Microsoft launches charity for young people
| SEATTLE
Microsoft聽announced Thursday that it鈥檚 undertaking a new global initiative to combat the 鈥渙pportunity gap鈥� for young people.
Philanthropically, the initiative is 鈥渢he biggest step we鈥檝e taken in the 37 years of the company,鈥� said聽MicrosoftGeneral Counsel Brad Smith.
Called YouthSpark, the program marks a new emphasis in聽Microsoft鈥檚聽philanthropic efforts, one that focuses on global youth programs. The company said it is investing $500 million in the initiative. Some of the money will be shifted from other charitable areas in which the company is involved worldwide, and some of the money will be new.
Taken altogether, that means聽Microsoft聽is committing the majority of its corporate cash giving to philanthropic efforts that support and serve youth.
YouthSpark is aimed at creating opportunities such as education, employment and entrepreneurship for about 300 million youths in 100 countries over the next three years.
Microsoft聽is partnering with hundreds of nonprofits worldwide in the effort.
The initiative will likely reach about 50 million people in the United States and about 250 million in the rest of the world, Smith said at a media briefing Thursday on the program.
CEO Steve Ballmer placed the initiative in the context of the 鈥渂ig, bold bets鈥澛燤icrosoft聽is making this year with the introduction of Windows 8 and other new products or upgrades. He said YouthSpark is another bet 鈥� one to close the 鈥渙pportunity gap.鈥�
Smith said the YouthSpark initiative does not change聽Microsoft鈥檚聽corporate giving focus in the Puget Sound area of Washington. 鈥淲e recognize this is our home state,鈥� he said.
Support for, say, local arts groups and hospitals is 鈥渄efinitely not going to be going down,鈥� he added.
The YouthSpark initiative is launching with three new programs:
鈥擥ive for Youth, a global microgiving marketplace.
鈥擸outhSpark Hub, an online space where people can find out more about the programs and resources.
鈥擨nnovate for Good, a global, social online community geared toward connecting youths with each other.
Part of the initiative also involves donations of聽Microsoft聽products, including Office 365 for education, free tech tools for teachers and students and Skype in the classroom.
