Technology is a powerful force for improving people's lives. But right now, half the world does not have access to the benefits and opportunities that technology offers. That’s why we're committed to doing more globally to bring the benefits of technology to the people and organizations who need them most. Together with our grantees, partners and employees around the world, we’re working to fulfill Microsoft’s mission to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.
Kids in the Philippines threw rocks and slurs at a 6-year-old boy when he tried to go to school. In Madagascar, an 8-year-old girl was shunned by her village and abandoned by her mother, who couldn’t overcome the stigma of her daughter’s condition. In Morocco, a 12-year-old girl hid in shame at home, so no one could see her face. All three children had a cleft condition, a birth defect that disfigures one in every 500 to 750 babies worldwide. They endured cruelty and isolation for years until a surgery by Operation Smile profoundly changed their lives.
Microsoft Philanthropies will provide $1.8 million in technology, services and training to power the Team Rubicon platform with a new level of data-driven intelligence and flexibility. The partnership deepens an existing relationship between Team Rubicon and Microsoft Philanthropies, which will also continue to support the organization through employee giving programs and disaster-specific grants.
“People used to even make jokes about me because I asked so many questions,” says Kennedy Sampson, now a high school junior in Maryland. “But I needed to understand it …I had to do what I had to.” Kennedy’s determination and grit makes her a good candidate to succeed in math. Her voice was among more than 6,000 U.S. girls and women from ages 10 to 30 who were interviewed for a newly released study about STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education.
I know what’s it’s like to be the “first woman.” It’s really lonely! It feels like all eyes are watching you. I was the first female attorney hired at Microsoft, supporting the engineering groups, and the “only woman in the meeting” far more times than I could count. Now it’s an honor to “pay it forward.” As a society, we have a responsibility to inspire the next generation of female science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) leaders.
“It’s about time!” Maine elementary school teacher and Code.org facilitator Mike Harvey laughs, recalling his reaction when Code.org partnered with Microsoft to launch the first Minecraft activity for the Hour of Code in 2015. An early adopter of Minecraft in the classroom, Mike thinks that it was a natural and logical outcome of what he called the “symbiotic relationship” between Code.org and Microsoft.
As Mary Snapp, Corporate Vice President of Microsoft Philanthropies, wrote on the Official Microsoft Blog last month, “Learning to think critically through coding is the single most important step students can take to prepare themselves to fully participate in, and benefit from, the digital economy.”
In a few weeks, people around the world will celebrate Computer Science Education Week. Millions of kids and others will participate in an Hour of Code, a global call to action to spend an hour learning the basics of coding. Today, it’s my privilege to announce that Microsoft has released a new Minecraft tutorial for Hour of Code, called Hero’s Journey, that will be used in classrooms, at after-school programs, community centers and homes everywhere.
As part of bbcon 2017, Blackbaud (Nasdaq: BLKB), the world’s leading cloud software company powering social good, and Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT), plan to expand their partnership in support of their mutual goals to digitally transform the nonprofit sector.
Today we announced a three-year partnership between The Markle Foundation and Microsoft Philanthropies. Microsoft is investing more than $25 million over three years in Markle and the expansion of its successful Skillful initiative, first across Colorado and then to other states. This is one of the single biggest philanthropic investments Microsoft Philanthropies has made, reflecting the importance of the work involved.
On Wednesday, the Markle Foundation and Microsoft Corp. announced a three-year partnership to expand Markle’s Skillful initiative, a data-driven approach to connecting American workers and businesses in a rapidly evolving labor market. While advances in technology have helped the economy overall, some American workers are being displaced. Jobs in growing sectors increasingly require new skills earned through a post-secondary degree, certificate or credentialing program. Particularly vulnerable are the nearly seven out of 10 Americans who have transferable skills, but not a four-year college degree.
Since 2012, Microsoft YouthSpark has created new opportunities for more than 300 million youth around the world, offering technology skills training...
As part of our overall commitment to corporate citizenship, Microsoft takes an active role in encouraging employees to support causes and nonprofits...
Technology is a powerful force for improving people's lives. But right now, half the world does not have access to the benefits and opportunities that...
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...
