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Microsoft Alumni Foundation Announces Integral Fellowship Finalists

Posted on: Monday, 16 November 2009, 08:00 CST

By creating over 150 nonprofits and mobilizing millions of dollars, Microsoft Alumni do good with money and talent

BELLEVUE, Wash., Nov. 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Microsoft Alumni Foundation announced today the six finalists for the 2009 Integral Fellows program awards. A cornerstone of the Foundation, the Integral Fellows program recognizes Microsoft alumni who have dedicated their lives to creating something extraordinary to help address challenges around the world. Of the over 150 nonprofit organizations started by Microsoft alumni, and the thousands of alumni doing philanthropic work globally, sixty-six nominations were received, resulting in the six finalists announced today. Three award winners will be recognized by Bill and Melinda Gates at the Founders' Gala on November 18, 2009. The winners will receive a $25,000 unrestricted grant for their nonprofit organization, as well as the talents and skills of alumni to help support their ongoing efforts.

The six finalists are:

• Patrick Awuah, Ashesi University www.ashesi.org
• Peter Bladin, Grameen Foundation www.grameenfoundation.org
• Linda English, Learning for International NGOs (LINGOs) www.lingos.org
• Tom Ikeda, Densho: The Japanese American Legacy Project www.densho.org
• Trish Millines Dziko, Technology Access Foundation www.techaccess.org
• John Wood, Room to Read www.roomtoread.org
  

The Microsoft Alumni Foundation brings together Microsoft alumni to positively affect our world's challenges. "Inspired by our 2009 Integral Fellows, we set our minds to taking on a very audacious goal: using our experience and talent to help people everywhere take advantage of the same opportunities that we have been able to enjoy," said Jeff Raikes, chairman of the board of the Microsoft Alumni Foundation. "Sixty-six very special men and women were nominated by their peers as Integral Fellows for their work deeply rooted in service and making a difference in people's lives. Today, I am honored to announce these six finalists. On November 18th, Bill and Melinda Gates and 350 fellow Microsoft alumni will gather to announce and celebrate the final three winners."

The nonprofit organizations being recognized include:

• Ashesi University - a co-educational institution in Ghana whose mission is to educate African leaders of exceptional integrity and professional ability.
• Grameen Foundation - helps the world's poorest, especially women, improve their lives and escape poverty through access to microfinance and technology.
• LINGOs - a consortium of over 40 international humanitarian relief, development, conservation and health organizations providing the latest learning technologies and courses from partners to increase the skill levels of the employees of these international nonprofits, and therefore increasing the impact of their programs.
• Densho - helps students explore issues of democracy, intolerance, wartime hysteria, and the responsibilities of citizenship through the examination of the unjust World War II incarceration of Japanese Americans.
• Technology Access Foundation (TAF) - a nonprofit organization based in Seattle, WA, dedicated to preparing students of color for academic and professional success in today's technology-driven world.
• Room to Read - partners with local communities throughout the developing world to provide quality educational opportunities by establishing libraries, creating local language children's literature, constructing schools, and providing education to girls.
  

"We are excited to have a panel of esteemed judges working with us to recognize Microsoft alumni and their nonprofit organizations," said Scott Oki, vice president of the board of directors and co-founder of the Microsoft Alumni Foundation, and co-chair of this inaugural Gala. The judges panel includes:

• Jimmy Carter, former President of the United States of America
• Bill Drayton, chair and CEO, Ashoka
• William H. Gates Sr., co-chair, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
• Pierre Omidyar, founding partner, Omidyar Network and founder and chairman, eBay Inc.
• Thomas J. Tierney, chairman and co-founder, Bridgespan Group
  

Rigorous evaluation of the finalists included achievements that embody the values of the Microsoft Alumni Foundation which are: innovative; entrepreneurial; effective; collaborative and to operate with integrity. Additional criteria in selecting the winners included: the ability to create something extraordinary out of limited resources; selflessness; passion; smarts; need and scalability.

About the Foundation: The Microsoft Alumni Foundation was established to catalyze the collective power of Microsoft alumni and leverage our resources to provide innovative, scalable and transformative solutions to our world's challenges. Launched in 2007, the Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public nonprofit organization with its worldwide headquarters based in Bellevue, Washington, USA. Board members include: Jeff Raikes (chair); Chuck Hirsch (president); Scott Oki (co-founder and vice president); Paul Shoemaker (treasurer); Tony Audino (co-founder); Sharon Maghie (co-founder and secretary) and Brad Smith (Microsoft representative).

Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on the Microsoft Alumni Foundation, please visit www.microsoftalumni.org.

SOURCE Microsoft Alumni Foundation

Source: PR Newswire

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