Microsoft donates $2 million in YouthSpark software, 200 HP Stream tablets on TODAY show

| Reid Downey; General Manager, Microsoft New York District

I always love the holiday season, and this Friday it became even more special to me because I had the pleasure to make an appearance on NBC’s TODAY show’s annual Holiday Toy and Gift Drive, which has raised nearly $400 million in donations since it began 21 years ago.

I told Hoda and Kathie Lee that this year, as part of the Microsoft YouthSpark initiative, we are donating $2 million in software to NBC-sponsored charities and other youth-serving non-profit organizations. We’re doing this because we see a gap between those who have access to the skills and training they need to be successful, and those who do not; particularly when it comes to Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.  Having access to the latest technology is so important for creating a better future for our children, and we want to do our part.

But that wasn’t enough for us. While access to great software is important, it’s also kind of important to have great hardware to run it on, too! So the Microsoft Retail stores kindly lent a hand by donating 200 HP Stream Windows tablets to those same charity outlets. With these amazing tablets, the charities get access to the full Windows 8.1 experience, and with powerful tools like SQL and the cloud-based Office 365, they can do a ton more than ever before: go paperless, impress stake-holders, reduce costs, access important documents anywhere, anytime, and work more productively and more collaboratively, so that they can do even more good for the communities they serve.

I can’t tell you how honored I am to be a part of this effort, and to have the privilege of sharing with nearly 2 million TODAY show fans! On behalf of all of us at Microsoft, thank you New York for another great year and we hope your holidays are filled with cheer.

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For more information on the Microsoft YouthSpark program, which is our effort to provide 300 million young people with opportunities for education, employment and entrepreneurship, visit the Microsoft YouthSpark homepage. You can also read up on how much time and money Microsoft employees have donated to make their communities a better place at Employee Giving at Microsoft.

To find a Microsoft product or service for you, locate a Microsoft Retail Store in your area, or shop online at Microsoftstore.com.

Happy Holidays!

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