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Microsoft Donates to Katrina Rebuilding

By BetaNews Staff, BetaNews

February 26, 2007, 9:26 PM

Microsoft said Monday that it donated $1.7 million to support rebuilding of the Gulf Coast, with the money being awarded to non-profit partners in Louisiana and Texas. With its latest donation, the company will have donated over $55 million as part of its Unlimited Potential charity program. Through this effort, Microsoft donates cash, software and technology to communities in need.

"In a post-Katrina world, retaining and rebuilding a skilled work force is critical to the future of the Gulf Coast economy," CEO Steve Ballmer said at an event to announce the grant in Louisiana. "Microsoft is committed to working with our Gulf Coast partners to help expand opportunity for people and businesses throughout this fantastic region."

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By theadambomb78

edited Feb 27, 2007 - 2:39 PM

Before you comment get your facts straight. Louisiana was hit by Katrina. They were hit hard. Just ask my parents in Slidell, LA. There were in their house during the storm and the eye went over them. They nearly lost everything they had.

I've been down there several times since the storm and the people there need all the help they can get. Who cares if it's Microsoft or Apple? As long as they're donating money that's a good thing.

Score: 0

By KBo

edited Feb 27, 2007 - 3:04 PM

Yes, Slidell was hit hard by Katrina, but as most people know the brunt of the force of a Hurricane is on the North East side. Slidell in fact was the hardest hit area in LA, but that does not change the fact that Mississippi was in the NE quadrant of Katrina. Take a look at some of the satellite imagery of Waveland, Bay St. Louis, Pass Christian, Gulfport, Biloxi, Ocean Springs (my home town), Gautier, and Pascagoula. You will see mostly slabs along the entire Mississippi coastline.

It also appears that you have not read my posts throughout this thread. I was just trying to put an end to the "Microsoft is late" and "What has Apple done?" comments.

My main concern is about Mississippi non-profit companies being left out of the latest Microsoft donation.

Score: 0

By phenomnaruto

posted Feb 27, 2007 - 1:55 PM

Ad to the Microsoft bashers... how much has Apple donated to the Katrina effort?

Score: 0

By KBo

posted Feb 27, 2007 - 2:20 PM

Found this on CNNMoney.com dated 9/15/05
http://money.cnn.com/200...tune500/firms_hurricane/

"Apple Computer donated $1 million to the Red Cross and is accepting donations on behalf of the Red Cross through a link on its iTunes Music Store site."

also this:

"Microsoft Corp has pledged an initial $1 million and sent technology experts to help the Red Cross. They have also sent 3 buses with high end satellite equipment for use in remote areas."

So, this tells us that MS is not late to help out, and also eliminates any Apple bashing.

Score: 0

By alphatrigon

posted Feb 28, 2007 - 12:17 AM

quotes...just wiki

As of 2006, Microsoft employees, not including Bill Gates, have given over $2.5bn dollars to non-profit organizations worldwide, making Microsoft the worldwide top company in per-employee donations. In January 2007, the Harris Interactive/The Wall Street Journal Reputation Quotient survey recognized Microsoft as having the world's best corporate reputation. Aside from citing strong financial performance, vision & leadership, and workplace environment rankings, the survey noted that the company's reputation has been boosted by the work of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

and...

In 2000, Gates founded the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, a charitable organization, with his wife. Bill Gates Sr. has credited David Rockefeller's generosity and extensive philanthropy as an influence on his son. The two of them met several times with him and have modeled their giving in part on the Rockefeller family's philanthropic focus on global problems being ignored by governments and other organizations.

The foundation's grants have provided funds for college scholarships for under-represented minorities, AIDS prevention, diseases prevalent in third world countries, and other causes. In 2000, the Gates Foundation endowed the University of Cambridge with $210 million for the Gates Cambridge Scholarships. The Foundation has also pledged over $7 billion to its various causes, including $1 billion to the United Negro College Fund. According to a 2004 Forbes magazine article, Gates gave away over $29 billion to charities from 2000 onwards. These donations are usually cited as sparking a substantial change in attitudes towards philanthropy among the very rich, with philanthropy becoming the norm.

That's better and more accurate. One company and it's employees donate freely...while another donates only through purchases. Nice isn't it? lol

Reason why I love MS and its employees.

Score: 0

By dan-0

posted Feb 27, 2007 - 12:48 PM

Why isn't this good news? why is everyone tearing up ms for this? yes, its a little late, but they make a large donation and people critcize them.

Wouldn't it be nice if we could appreciate what people do and leave it at that? maybe I'm asking too much...

Score: 0

By Avion Airplane

posted Feb 27, 2007 - 10:11 AM

Great- the Gulf Coast needs alot of help right now.......

Score: 0

By Dev3lop3

posted Feb 27, 2007 - 9:52 AM

Now only if they could make an OS right...

