More than 17 million children in the U.S. receive free or reduced-price breakfast and lunch at their local public schools; as schools close for the summer, these children lose access to those programs. In response, Microsoft Corp. and Feeding America are joining forces to fight hunger in the United States through the"Browser for the Better " campaign. For every completed download of Internet Explorer 8, Microsoft's Browser for the Better campaign (running today through Aug. 8, 2009*) will donate the financial equivalent of eight meals to Feeding America's network of 206 local food banks, which supplies food to more than 25 million Americans each year.
"This summer, millions of families throughout the U.S. are living on the brink of hunger. Demand for food is higher than it has been in decades. The Browser for the Better campaign is both raising awareness of hunger and giving people an easy opportunity to help their neighbors at no cost to them. It's a win-win arrangement for Microsoft, Feeding America and people all across the country," said Vicki Escarra, president and CEO of Feeding America, the nation's largest domestic hunger-relief organization.
The Browser for the Better campaign kicks off today at New York City's Time Warner Center and San Francisco's Justin Herman Plaza. Artists at each location will use food cans to sculpt the likenesses of the Empire State Building and Golden Gate Bridge, respectively. Once the sculptures are completed, the cans of food will be donated to the Food Bank for New York City, City Harvest in New York, and the San Francisco Food Bank, all members of Feeding America. Also part of the campaign is a series of viral videos starring television star Dean Cain and directed by comedian Bobcat Goldthwait highlighting features of Internet Explorer 8.
"Our customers have told us they want to have an impact in the lives of their friends and neighbors," said Amy Barzdukas, senior director for Internet Explorer at Microsoft."The Browser for the Better campaign is all about making it easy for people to make a real difference. Not only are they contributing to their community, they're getting a more secure, modern browser designed for the way people browse the Internet today."
The Browser for the Better campaign features the better browser, Internet Explorer 8. Launched in March, Internet Explorer 8 offers leading-edge security features in addition to ease of use and improved performance. A recent NSS Labs study shows Internet Explorer 8 as being No. 1 among all modern browsers in malware protection, and the built-in privacy protections in Internet Explorer 8 offer users more choice and control. More information about Browser for the Better and Internet Explorer 8 is available at http://browserforthebetter.com .
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About Feeding America
Feeding America is committed to an America where no one is hungry. We support tens of millions of people who experience food insecurity to get the food and resources they say they need to thrive as part of a nationwide network of food banks, statewide food bank associations, food pantries and meal programs. We also invest in innovative solutions to increase equitable access to nutritious food, advocate for legislation that improves food security and work to address factors that impact food security, such as health, cost of living and employment. We partner with people experiencing food insecurity, policymakers, organizations, and supporters, united with them in a movement to end hunger. Visit FeedingAmerica.org to learn more.
Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq"MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.