Microsoft Commits $2 Million to Relief Efforts in Japan

Microsoft has committed no less than $2 million to help relief efforts in Japan, a mix of cash and in-kind contributions.

Information about the Redmond company involvement with helping Japan recover from the natural disaster that struck earlier this month is provided through the Microsoft Disaster Response site for the 2011 Japan Earthquake.

The devastation left following the earthquake and tsunami that hit the Miyagi prefecture in Japan certainly requires more, and Microsoft employees are also getting involved.

According to Gisli Olafsson, NetHope Emergency Response Director, the software giant’s US staff already donated as much as $700,000.

Of course, as it is tradition at Microsoft, the company will match employee donations dollar for dollar.

In addition, Microsoft also works on additional fronts to help, such as donating software, support and even Cloud resources to both Japanese customers and to those working to help them.

One example involves partnering with NetHope, Dell, HP and InterConnection in order to donate computers to relief workers in Japan.

As a part of the initiative, over 250 refurbished laptops have been set up and delivered to humanitarian workers in the land of the rising sun.

“Rescuers from several organizations including Care, ChildFund Japan, Habitat for Humanity, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Japanese Red Cross, Mercy Corps/Peace Winds, Oxfam Japan, Plan International, Relief International and Save the Children will use the laptops to share information and coordinate relief efforts across their groups,” Olafsson revealed.

Microsoft donated the software installed on the laptops, providing English and Japanese versions of Windows 7 and Office 2010.

“20 volunteers came together in Seattle to prepare the laptops, donated by Dell and HP, for shipment to Japan,” Olafsson said.

Experts from InterConnection, a Seattle-based nonprofit that specializes in charitable computer reuse and recycling, were on-hand to assist and host the volunteers at its Wallingford office.

“The volunteers came from all over the Puget Sound region and include Microsoft employees as well as others who responded to calls for volunteers on VolunteerMatch, Facebook and Craig’s List.”