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Growing with educators

The Uplift
AI tools and training support learners and teachers 
Two students sit at a computer in a classroom; one points at the screen while the other follows, with other students working in the background.
Audio Described

Schools everywhere are buzzing with the excitement of change. As classrooms embrace new technology, AI is helping make jobs easier for teachers while giving students the tools they need to succeed. 

When AI first showed up at Quincy High School in Washington state, educators were concerned. Fear and anxiety gripped many faculty members as they wondered what this paradigm shift meant. Would students just use AI to cheat? Would teachers even have jobs in the future? 

Now that panic is dissolving into curiosity. Teachers want to know what AI is, what it can do for their classrooms, and what it’s capable of. They’re realizing that AI has a bright future, and they’re ready to embrace it for themselves and their students.  

“AI really is the future. It’s going to be used a lot more, especially in these upcoming years,” says Karen, 12th grade student, Quincy High School.

Microsoft Elevate Washington signals that every student, educator, and zip code deserves the opportunity to use the tools shaping tomorrow. And now, Microsoft AI is becoming part of everyone’s toolkit. 

Learning together, growing together

With just under 900 students, Quincy High School is a place where hands-on learning rules. With their CTE—career and technical education—program, students are mastering life skills with courses in personal finance, culinary arts, engineering, and more. Every class prepares students for successful careers with industry-recognized credentials. Teachers enthusiastically support kids as they grow into young adults, helping them see the value in everything they learn.

A woman in a pink blazer and green pants sits on a chair in a library, gesturing with her hands and smiling. Bookshelves and large windows are visible in the background.
If we can really take advantage of this moment with AI, our students are going to be at such an advantage.
Camille Jones
Digital Education Coach, Quincy School District
Four students wearing safety goggles work with tools and wood at a workshop table in a classroom setting.
Firefighters in full gear walk between buildings, with one carrying a breathing apparatus. Several people are in the background near equipment and a ladder.
With their CTE (career & technical education) program, Quincy High offers students a hands-on learning experience with a wide range of classes, helping them master life skills and prepare for successful careers.

Quincy High launched a clear AI syllabus to address concerns: teachers decide when AI can be used fully, somewhat, or not at all. The language is intentional, thoughtful, and designed to help students succeed while learning authentically—every student knows exactly when and how AI can and can’t be used. With those guardrails set, students are getting creative, making AI work for them, and feeling more freedom in the classroom.

“AI has saved me time across the board, more time than I could even count for,” says Nick Heuker, CTE Engineering Teacher, Quincy High School.

For teachers, AI is helping them more than ever. Lesson plans that used to take three weeks to organize are now taking four days. This gives them more time and energy to engage with students, prevents burnout, and saves more time than ever across the board. By integrating AI seamlessly into existing systems, schools are developing practical and resourceful solutions that tackle time constraints, tight budgets, and limited resources head-on. As a result, AI continues to empower both educators and students by delivering knowledge in accessible, meaningful ways. 

When we invest in teachers, we invest in students. And when we invest in students, we invest in the future of the state as a whole.
Brad Smith
Vice Chair & President, Microsoft

A homegrown commitment  

AI-powered learning has evolved into a blueprint for how communities everywhere can embrace the future and thrive with AI. Imagine every high school and community college, no matter their zip code, having access to the world’s most advanced AI tools and training. With free access to AI tech like Copilot Studio and Teams for Education, over 100,000 educators and half a million students in WA state will experience a new era of learning—one where AI supports education and nurtures development. This ensures everyone has the best tech to keep up with the changes ahead and can help shape what comes next. 

Microsoft Elevate is also expanding across continents, backed by a $4 billion commitment to help 20 million people earn AI credentials and prepare for the jobs of the future. Whether in a rural town or a global city, this is the moment to grow, lead, and share. And as more communities join in, AI becomes a tool for empowerment, ensuring that every learner is prepared for the future. 

Learn more about Microsoft Elevate Washington

The lifeline behind every rescue

The Uplift
Digital tools are powering humanitarian progress for the Costa Rican Red Cross (CRRC), creating tech that cares for everyone.
A paramedic in a red uniform cares for a baby inside an ambulance while a woman sits nearby. Medical equipment and supplies are visible around them.
Audio Described

When prehospital emergencies happen in Costa Rica, the first responders who arrive are from the Costa Rican Red Cross (CRRC). For decades, the CRRC has been the main, free-of-charge ambulance service provider with the mission to save lives and prevent and alleviate human suffering—a responsibility that places it at the core of Costa Rica’s public health system. 

