For Immediate Release
Microsoft and Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia Enter Agreement Which Will Benefit Special Olympics National Programmes Across 25 Countries in Europe and Asia
New Agreement was signed and formally announced at the Microsoft hosted ‘Partnering for Success’ Conference
Mary Davis, Managing Director, Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia and Sylvie Laffarge, Director of Community Affairs, Microsoft EMEA today signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) which will see Microsoft donate its recently developed Business Productivity Online solution to the Special Olympics organization across Europe and Asia. Microsoft will also support the non-profit organization by encouraging and facilitating employees who wish to get involved with the Special Olympics across 25 countries. The agreement was signed at the ‘Partnering for Success’ conference in Dublin Today.
It was very relevant that the agreement was signed and announced at the Partnering for Success conference as it is an ideal example of how private entities and non profit organizations can deliver significant strategic benefits to each other by partnering together.
The donation of this Business Productivity Online solution will enable Special Olympics organisations in Europe and Asia to share documents and discuss them online with colleagues around the world; as a result it will significantly reduce their travel expenses and improve efficiency and time management within the organisation. These significant reductions can be achieved through Microsoft’s unique Software + Services solution. The solution will also strengthen the role of Special Olympics in assisting national programmes to become better known, better funded and more successful in both expanding and improving sporting opportunities and other initiatives for individuals with intellectual disabilities. This specific solution is a pilot project by Microsoft and it is hoped that once the benefits are highlighted through this partnership other NGO’s will be able to avail of similar online solutions at a reduced charity price.
The partnership came about as the result of Microsoft Ireland volunteers working closely with the Special Olympics organization in Ireland. This initial contact has grown into a broader partnership that will span 25 countries and which will have an impact on thousands of Special Olympics athletes and their families. The success of this engagement should encourage other organizations to partner with each other at a wide variety of levels as once relationships are developed and grow the range of possibilities that are available become endless. Also today Microsoft Greece announced the sponsorship of the Special Olympics, World Summer Games Athens 2011, as well as the company’s participation in the volunteering programme of the games. This builds on a history of Microsoft employee volunteering supporting Special Olympics in several countries around Europe.
Sylvie Laffarge, Director of Community Affairs, Microsoft Ireland, said: “I am delighted to formally announce Microsoft’s partnership today with Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia at the Partnering for Success Conference. I hope that this partnership can act as an example of what can be achieved when private corporations and non-profit organizations enter into meaningful engagement with each other.”
“Many of the challenges of running a charity are similar to those of running a business. However, many voluntary groups don’t have the resources or the time to identify and invest in the latest practices and technologies that might be available to them. At Microsoft we work with a growing number of non profit organisations, helping to ensure that as many people as possible have access to the latest technology and to ensure that we help to alleviate the digital divide. If the private and non-profit sectors continue to engage, learn and listen to each other more strategic partnerships can be developed which will help to deliver benefits for all parties involved.”
“This agreement with the Special Olympics and Microsoft will see our new Business Productivity Online solution donated to a non-profit organization for the first time. We are confident that this new Software + Services solution will bring significant benefits to the overall productivity of the organization and look forward to working closely with the Special Olympics to analyse its impact so that we can share the results of this pilot with other non profits in the months ahead.”
Speaking today at the conference, Mary Davis, Managing Director, Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for Special Olympics Europe Eurasia to partner with Microsoft and enables us to seamlessly work and collaborate across all our countries much more effectively, regardless of location, time, etc. It will also ensure huge cost savings for the organization which is vital due to the economic crisis at present.”
This is the second year of the ‘Partnering for Success’ conference which is coordinated by non-profit organisation, The Wheel, and supported by Microsoft Ireland. The conference is a unique partnership between the charity and corporate worlds that was developed to explore the leadership and management challenges facing community, voluntary and charitable organisations in Ireland today.
The conference will include four master classes on Human resource management, Collaborative working, HR Management, IT for NGO’s and Measuring Impact. The MC on the day was RTE’s Bryan Dobson and other speakers at the conference included Cathriona Hallahan, Managing Director of Microsoft’s European Operations Centre (EOC); John Monaghan, National Vice-President, Society of St. Vincent de Paul and Anthony Brennan, Director of HR, Concern Worldwide
Also speaking today was Deirdre Garvey of the Wheel. Speaking after the conference Ms. Garvey said, “The concept of Corporate Social Responsibility is very well developed in Ireland and many companies work with charity partners, donate funds and volunteer employee time. Corporates and charities can achieve best value when funds and resources are donated directly to support the work done to help people, as well as supporting the costs that it takes to actually run its organisation. We found last year that ‘Partnering for Success’ provided valuable insights and learning’s for all participants – we hope this year was no different.”
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For further information please contact:
Suzanne Sullivan, Q4PR, 01-4751444/086-3797291