MICROSOFT HELPS TO BRING THE INTERNET TO NORTH CAROLINA LIBRARIES, COLLEGES
& UNIVERSITIES

Bill Gates Announces More Than $5.4 million in Software, Training &
Technical Support

REDMOND, Wash, April 11-Addressing business, government and community
leaders in Raleigh and Charlotte today, Microsoft Chairman and CEO Bill
Gates announced three North Carolina educational initiatives totaling more
than $5.4 million. Microsoft announced it is providing a combination of
financial and technical support, software and training to the following
educational organizations:

* Independent College Fund of North Carolina. Microsoft will provide $3.1
million in software through the national Foundation for Independent Higher
Education (FIHE) to benefit its 28 Fund colleges and universities in North
Carolina. The colleges will receive the Windows 95, Microsoft Word,
Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office Standard for Windows 95 and Windows NT
Server operating system. The software and support will expand
technological capabilities, including Internet access, for students at 28
of North Carolina's most prestigious liberal arts colleges and
universities.

* United Negro College Fund (UNCF). Six historically black colleges and
universities in North Carolina, all members of UNCF, will receive more
than $2 million in software, including Windows 95 and Office for Windows
95. The North Carolina schools are part of a more than $16 million
national partnership between Microsoft and UNCF in which Microsoft is
providing software, support, training, internship opportunities, computer
science department curriculum and support in developing a site for UNCF on
the Internet's World Wide Web.

* Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County. As part of its more
than $3 million national Libraries Online! partnership with the American
Library Association, Microsoft will provide more than $385,000 in
financial support, software, training and technical support to the
Charlotte & Mecklenburg Country Library. The goal of Libraries Online! is
to research and evaluate innovative approaches for providing Internet and
multimedia PC access for the public, particularly in economically
disadvantage communities. Microsoft will provide Internet software,
high-speed telecommunications, multimedia PCs and CD-ROM titles to the
following libraries: West Boulevard Branch; Hickory Grove Branch;
Scaleybark Branch; City View Branch; the Anita Stroud Center; Charlotte
Emergency Housing; Wilmore Community Center and Highland Community Haven.

"North Carolina is home to many important businesses, colleges and
universities," said Gates. "Our hope is that the software and technical
support we provide can help to build a 'connected learning community' in
North Carolina, one in which everyone participates and collaborates on
lifelong learning for students of all ages and walks of life."

"Microsoft's gift will have an impact like that of the first telephones on
these small college and university campuses," said John Allison, chairman
of the Independent College Fund of North Carolina. "The students who
attend Independent College Fund institutions will have the stimulating
opportunity of using the most advanced and sophisticated software
available in the world. Bill Gates' leadership and the vision of Microsoft
indicate that they are committed to education in a big way."

"Microsoft's contribution to UNCF helps our member colleges take an
essential step toward closing America's technology gap," said William H.
Gray, president and CEO of The College Fund/UNCF. "By opening a new world
of opportunity for our students, this gift will help prepare today's
students for tomorrow's jobs, and help America compete successfully in the
global marketplace."

"Because of this marvelous gift from Microsoft, we will continue to be the
leading provider of new communications technologies for the community and
region," said Peter Keber, Chairman of the Public Library of Charlotte &
Mecklenburg County Board of Trustees. "Libraries Online! is an exciting,
innovative approach. We are extremely grateful to be a part of it."

Microsoft employs more than 600 workers in the Charlotte area, the largest
Microsoft employee base outside of the Puget Sound area in Washington
state. The majority of Microsoft employees in North Carolina work within
Product Service and Support (PSS). Gates visited the North Carolina PSS
site and spoke to both the Raleigh-Durham and the Charlotte Chambers of
Commerce today to outline Microsoft's Internet strategy.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software for personal
computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for
business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it
easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power
of personal computing every day.

MICROSOFT SOFTWARE DONATIONS

UNITED NEGRO COLLEGE FUND SOFTWARE VALUE

 Barber-Scotia College, Concord $333,315
 Bennett College, Greensboro $276,675
 Johnson C. Smith University, Charlotte $334,875
 Livingstone College, Salisbury $456,475
 Saint Augustine's College, Raleigh $334,875
 Shaw University, Raleigh $304,475

NORTH CAROLINA INDEPENDENT COLLEGES SOFTWARE VALUE

 Barton $ 64,494
 Belmont $ 91,031
 Brevard $132,294
 Campbell $132,294
 Catawba $132,294
 Chowan $ 41,310
 Elon $132,294
 Gardner-Webb $132,294
 Greensboro $132,294
 Guilford $111,841
 High Point $132,294
 Lees-McRae $109,894
 Lenoir-Rhyne $132,294
 Louisburg $132,294
 Mars Hill $132,294
 Meredith $132,294
 Methodist $132,294
 Montreat $ 64,494
 Mount Olive $ 64,494
 NC Wesleyan $132,294
 Peace $132,294
 Pfeiffer $131,096
 Queens $132,294
 St. Andrews $132,294
 St. Mary's $132,294
 Salem $ 72,642
 Warren Wilson $113,547
 Wingate $ 25,791
 
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