Operation HOPE Receives $1 Million In-Kind Contribution from Microsoft to Support HOPE Inside and HOPE Inside Plus Locations

Commitment allows global leader in financial dignity to upgrade offices and offer first-class technology nationwide

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 3, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Operation HOPE (HOPE) announced today a more than $1 million contribution made up of over 2,000 units of software from Microsoft Corporation to support internal operations and HOPE Inside and HOPE Inside Plus locations throughout the nation.

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"We are a pleased that Microsoft recognizes the important work that we do and look forward to using this gift to strengthen programming services for clients at our HOPE Inside locations, as well as enhance corporate operations, client management and volunteer involvement," said HOPE Division President, HOPE Financial Dignity Centers and chief executive officer of Los Angeles Lance Triggs. "Our partnership continues to help Operation HOPE bridge the digital divide in underserved communities."

Microsoft joins a growing list of HOPE Inside contributors, including SunTrust Banks that will have HOPE Inside locations in select branches in Atlanta, Memphis and Washington D.C, in addition to Popular Community Bank, which will feature HOPE Inside at branches in Harlem and the Bronx.

"The nationwide HOPE Inside initiative is a terrific program, which will bring dignity to thousands of Americans through the marriage of financial literacy and technology," added Ed Ingle, Managing Director of Government Affairs for Microsoft. "We're once again happy to partner with Operation HOPE on its critical mission."

HOPE Inside and HOPE Inside Plus are part of Project 5117, a multi-year project that will increase and track business role models for youth, boost credit scores for adults, and empower underserved communities.  Announced at the 2013 HOPE Global Financial Dignity Summit, Project 5117 aims to decrease poverty and positively change underserved areas by the year 2020.

HOPE Inside and HOPE Inside Plus partner with financial institutions, retail stores, supermarkets, local municipalities, community-based organizations and shopping centers that are easily accessible for customers.  This financial empowerment model allows for customers to receive top class financial literacy education on Homeownership, Foreclosure Prevention, Small Business Development and Credit. Counseling from HOPE trained financial representatives.  HOPE Inside locations will be powered by Microsoft software and are boosted by a five-year commitment from Equifax.

Since 2004, Microsoft's partnership has helped HOPE clients and members develop computer skills, generate business documents, write resumes, expand entrepreneurial plans, and perform a host of tasks that create self-reliance and economic independence.

About Microsoft

Founded in April 1975, Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational software corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services related to computing.

About Operation HOPE, Inc.

Operation HOPE (HOPE) is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting financial literacy and dignity through various educational programs and initiatives. Since its founding in 1992, HOPE has served more than two million individuals and directed more than $1.5 billion in private capital to low-wealth communities. It maintains a growing army of 20,000 HOPE Corps volunteers, and currently serves more than 300 U.S. cities, as well as South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, and the United Arab Emirates. At the core of HOPE's mission to eradicate poverty and empower people through financial literacy is a "silver rights" movement to ensure that free enterprise and capitalism work for the underserved.

For more information about HOPE visit www.operationhope.org and to learn more about Project 5117, visit http://www.operationhope.org/p5117.

SOURCE Operation HOPE