Microsoft grants $1 million in technology to charities

EAST COUNTY — Technology giant Microsoft’s first window into the  Southwest Florida market will come with a donation of nearly $1 million in technology to local nonprofits.

The company will award Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, Manatee Community Action Agency, Children First, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast, Girls Inc. of Sarasota and Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida with the technology grants as part of the grand opening festivities for its new Mall at University Town Center location June 11. 

“We are so excited to open in Sarasota and really become part of the fabric in Sarasota,” said Jonathan Adashek, general manager of communications strategy for retail stores at Microsoft. “It’s a place we’ve wanted to go for such a long time.”

New store employees have spent time the last few weeks volunteering within the community, and Adashek said Microsoft’s community involvement will continue.

For example, a theater space within the store can be used for free classes and workshops or meetings for organizations; or the store could help a local Boy Scout troop figure out a way to earn a technology badge.

The store also will have a full-time community development specialist, whose job will be to build relationships and explore potential partnerships.

The new store is Microsoft’s eighth retail store in Florida and 112th in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. 

“We’re very excited about Microsoft coming to the market,” said Octavio Ortiz, the mall’s general manager. “It helps our whole tenant mix and gives synergy to our property. It kind of rounds out the shopping center. It was a tenant a lot of people were asking for.”

The grand opening takes place at 10:30 a.m. June 11. The event will feature a ribbon-cutting and sales, and former Tampa Bay Buccaneer Derrick Brooks will be available to play Xbox with and greet the first 200 people in line.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].