Score: 0

By uberfly

posted Feb 27, 2007 - 9:29 PM

Haha, too funny. What a goofy thing to say.

Score: 0

By TomA102210

posted Feb 27, 2007 - 10:25 AM

"Now only if they could make an OS right..."
---------------------------------------------
Sure don't know what your problem is, but my OS works just fine. A minor glitch here and there. Maybe you need a Mac or Linux or do you complain about those as well?

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Feb 27, 2007 - 10:06 AM

Man, there's plenty of other topics for you to bash MS on, go troll those. Your comment has no place here.

Score: 0

By KBo

edited Feb 27, 2007 - 9:19 AM

"money being awarded to non-profit partners in Louisiana and Texas"...too bad they left out non-profit partners located in the state that was actually hit by hurricane Katrina.

Score: 0

By bourgeoisdude

posted Feb 28, 2007 - 4:50 PM

They are reffering to the refugees and the damage caused by hurricane Rita. Had it not been for the media's fascination with Katrina, Hurricane Rita would have been the storm of the year in 2005. It wasn't as bad as Katrina as far as flooding, but you better believe it caused millions in damage to houses and businesses--not to mention the dozens of refineries in this area had to shut down for three days...that cost 100's of millions!

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

edited Feb 27, 2007 - 9:28 AM

Louisiana wasn't hit by Katrina?

Really?

Wow!

Try telling that to the folks in New Orleans.

Texas wasn't affected either?

I suppose the over 200,000 refugees they took in (mostly from Louisiana) doesn't count as an affect, eh?

Score: 0

By Avion Airplane

edited Feb 27, 2007 - 10:13 AM

Tool- find a fly in yer oatmeal this morning ?

:=)

Score: 0

By KBo

posted Feb 27, 2007 - 9:46 AM

I live on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. I realize they were affected, but that is no reason to leave out the State that was hit by Katrina. New Orleans was flooded as a result of water being pushed into Lake Pontchartrain and the levy braking. The Mississippi Gulf Coast was hit by the full force of Katrina.

I am not saying don't give money to Louisiana or Texas. I am saying don't leave out Mississippi non-profit companies.

Score: 0

By ogman

posted Feb 27, 2007 - 10:16 AM

Good point.

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Feb 27, 2007 - 10:02 AM

So you have knowledge that these non-profits are not giving aid outside of the states they are in?

That's quite an assumption. Most charity organizations work outside the state they are based in.

Score: 0

By KBo

posted Feb 27, 2007 - 1:34 PM

PC_Tool = missing the point completely

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

edited Feb 27, 2007 - 6:11 PM

Sorry, I took:

too bad they left out non-profit partners located in the state that was actually hit by hurricane Katrina.

To mean you were under the impression they'd be left out of any form of aid form these donations. I was merely attempting to point out that it is highly unlikely that such would be the case.

I don't think Mississippi will be left out. As I said, most charity organizations will help anywhere it's needed. MS may not be the best at distributing it, but I'm sure the two orgs they gave it to have a clue.

Score: 0

By mikefromuk

posted Feb 27, 2007 - 8:24 AM

At least Microsoft are helping, what about other companies, what did they do?

Score: 0

By Dev3lop3

posted Feb 27, 2007 - 9:54 AM

Google and Apple BOTH donated to charities directly helping the hurricane victims.

So keep the ignorant flaming to a minimum bugmenoob...

Score: 0

By bugmenot

edited Feb 27, 2007 - 9:29 AM

You mean Apple? From Apple's representative "It's not our problem".

/sarcasm

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Feb 27, 2007 - 9:25 AM

Plenty. Unfortunately, most folks only think it happens if the media reports it.

Not being reported by the media!=never happened.

Score: 0

By Silentmaster101

posted Feb 27, 2007 - 8:07 AM

not to be critical, but why was this done just now, instead of like last year when it was needed more?

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Feb 27, 2007 - 9:24 AM

....and it's not needed now, when the federal funding for relief is drying up?

Doesn't take much for you to find something wrong with damn near anything, eh?

Score: 0

By Silentmaster101

posted Feb 27, 2007 - 11:32 AM

well this does smell more like a publicity stunt to me...

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Feb 27, 2007 - 12:05 PM

Of course it does. It's Microsoft. They can't do anything right.

/sarcasm

Score: 0

By PuneetSeo

edited Feb 27, 2007 - 12:58 AM

Hi,

Read it about Microsoft and felt good to hear those large things.
Keep it up Microsoft.

Regards
http://www.americantruckbuyer.com

Score: 0

By uberfly

posted Feb 27, 2007 - 1:02 AM

lol

Score: 0

By drumcat

posted Feb 27, 2007 - 12:15 AM

At least it wasn't a software donation. ;)

Score: 0

By lvthunder

posted Feb 26, 2007 - 9:56 PM

Good for Microsoft. Hopefully the people who they gave the money to put it to good use.

Score: 0

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