Microsoft To Give $100 Million In Software, Training.
Microsoft Corp. and its philanthropist founder Bill Gates will contribute $100 million in software and cash to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America over the next five years. Microsoft will provide $88 million in software, and $12.3 million in cash primarily for support staff training and program development, explained Ed Mishrell, vice president of program services for Atlanta-based Boys & Girls Clubs of America.The objective is to provide technology access and programs to the 3.3 million children at the 2,600 clubs nationwide within the five-year span, Mishrell added.
The announcement was made in the gymnasium of a Boys & Girls Club in New York City in early December and 108 sites were initially scheduled to benefit from matching software grant monies by the end of last year. The goal is to equip 500 new clubs annually with the Microsoft grant the remaining four years.
According to Mishrell, Microsoft Corp. granted $1.1 million and $250,000 in software to kick off a pilot project in January, 1999. That enabled the organization to analyze what was specifically needed and to create a prototype from which to build on.
"The objective (of the pilot program) was to set up technology centers in clubs, looking at issues and developing a model and what were the best uses of the software," He said.
The only criterion necessary to receive grant money is each club must be prepared for the technology with the proper hardware, Mishrell said. And through Power Up, a Virginia nonprofit, the various clubs will be outfitted with computer hardware prior to software applications.
"Every club that receives (computer hardware) will automatically receive the software," he said.
Mishrell acknowledged that forging into the technology world is uncharted waters for the club, but it was something that was brought up by employees, children, and board members three years ago as something they needed to get involved in.
The goal is, "Putting technology into a non-technology organization and putting it to use to have the greatest impact on kids educationally and to support their academic development," Mishrell said.
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| Title Annotation: | to Boys and Girls Clubs of America |
|---|---|
| Author: | Carpenter, Clint |
| Publication: | The Non-profit Times |
| Article Type: | Brief Article |
| Geographic Code: | 1USA |
| Date: | Jan 1, 2001 |
| Words: | 346 |
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