant of $25,000 for the nonprofit of his choice and a year of community support and visibility.
This year’s Integral Fellow was selected through a confidential process driven by committee chair Fidelma McGinn. “It is always difficult to select one individual when so many are doing great work,” said Steve Wells, board chair for the Microsoft Alumni Foundation, who served on the selection committee. “However, as was very clear to the committee, Paul has catalyzed so many others to do great work that he was obviously deserving of this recognition.”
Paul’s award will be formally celebrated at the 7th annual Reunion with a Purpose, where 500 current and past Microsoft leaders gather to celebrate the alumni community and their work in philanthropy and community engagement. Also this year at the reunion event, the Microsoft Alumni Network will celebrate 20 years of facilitating real connections between intelligent, enthusiastic people and important work both in business and in philanthropy. With more than 13,000 members worldwide, the Microsoft Alumni Network offers former employees an opportunity to connect and network with each other, as well as enjoy membership benefits and programs. For interested alumni, registration is still open for the October 9th event at https://reunionwithapurpose.splashthat.com.
At the October 9th event, Paul will speak in a discussion format with Rich Kaplan, the CEO of the Microsoft Alumni Network. They will explore themes from Paul’s new book “CAN’T NOT DO: The Compelling Social Drive that Changes Our World,” and how this concept is epitomized by the Microsoft Alumni community.
“For me, this is about way more than a book, it’s about what the people that read it DO about it,” said Paul. “I am humbled and honored at being recognized with this award, and also eager to see how this year of support and community engagement can help get even more people into the game.”
“I look forward to an evening of connections and celebration on October 9th, and the kick off of a year of collaboration with Paul,” said Rich Kaplan. “This is an amazing time for Microsoft and also for our alumni as our community grows and engages more every day to be great ambassadors for Microsoft and for our communities.”
Previous recipients of this award are:
Patrick Awuah – Ashesi University (http://www.ashesi.edu.gh), Jabe Blumenthal – Climate Solution (http://climatesolutions.org), Ida Cole—Seattle Theatre Group (http://stgpresents.org), Trish Millines Dziko – TAF (http://techaccess.org), Richard Gold – Pongo Teen Writing (http://www.pongoteenwriting.org), Oliver Hurst-Hiller – DonorsChoose.org (http://www.donorschoose.org), Tom Ikeda – Densho (http://www.densho.org), Manhaz Javid – Mona Foundation (https://www.monafoundation.org), Hadi Partovi—Code.org (http://code.org), David Risher – World Reader (http://www.worldreader.org), Cliff Schmidt -- Literacy Bridge (http://www.literacybridge.org), Frank Schott – NetHope (http://nethope.org), John Wood – Room to Read (http://www.roomtoread.org), Alan Wilcox – VillageReach (http://www.villagereach.org)
Generous support for the Microsoft Alumni Foundation comes from our parent organization the Microsoft Alumni Network, our corporate sponsors’ Microsoft Corporation, UVLrx, and Master & Dynamic, and from direct contributions from the community at large. https://www.microsoftalumni.com/donate
About the Microsoft Alumni Network and Foundation
The Microsoft Alumni Network was established in 1995. In 2014, the Network joined with the Microsoft Alumni Foundation as one entity to support the alumni community. The Microsoft Alumni Foundation, a 501(c)3 public charity, is part of the Microsoft Alumni Network and works to catalyze the collective power of the Microsoft alumni community and leverage its resources to make a difference for others. Microsoft alumnus Jeff Raikes serves as chairman of the Microsoft Alumni Network board and Rich Kaplan is the Network’s CEO. Microsoft alumnus Steve Wells serves as chairman of the Microsoft Alumni Foundation board and alumna Marylou Brannan serves as executive director of the organization’s philanthropic program. Microsoft alumni and the general community can learn more about the new Microsoft Alumni Network by visiting www.microsoftalumni.com.
Note to editors: For more information about the Microsoft Alumni Network, please visit www.microsoftalumni.com. For more information about the Microsoft Alumni Foundation, please visit www.microsoftalumni.com/philanthropy. For more information about Paul Shoemaker, visit www.paulshoemaker.org
