Microsoft Leadership and Hundreds of Alumni Reunite to Celebrate Philanthropy and Community Engagement at Microsoft Alumni Foundation's "Reunion with a Purpose"
Three alumnus receive $25,000 Integral Fellow Award grants for their nonprofits
REDMOND, Wash., Oct. 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- On Friday, October 17 at the sixth annual Microsoft Alumni Foundation "Reunion with a Purpose" event at Microsoft's corporate headquarters, current and past Microsoft leaders gathered to celebrate the alumni community and their work in philanthropy and community engagement. CEO Satya Nadella and former CEO Steve Ballmer joined alumni at the event and spoke about the relationship between the company and its former employees.
"It is great to belong to such an active and vibrant community of Microsoft alumni," said Steve Ballmer, former CEO of Microsoft Corp. and owner of the Los Angeles Clippers. "We changed the world of technology together, and it is inspiring to gather with friends and former colleagues to celebrate what comes next."
"I'm inspired by the Microsoft alumni who are applying their talent and ideas to philanthropic efforts," said Satya Nadella, CEO, Microsoft Corp. "Together, we can further our commitment to serving the communities in which we live and work and make an even greater impact."
The Microsoft Alumni Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Microsoft Alumni Network, announced reinvestment grants to three of its past Integral Fellows. The Integral Fellows Award honors Microsoft alumni who are making a meaningful difference in the lives of others through philanthropy and nonprofit work. This year, the Integral Fellows Committee received a proposal from each Fellow indicating how an investment could help their work move forward.
The committee took on the difficult task of selecting three projects to fund out of this group with each one receiving a $25,000 grant.
- Richard Gold, Pongo Teen Writing. The grant will be used to support the funding of five national trainings for teachers and counselors, specifically teaching them the Pongo methodology.
- Cliff Schmidt, Literacy Bridge. The grant will hire software engineers in Ghana to help scale their efforts.
- Trish Millines Dziko, Technology Access Foundation. The grant will transform a local elementary school into one that is STEM-enriched.
"Earlier this year, the Microsoft Alumni Network and Microsoft Alumni Foundation joined forces to create a stronger alumni community that prioritized community engagement, entrepreneurialism, and philanthropy," said Jeff Raikes, CEO of the Raikes Foundation. "I saw this in action at this year's Reunion with a Purpose – friends and former colleagues coming together to celebrate second careers dedicated to giving back and making the world a better place."
The Microsoft Alumni Foundation also announced a matching pool of $100,000 available to any alumnus donation to the 14 nonprofit organizations of the previous Integral Fellows Award winners who were finalists for this year's grant awards. More information can be found by clicking on this link: https://www.microsoftalumni.com/give.
Generous support for the Microsoft Alumni Foundation comes from Microsoft Corp., Howard Lamar Fine Art, MDHHealthRX, eSurface, Kisameet, Tap There, Reputation Maxx, UvlRx, Growums, and Within Compliance.
About the Microsoft Alumni Network and Foundation
The Microsoft Alumni Network was established in 1995. In 2014, the Alumni Network joined with the Microsoft Alumni Network as one entity to support the alumni community. With more than 10,000 members worldwide, the Microsoft Alumni Network offers former Microsoft employees an opportunity to connect and network with each other, as well as enjoy membership benefits and programs. 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. 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 work. Microsoft alumni and the general community can learn more about the new Microsoft Alumni Network by visiting www.microsoftalumni.com.
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SOURCE Microsoft Alumni Network and Foundation
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