With more than 130 branches nationwide that encompass disaster response, emergency medical care, and health education, the CRRC is an essential part of the country’s social framework. But behind the flashing lights and sirens, a story of transformation and resilience is waiting to be told. Digital tools are making a positive impact by helping local communities in need.  

The CRRC is one of 191 independent national societies that make up the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). With nearly 200,000 local branches, 600,000 staff members, and 16 million volunteers worldwide, the IFRC is the largest humanitarian network on the planet. Yet even the most committed organization can be held back by outdated systems. The CRRC, like many of its sister societies, has long worked with paper-based processes and an aging infrastructure. Embracing modern tech offers a key opportunity to enhance coordination among its 5,300 volunteers and 1,000 staff members, ensuring every resource is used to its fullest potential—delivering timely and effective aid. 

The platform is a way we can mobilize funds, knowledge, and technical capacity to keep those national societies from being left behind.
Jagan Chapagain
IFRC Secretary General

More than a connection

Recognizing the urgent need for modernization, the IFRC launched the Digital Transformation Impact Platform (DTIP), a bold initiative aimed at boosting digital literacy and expanding the use of data and technology. In partnership with Microsoft and other collaborators, the IFRC began working directly with national societies to co-develop digital roadmaps tailored to their unique needs. The DTIP is meant to support the least digitally mature and least resourced Red Cross societies. 

For the CRRC, this marked the beginning of a new era, reflecting the organization’s commitment to modernization. Starting in the late 2000s the CRRC focused on foundational upgrades—hardware, software, and connectivity. The CRRC acquired the services and support from Microsoft to implement collaborative tools and digital training across its branch offices. Staff and volunteers began using cloud-based platforms for document creation, file sharing, videoconferencing, and scheduling. And an e-learning system made continuing education more accessible than ever. 

But the transformation didn’t stop at the desktop. 

A close-up of an emergency vehicle driving through a flooded road, followed by another emergency vehicle in heavy rain.

With a daily average of one emergency per minute, the CRRC’s streamlined operations platform works at peak efficiency to respond to every single one, saving more lives

The CRRC’s new digital tools are boosting the efficiency of humanitarian aid and making a positive impact.

A group of rescue workers in safety gear and helmets maneuver through a forested area, carrying equipment and assisting each other on a muddy trail.

Funds, knowledge, and technical capacity are now mobilized, preventing the IFRC’s least-resourced societies from being left behind

To streamline operations, the CRRC implemented an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system that brought new efficiency to warehouse management, volunteer coordination, purchasing, and more. Then came an exciting leap forward—a GPS fleet monitoring system that tracks every ambulance in real time, capturing data on location, driver behavior, and even CO₂ emissions—and the results were extraordinary. 

In just four years, the CRRC saw a 19% reduction in fuel consumption and emissions, and a 15% savings on vehicle purchases.

These important numbers represent lives reached faster, resources used more wisely, and a smaller carbon footprint overall.

Rescue workers in helmets and uniforms search through rubble with excavators near a damaged multi-story building at night.
When you take the power of real-time data, combine it with the cloud, and support it all with AI, it’s possible to anticipate when people are going to be in need.
Brad Smith
Microsoft President

Smarter tools for a more efficient tomorrow

Today, the CRRC is continuing to explore new digital frontiers. An online fundraising portal is in the works, along with real-time analytics dashboards to track campaign performance. These tools are helping the organization raise more funds and make smarter, more data-informed decisions about where and how to spend them. 

The impact is materializing in powerful, tangible ways. In moments of crisis, help now arrives more prepared because volunteers are better equipped and resources are allocated with greater precision.  

The IFRC’s broader vision is equally robust. By building a resilient digital foundation, the organization is preparing its network to meet future challenges—from climate-driven disasters to public health emergencies—with agility and foresight. Advanced analytics and AI are on the horizon, promising to further enhance the speed, quality, and reach of humanitarian services. 

