Connected Online Magazine - December 2007
MICROSOFT ALUMNI GIVING FOUNDATION: defining our mission
The new Microsoft Alumni Foundation. By Anne Addison
Every year MSA and its members support important causes, often quietly, in their own way; many making a significant impact in the lives of the people around them. Can you imagine the collective power of that membership focused on the issues our world faces? That's why it only makes sense for this group to formally join together and use their resources to impact the global community. As an alumni association, MSA was designed to manage alumni communities, not public charities-so the Microsoft Alumni Giving Foundation (MSAF) was born and this past September 1, I signed on as the first Executive Director. This is without question the best job in the world. I'm constantly taking a deep breath before taking the next step. The potential for good is enormous.
One of our biggest obligations for this first year is to define the important questions and find the answers that as a group make the most sense. The most important question is "what is our mission?" Right now, defining our mission is our mission but we're leaning towards: Leveraging the Microsoft Alumni legacy to develop active, effective philanthropic leaders focused on innovative, scalable solutions to our planet's problems.
You're probably wondering what that means...To me, it means getting all these people together, people like Bill and Melinda, Paul and Steve, people like John Wood, Scott Oki, Tony Audino, and so many others, people who maybe haven't donated millions but who have changed the world in their own way. Taking that big cool brain trust, aligning it, synchronizing it and pointing it like a laser at important issues in our world. It means championing the good things that have already been done by Microsoft alumni. We've just started researching that, and we already have twenty-nine nonprofits or social ventures that have grown out of the generous spirit of the Microsoft alumni community. Check out the list at www.msagf.org/mission.html, and if we're missing your family foundation or another organization that was either founded or co-founded by alums, let us know.
It's true, we've got a lot to figure out-but the most valuable asset we have is our people. Many alums have gone on to be shining examples of philanthropy in the region and internationally. One in every seven dollars given now is coming from the Gates Foundation, so we need look no further than Bill and Melinda to see how alumni are changing the world. "As part of Microsoft for years, we all know the satisfaction felt by playing a role in helping to change the world. With MSAF, we're excited and humbled by the opportunity to impact the world again in a different way," said Scott Oki, MSAF board member.
I get it. It's a pretty bold statement-wanting to change the world-but we're called to do this. We have the talent, the people, the knowledge and you know, if we can build the biggest, best company in the world, who's to say we can't use that same talent to tackle our planet's problems?
On Monday December 3, 2007, braving record rain, 40 intrepid Microsoft alums answered this call by helping launch the MSAF Founders' Circle. Lending their name with a one-time donation of $5,000 were: Bob and Pat Herbold, Bob and Catherine O'Rear, Tony and Michelle Audino, Tina Podlodowski, Paul and Lori Shoemaker, Scott and Laurie Oki, Sharon Maghie, Crystal Springs Foundation (Mike and Joyce Murray), Digvijay Chauhan and Rupali Pathania, Ramesh Paremeswaran and Vidya Subramanian, Chuck and Carol Hirsch, Kathi Jones, Natalie and Bob Yount, my husband Steve and myself, and the checks are still coming in ... The Founders' Circle will host another event at Nishino in late January and already has an RSVP list of 40, so you haven't missed the boat. Any Microsoft alum can join the Founders' Circle with a one-time donation of $5,000. With your donation comes the opportunity to sit on the Advisory Board, invitations to Founders' Circle events, and the opportunity to use your name to engage 60,000 Microsoft alumni throughout the world. This opportunity runs from now until the end of December 2008.
If you're someone who thrives on making things happen, building companies, designing databases, then dive in-we need you. Over the next year you will have the opportunity to participate in an online survey, attend town meetings and provide feedback through our website forum. Get involved in the way that works best for you: we need techies, marketing gurus, fantastic party planners, quiet computer guys-we need you all. To get involved, email me at anne@msagf.org or to learn more, check out our website at www.msagf.org.
And don't forget-Join us this February 2, 2008 at MSA's After-the-Holidays Party! This year's theme: the Mad Scientist's Ball at the Pacific Science Center. The good news is-no dancing. The bad news-there's only room for 400 of you. So RSVP now!
