WASHINGTON, Aug. 30, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Microsoft Corporation's renewed partnership with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) has hit the $29 million mark, providing software for TMCF's 47-member network of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
This most recent partnership resulted in an $8 million software grant from the Redmond, WA-based company to help support TMCF-member schools. Over the past seven years, Microsoft has provided TMCF-member schools with $21 million in software. This new grant brings the total to date to $29 million. "Microsoft has always been committed to working with colleges and universities to help students achieve the knowledge and skills necessary to thrive in a competitive industry. These grants have been a major contributor to facilitate capacity building for our network of schools," said TMCF President & CEO Johnny C. Taylor, Jr.
The new $8 million software grant will allow TMCF to continue its ongoing IT initiative to strengthen the IT capacity of its member schools, broaden the institutions' instructional and communications capabilities, and work to build sustainable learning environments.
Dr. Ronald J. Langley, managing director of the Educational Consulting Foundation of Bakersfield, CA., and a long-standing member of Microsoft's Technology Advisory Committee, viewed the ongoing Microsoft/TMCF partnership as "a continuation of a very successful program that has been beneficial to the TMCF schools, and will continue to provide the institutions with up-to-date software and enable them to enhance their instructional support and programs."
Everette J. Freeman, president of Albany State University of Albany, GA, added that "we will make intelligent and effective use of the resources the grant will provide to continue to graduate the best and the brightest – for our students, faculty and staff."
The Microsoft/TMCF partnership has been and continues to be part of TMCF's long-term Technology Initiative.
The Technology Initiative has three goals:
- To provide university and college faculty, administrative personnel, and students access to current technology for rigorous educational purposes. This technological accessibility is designed to: 1) increase personnel productivity, 2) improve faculty instructional effectiveness through greater information availability and 3) enable improved learning for students through exposure to relevant new information and methodologies.
- To promote and demonstrate the benefits of the new technology to staff, faculty, and students. Assistance will be provided to ensure comfort with technology.
- To allow access to IT resources through the institutions for residents of the surrounding communities.
"Access to technology, and the skills to use that technology opens up new opportunities for communities and people around the world," according to Akhtar Badsha, senior director of global community affairs at Microsoft. "We're proud of our longstanding partnership with TMCF and our shared commitment that all students today have access to the tools and skills required for tomorrow's careers."
ABOUT THURGOOD MARSHALL COLLEGE FUND
The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), named for the U.S. Supreme Court's first African-American Justice, was established in 1987. TMCF supports and represents nearly 300,000 students attending our 47-member schools, which include public Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs). TMCF's work is critical to guaranteeing our country a robust and diverse pipeline of talented workers and future leaders.
TMCF achieves its vision of Changing the World . . . One Leader at a Time by focusing on: Scholarships, Capacity Building & Programmatic Support, and Public Policy & Advocacy. TMCF is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable organization and has a "Four Star" rating by Charity Navigator. For up-to-the-minute information about TMCF and its initiatives, visit: www.thurgoodmarshallcollegefund.org.
ABOUT CITIZENSHIP AT MICROSOFT
Microsoft (http://www.microsoft.com/citizenship) believes that technology can accelerate change to help solve some of society's most pressing issues. Microsoft supports programs and organizations that address the needs of communities worldwide through monetary grants, software and curriculum donations, technology solutions, and employee volunteer hours. Since 1983, Microsoft and our employees have provided more than $4.6 billion in cash, services and software to nonprofits around the world through localized, company-sponsored giving and volunteer campaigns. You can find the latest Citizenship-related news from Microsoft on our blog and by following us on Twitter.
Media Contact:
Hallema Sharif
hallema.clyburn@tmcfund.org
212.573.8494
This information was brought to you by Cision http://www.cisionwire.com
http://www.cisionwire.com/thurgood-marshall-college-fund/r/microsoft-donates--8m-software-grant-to-thurgood-marshall-college-fund--raising-partnership-gift-tot,c9155849
The following files are available for download:
| wkr0001.pdf |