Microsoft grant to help homeless youth receive computer skills training
Frontier College will receive more than $100,000 in funding over next two years
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Mississauga, ON, July 22, 2004 — As the newest recipients of a Microsoft Unlimited Potential (UP) grant, Frontier College's Beat the Street program participants will receive free computer software training designed to improve skills development and prepare them for further education or employment. Microsoft's UP program is aimed at providing technology skills to under-privileged youth through community-based technology learning centres.
Frontier College will receive approximately $104,000 over the next two years to support its Beat the Street Program, with a possibility for an additional $52,000 in the third year should the program prove to be successful. Since 1984, Beat the Street has offered basic literacy, high school equivalency, literacy-based arts programming and basic computer skills training to out-of-school youth who are at-risk, street-involved or homeless. The new funding will allow the College to expand its computer training by offering a globally recognized computer certification program to approximately 50 young people this year.
"Many homeless and at-risk youth lack basic employment skills," said John O'Leary, President, Frontier College. "Computer skills are essential for accessing further education and for labour force participation. The Microsoft UP grant will allow us to strengthen and expand our computer training to help keep out-of-school youth from falling even farther behind."
Unlimited Potential was created by Microsoft Corporation to help narrow computer literacy skills gaps by providing better access to technology. The company plans to commit more than US$1 billion worldwide to the initiative over the next five years. In the 12 months since UP's inception in 2003, Microsoft has awarded more than $80 million to community-based and technology learning centres in 78 countries. This is the second UP grant issued in Canada. The first was presented to Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada earlier this year.
"Our community affairs programs were founded on the belief that if children and youth are given they resources they need, they can accomplish great things," said Frank Clegg, President, Microsoft Canada Co. "We are thrilled that Frontier College will be able to use this grant to help some young Canadians improve their computer literacy skills -- and ultimately help them have greater success in life."
About FrontierCollege
Literacy is an essential skill in today's world and Frontier College believes it's a fundamental right. Frontier College is Canada's original literacy organization. Founded in 1899 by a group of university students and faculty, its mission was to live, work and teach in isolated "frontier" settlements. Today, Frontier College volunteers and community partners work on Canada's "new frontiers" - inner city schools and streets, public housing sites, farms, prisons and reserves.
Low literacy skills are directly linked to poverty, poor health and high unemployment. Nearly one in four adult Canadians has trouble with everyday tasks that involve reading. Through a network of thousands of volunteers, Frontier College is helping people realize their potential and seize the opportunities that come their way.
About Microsoft Canada's Community Programs
Microsoft Canada's I CAN Community Program is committed to enhancing the lives of young Canadians and their families through community initiatives focusing on technology and learning. Over the last two years, I Can has impacted the lives of over 230,000 children through specially designed community programs, financial assistance, and software and solutions support. Microsoft Canada is a wholly owned subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation (Nasdaq "MSFT") the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. Visit http://www.microsoft.ca/ican for more details.
More information about the UP program can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/unlimitedpotential/
© 2004 Microsoft Corporation. Microsoft is either a registered trademark or trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.
