Microsoft Employees Defy Economic Uncertainties Donate $96M in 2010

Defying economic uncertainties, in excess of 60% of Microsoft employees have managed to donate together over $96 million in 2010, making it the biggest giving year in company history.

Thousands of charities, more than 16,000 in fact, have benefited from the money or time donated by the software giant’s worked throughout the duration of the company’s 2010 Giving Campaign.

Pamela Passman, Microsoft’s corporate vice president of global affairs applauded those that participated with their time and donations to benefit people in need.

“People are worried about the economy. It makes sense they would take a more conservative approach to their personal philanthropy,” she revealed. “We were wrong.”

Microsoft’s U.S. employees donations to philanthropic organizations are without a doubt laudable, specifically considering that more of the company’s workers got involved, helping increase the overall amount by $8.1 million compared to 2009.

It’s important to note that the Redmond company is matching employee donations dollar for dollar. Essentially, half of the $96 million comes from 65% of US employees while the rest is from the software giant.

According to statistics published by Microsoft, no less than 34,887 employees participated in the 2010 Giving Campaign, and while come made cash donations, other volunteered for as much as 353,541 hours over the course of the past year.

Leif Hemstad and Kristen Marchus-Hemstad will throw a party in partnership with United Way at which they hope to raise no less than $75,000 for the local food bank.

The married couple in Fargo, North Dakota working for Microsoft want to beat their previous record of $61,000, and they’re happy to see the software giant get involved as well.

“Our $1,500 donation to the United Way becomes $3,000 with the Microsoft match, and this $3,000 is enough to fund a semi with 12,000 pounds of food that feeds 160 families for part of a week,” Hemstad commented.

“There’s a need everywhere. You don’t have to look that far to find a way to make an impact in your community or anywhere else on the globe. It’s easy to say that, but what makes it easy to execute is that Microsoft, from the top down, has the ability to support every employee who wants to make a difference in their community.”