Microsoft Corp. Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates today announced the company is expanding its support of the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) Inc. with a $25 million software grant. UNCF President and CEO William H. Gray III was on hand at Xavier University, a UNCF school in New Orleans, to accept the donation on behalf of the organization's 39 member institutions across the country. In addition to the software for UNCF, Gates announced that Microsoft is donating 150 Dell computers fully loaded with software to the TRIO Upward Bound program at Xavier University and five New Orleans public schools. Funded by the federal government to help Americans overcome class, social and cultural barriers to higher education, Upward Bound provides the academic strength, skills and motivation necessary for post-secondary education success.

"At Microsoft, we believe that technology can help everyone realize their full potential," Gates said. "It's our hope that today's donations will enable the UNCF to expand educational opportunities for students in New Orleans and nationwide -- today and for a lifetime."

"One of the biggest obstacles colleges and universities face today is getting new technology adopted into the fabric of academia -- from an infrastructure standpoint as well as through faculty training and development of new programs for students," Gray said. "With the support of Microsoft, we hope to help bridge this digital divide by providing teachers and students with the resources they need to truly achieve their goals."

Microsoft has had a history of supporting both UNCF and Xavier University. Since 1988, the company has given more than $100 million in cash and software to provide technology enrichment for faculty, administration and students at UNCF colleges and universities including nearby Dillard University. Xavier University has benefited from those UNCF resources, as well as from Microsoft's direct contributions of cash and software to assist in the campus implementation and technical instruction of wireless networks and to upgrade software in the computer science lab.