IMG_9528Microsoft recognizes the difference technology can make for young people with special needs helping them to more fully develop their school and workplace skill sets.  Microsoft YouthSpark awarded The Help Group a most generous $800,000 product grant for the new “Building Brighter Futures for Young People with Special Needs” technology initiative.  In 2011, Microsoft awarded The Help Group a $500,000 product donation for “Tools for the Future: The Help Group Technology Project.”

Funding for the new initiative will enable The Help Group to enhance the digital literacy, learning, achievement and preparation for post-secondary education and vocational workplace opportunities for its students. “The lasting benefit of this Microsoft YouthSpark grant will be to provide our students with the enhanced skillsets which will prepare them for positive and productive futures,” commented Dr. Barbara Firestone. “The Help Group is immensely grateful to Microsoft for its ongoing partnership and commitment to our children.”youthspark

The Help Group saluted Microsoft YouthSpark with its Champion for Children Award for its commitment to creating brighter futures for young people at its 2014 Summit Conference. Accepting the award on behalf of Microsoft YouthSpark, Celeste Alleyne, Director, Citizenship & Public Affairs remarked, “Microsoft recognizes the great work that The Help Group is doing on behalf of young people with special needs, and is fulfilling its commitment to bridge the opportunity divide for these remarkable young people through technology.”

Microsoft established its YouthSpark Program in 2012. A powerful catalyst, YouthSpark is a company-wide initiative that aims to create opportunities for 300 million young people around the world by 2015. A key part of YouthSpark is the work it is doing with nonprofit organizations focused on helping young people access education, employment and entrepreneurship.  Microsoft YouthSpark is making a real impact and helping young people prepare for their next steps.

We thank Microsoft for believing in our children and for nurturing their potential!