Microsoft donates $1 million to the Oscar De La
Hoya foundation
Written by www.latinosportslegends.com
 January
22, 2007 --
To improve technology
access to families and youths throughout East Los Angeles, Microsoft
Corp. today announced a grant worth more than $1million in software to
the Oscar de la Hoya & Microsoft Learning Center. Through this
grant, the foundation will receive a makeover to include new personal
computers equipped with the Windows Vista(TM) operating system.
“We are grateful
to Microsoft for this extremely generous donation,” said Oscar de la
Hoya. “Windows Vista will make a huge impact on everything from
after-school homework assistance throughout the community to giving
parents an opportunity to gain new skills for today’s burgeoning digital
work force.”
The
Oscar de la Hoya Foundation is a nonprofit organization committed to the
development of children, families and communities in Los Angeles. The
Oscar de la Hoya & Microsoft Learning Center provides thousands of
children with a safe and positive educational and training environment,
emphasizing self-esteem and success through hard work, dedication, good
citizenship and school achievement.
“At Microsoft, we feel a strong sense of responsibility toward our local
community,” said Chris Weber, vice president of Enterprise for the
Western Region at Microsoft. “Microsoft has long believed that inside
each and every person there is great potential. When you partner that
potential with great technology, extraordinary things can happen.”
According to Weber, this grant builds on more than $85 million in cash
and software that Microsoft has donated to community organizations,
educational institutions and human service agencies in California since
2003. “I believe these are some of the most important investments
Microsoft makes,” he said. “The work the Oscar de la Hoya Foundation
does is critical to closing the gap in technology education and access,
and Microsoft is delighted to support such an important effort.”
The grant will help create the first Windows Vista-equipped youth and
community learning center in the country and will offer youths and
families in East Los Angeles access to computers with the most updated
software applications available. Currently, less than 7 percent of
households in East Los Angeles have access to computers and computer
software. Community members will have access to the learning center to
use, explore and learn new software.
“The Oscar de la Hoya & Microsoft Learning Center is a tremendous asset
to the entire Los Angeles community,” said Antonio Villaraigosa, mayor
of Los Angeles. “Microsoft’s donation will give youths and families in
the region access to technology that can further education, enhance
communication and improve their overall quality of life.”
The technology center will be enhanced with new computers loaded with
the Windows Vista Ultimate operating system, which includes a feature
that allows users to easily switch the user interface language between
English and Spanish — depending on the user’s preference — within the
same computer. On Jan. 22 at 10 a.m. PST, Microsoft will host a ceremony
and computer lab tour at the Oscar de la Hoya & Microsoft Learning
Center to present the foundation with the grant. For those interested in
attending, the center is located at 1114 South Lorena St. in East Los
Angeles, on the site of the former Resurrection Gym, which de la Hoya
purchased in 1996 and completely renovated.
Weber and de la Hoya will be on hand during the event for interviews.
Latino Microsoft technology experts will also be on site to educate
people about how to use the bilingual features and safety controls in
the Windows Vista operating system. The Oscar de la Hoya & Microsoft
Learning Center will be open to the community starting Jan. 29.
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