upgradeyourworld11Microsoft is gearing up for the release of Windows 10 later this month with a new charitable effort launched today called UpgradeYourWorld.

The campaign is designed to showcase non-profit organizations that are making change in the world, and it comes as Microsoft embarks on the launch of one of its most important operating system launches in history.

UpgradeYourWorld is part of a bigger multi-million dollar global ad campaign that starts next week.

Microsoft is donating $10 million to the non-profits, choosing 9 organizations right off the bat and then turning to the community to choose a 10th with voting starting on July 29th, the day Windows 10 is set to launch. The company, which today is hosting its annual Worldwide Partner Conference in Orlando, says the goal is to show that people can do more with technology.

“Windows was built to help people do great things. Whether creating opportunities for youth, saving the environment, fighting hunger, enabling next generation farming, or inspiring 3D creation – Windows is built for those who do,” the company writes. “We want to celebrate people and organizations who empower others.”

The initial nine non-profits getting support from Microsoft are: CARE, Code.org, Keep a Child Alive, Malala Fund, Pencils of Promise, Save the Children, Special Olympics, The Global Poverty Project, and The Nature Conservancy.

After the 10 organizations are chosen, Microsoft will then choose 100 local non-profits spread across 10 countries, each of which will receive $50,000 in cash, as well as Microsoft technology and services.

The company also said it is giving employees at Microsoft another day off throughout the year to donate their time to a non-profit cause.

Microsoft expanded its charitable efforts earlier this year with a new program called Tech Talent for Good. Last year, Microsoft employees raised a record-breaking total of $117 million for non-profits through its Employee Giving Program, with $60 million of that going to help organizations in Washington State.

You can watch the video below, which includes footage of former Sounders FC star Roger Levesque helping with the Special Olympics and scenes from non-profits such as Malala Fund and Keep a Child Alive.

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