The American Red Cross, using Web technology developed for it by Microsoft, has launched an online network to help unite loved ones with survivors of the September 11 terrorist attacks. The Family Registration Web at http://www.redcross.org/ enables those impacted by the tragedy to self-register with the Red Cross, helping the agency respond to the more than 6,700 inquiries it has so far received from concerned friends and family nationwide.

Microsoft’s support for the Family Registration Web is part of its pledge of US$10 million to support relief and recovery efforts. The company has donated $5 million in cash to the September 11th Fund established by The United Way of New York City and New York Community Trust, and is also providing $5 million in technical services and software to the recovery efforts and organizations serving people in the affected area.

To contribute to the September 11th Fund - created to provide immediate and longer-term assistance to the victims, their families, and communities affected by the attacks - please send financial donations to the United Way September 11th Fund, 2 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10016. Contributions can also be made on the United Way of New York City Web site, http://www.uwnyc.org/.

"We are all stunned by these tragic events. Our hearts go out to the victims and their families, and everyone affected by this terrible situation. We want to support the recovery effort in every way that we can," said Rick Belluzzo, president and chief operating officer of Microsoft.

In response to a request from the American Red Cross, Microsoft developers were able to assemble the Web-based family-registration solution quickly, using secure encryption technology to protect privacy. Data will only be used for the Red Cross's efforts to reunite survivors and their loved ones. And to help people without a computer to register or send e-mails to loved ones across the country, Internet kiosks provided by Compaq will soon be available at Red Cross service areas in New York and Washington, D.C.

Meanwhile, Microsoft field representatives in New York City and Washington D.C. have been on the ground since the day of the attacks helping business customers affected by the disaster to formulate and execute business-recovery plans - organizations ranging from Wall Street financial firms to the United States Department of Defense.

Microsoft has also initiated an outreach program to local, state and federal agencies, nonprofit agencies and other community-based organizations to identify areas where technology assistance can make a difference. Microsoft is working with NPower New York (http://www.npowerny.org/), a nonprofit technology service provider, to help assess the need for and distribute technology services through its network of local agencies.

In addition, Microsoft is supporting its employees’ acts of giving by matching, dollar for dollar, employee charitable contributions to nonprofit organizations up to $12,000 per employee annually. More than 20,000 Microsoft employees participate in the program. More information on this is located at http://www.microsoft.com/giving/.

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