For Immediate Release
Contact: Jennifer Cornell
Eiler Communications
734-761-3399
Jenn@EilerPR.com
Detroit -- March 20, 2006 -- In an effort to provide brighter futures for underserved youth in Detroit, Microsoft and Dynamic Computer announced today separate grants to The Children's Center, one of the largest, most diverse and comprehensive frontline child-serving agencies in Michigan. The grants, with a combined total of more than $353,000 in cash, software and hardware, will allow The Children's Center to expand its service offerings to local children and families.
“Technology education and access is increasingly necessary for all people,” said The Children's Center CEO Debora Matthews. “Unfortunately, the children and families we serve have limited opportunities to explore this medium. The grants from Microsoft and Dynamic Computer are tremendous and will help The Children's Center provide hands on computer experience for many of Detroit's most vulnerable children.”
On March 24, The Children's Center will announce these two grants during a special news announcement at 10:30 a.m. at The Children's Center, located at 79 Alexandrine West in Detroit. In addition to The Children's Center board members, staff and volunteers, Dynamic Computer Vice President Farida Ali will join several Microsoft executives – including Vice President of U.S. Partner Group Margo Day and Heartland Area General Manager Scott Davidson – and Congresswoman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick to support the event.
“Microsoft is excited to share this vision of responsible corporate leadership with Dynamic Computer, and we are excited to join them in supporting The Children's Center's important mission,” said Microsoft Heartland Area General Manager Scott Davidson. “Microsoft knows the tools and resources provided through this grant will help to unlock the potential within the youth, their families and the Detroit community. That is why since 2002, Microsoft has donated over $4.7 million in cash and software to community organizations, educational institutions and human service agencies in Detroit. The Children's Center strives every day to enhance the lives of our youth here in Detroit, and we are proud to be a part of this mission.”
This spring, The Children's Center will open the Tau Beta Center for Discovery, a new computer and resource lab on the nonprofit's campus. The center is sponsored by the Tau Beta Association, a civic organization located in Grosse Pointe, Mich. and providing ongoing financial support and volunteers for the new center.
The combined grant – worth nearly $337,000 in software from Microsoft, and approximately $16,000 in hardware from Dynamic Computer – will be used to build the technology component of the Tau Beta Center for Discovery. The goal of the program for this center is to provide at-risk children and families with the additional tools and resources they need to be successful. Offerings will include computer training, internet access, tutoring, and various workshops such as, living skills for older teens, surviving with mental illness, parenting skills, job seeking, money management, healthy living and so much more.
“Each year, we make a significant donation to a charity that needs computers, and this year we found a really good cause in the Children's Center's new computer center,” said Dynamic Computer Corporation Vice President Farida Ali. “Our goal is to help educate children in the proper use of computers to benefit their lives, their school work and their introduction into use of modern information systems that can benefit them throughout their lives.”
“Having access to technology and understanding how to use it is vital to success in our increasingly global economy,” said Congresswoman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick. “I applaud Microsoft and Dynamic Computer's efforts to support The Children's Center. This donation will help ensure that youth and families in our community are equipped with the computer skills and knowledge needed to compete in the 21st century and beyond.”
About The Children's Center
As one of the largest, most diverse and comprehensive front-line child-serving agencies in Michigan, The Children's Center addresses the needs and problems of some of the most troubled children in the United States. Founded in 1929, The Children's Center serves thousands of children and families through 20 inter-related programs annually. For more information http://thechildrenscenter.com
About Microsoft Community Affairs
Microsoft and its employees have long recognized the importance of being engaged in supporting communities around the world. Last year the company donated $48 million in cash and $362 million in software to 8,000 nonprofit organizations. A majority of the company's community investments are made in support of Unlimited Potential, a global program that supports community technology centers or telecenters in by enriching IT skills training and workforce development with innovative tools and technologies.
More information on Microsoft's community investments can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/unlimitedpotential/.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software — any time, any place and on any device.
About Dynamic Computer Corporation
Founded in 1979, Farmington Hills, Mich.-based Dynamic Computer is a supplier and provider of IT solutions to large enterprise customers. It helps customers meet challenging federal regulstions for compliance required by the Federal Information Security Act (FISMA), Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA), Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The company is a single-source solution for hardware, network installation, software and enterprise information management services consulting. Dynamic has built its reputation based on providing highly customized IT services combined with exceptional level of customer service.
For more information, visit http://www.dcc-online.com.
About Tau Beta Association
For more than 100 years Tau Beta Association has promoted charitable and philanthropic projects and services to benefit the people of southeastern Michigan. Founded in 1901 as a non-profit association, Tau Beta has supported numerous causes including; tuberculosis treatment, the Hamtramck Community House and Tau Beta Camp for Metropolitan Detroit area girls and boys. In 2004, the membership of Tau Beta voted to partner with The Children's Center in Detroit. By offering volunteer and fundraising assistance Tau Beta hopes to further the mission of The Children's Center.
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