Microsoft Annual Giving Campaign: Maximize your match in October

October 13, 2016

For Microsoft employees, October is the month of giving. The tech giant campaigns throughout the month to raise funds for thousands of U.S. nonprofits.

Microsoft has played an integral role in Ashesi’s development since our inception (see below: 10 Ways Microsoft Has Impacted Ashesi). Patrick Awuah, Founder & President of Ashesi University, got his professional start as a Microsoft Program Manager in the early 90’s. He left Microsoft to return home to Ghana and start Ashesi University to educate a new generation of ethical leaders and innovative thinkers with the skills and courage they needed to transform their continent.

Current and former Microsoft employees saw Ashesi’s potential and invested their time and money to build Ashesi from the ground up. Our deepest thanks go to the Microsoft employees and alumni who have given so much of their time and resources to create a university whose audacious goal is to spark a renaissance in Africa.

For today’s students and tomorrow’s leaders, please consider making a gift. Your support will enable more Ashesi graduates to expand businesses, influence society and contribute to a renaissance across Africa. We could not have become the university we are today without your help, and we are proud to continue on this journey of growth with you. Thank you.

Double your impact: Remember to submit your match requests via http://give.

10 WAYS MICROSOFT HAS IMPACTED ASHESI

1. VISIONARY LEADERSHIP
   At every Ashesi board meeting Microsoft employees and alumni have played a key role.
2. FINANCIAL SUPPORT
   105 Microsoft employees and alumni have contributed over $7M to launch the university in 2002 and build our new world-class campus.
3. INSPIRATION
   Patrick was deeply impacted by Microsoft’s culture of smart people working together to tackle hard problems. Those norms can now be seen in every Ashesi classroom.
4. CAN-DO ATTITUDE
   Throughout the Ashesi curriculum, students are expected to identify local problems and to create innovative solutions to solve them — skills honed at Microsoft.
5. CURRICULUM ADVISING
   We received critical support on our Computer Science Curriculum Advisory Board from Microsoft alumni.
6. STRATEGIC ADVICE AND COUNSEL
   Beyond Trustees, Microsoft donors have played a crucial role as advisors — asking the hard questions at every stage of Ashesi’s development.
7. HONORING ASHESI’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS
   The Microsoft Alumni Foundation awarded Patrick Awuah the 2009 Integral Fellows Award.
8. MICROSOFT GLOBAL NETWORK
   The MSAF helped Ashesi connect with the tremendous network of Microsoft alumni around the world doing incredible work.
9. CORPORATE SUPPORT
   Microsoft’s matching gifts have totaled more than $400,000.
10. THINKING BIG
    Patrick saw Microsoft win via game-changing, long-term strategies. To tackle Africa’s culture of corruption and apathy, he developed a similar leveraged approach — educating ethical, innovative leaders to create change.