For the Costa Rican Red Cross, digital transformation is more than a tech upgrade, it’s an opportunity to maximize resources, strengthen coordination, and enhance efficiency. At times when every second counts, this transformation enables the institution to bring a better service to communities and save more lives. 

Saving marine life with every dive

For Life on Earth
AI multiplies expert knowledge to remove deadly nets in our oceans and seas
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Deep within the ocean, a hidden enemy of all living things is lurking, threatening to destroy marine life by trapping it in an inescapable prison. Over 500 species including turtles, whales, sharks, and crabs have been impacted by this enemy, known as ghost gear, or abandoned plastic fishing nets that litter our seas and oceans. 

Industrial-grade plastics that make up fishing nets are manufactured to survive the harshest conditions. An unintentional consequence of the toils of commercial fishing, nets are frequently lost—and abandoned—at sea. These nearly invisible traps silently drift through the water like ghosts, continuing to trap and kill marine life. Removing ghost nets is critical—they take centuries to decompose—but it’s also incredibly difficult to find them. 

For years, locating ghost nets was mostly a game of luck. Imagine looking for a strand of hair in an Olympic-sized swimming pool. The water is pitch-black and shifting and the hair is sinking. 

According to WWF, plastic ghost nets entangle millions of marine animals every year. Cleaning it up may feel overwhelming and impossible, but projects like GhostNetZero.ai are tackling it with AI. 

A humpback whale swims just below the surface of deep blue ocean water, with sunlight illuminating its back and flipper.
Audio Described
Two people in work overalls pose in a workshop next to a yellow atmospheric diving suit and underwater research equipment.
Crayton and Gabriele have worked together since 2018 to enhance the detection and recovery of ghost nets.

Ghost net whisperers

Crayton Fenn is an expert diver who can find ghost nets like a sea hawk spots prey. With over 40 years of diving experience, he’s seen firsthand how abandoned fishing nets—which he calls “killing machines”—destroy marine life, fisheries, and livelihoods. Crayton started his career tracking down sunken aircraft around the globe and has since become a sonar expert, fine-tuning sidescan sonar systems to locate and recover derelict nets. 

Through his company, Fenn Enterprises, he’s helped uncover everything from a Japanese submarine to wreckage from the space shuttle Columbia—not to mention countless ships, planes, and even trains. One of the most shocking finds? A 219-yard (200 meters) gillnet off the coast of Point Roberts, WA, silently wiping out tens of thousands of crabs on the seafloor. Gillnets are designed to hang in the water like a soccer net, and this one was a little over the length of two football fields. 

When Gabriele Dederer, a scientific diver and biologist with WWF Germany, read about Crayton’s work, she reached out to him about mentoring scientists in Germany. He was all in—eager to share his field knowledge about how to use sidescan sonar to locate derelict nets. Gabriele has known Crayton for nearly a decade, not only as a mentor, but also as a longtime friend and colleague. His expertise in sidescan sonar has been instrumental in making ghost net searches more efficient, helping Gabriele and her team clean up the Baltic Sea. 

I need to be optimistic. I have two kids. I want them to see that we need to care for nature and the ocean.
Gabriele Dederer
Research Diver and Ghost Nets Project Manager, WWF Germany

WWF is also teaming up with fishers, divers, scientists, and local authorities across France, Estonia, and Sweden to locate and recover ghost nets, replacing slow, manual searches with fast, data-driven detection. 

Detecting with AI

WWF Germany is expanding its search for ghost nets, and in collaboration with the Microsoft AI for Good Lab and Accenture, has launched the AI-supported platform, GhostNetZero.ai. This innovative initiative envisions a world where oceans are free from ghost nets and marine life exists in a clean, safe environment. 

Accenture has played a key role in developing the GhostNetZero.ai platform. Alongside Microsoft’s AI for Good Lab and WWF Germany, GhostNetZero.ai is turning a tough environmental challenge into something we can tackle. The platform can convert sonar data originally meant for shipping safety or offshore wind exploration into actionable insights. AI integration then speeds up the process automatically, analyzing sonar images to pinpoint likely ghost net locations with 94% accuracy. The boost in efficiency means what used to take hours of manual review can now be done in minutes, allowing  WWF  to cover larger marine areas in their search. 

To support the initiative, institutions, authorities, and offshore companies can donate hydrographic data to the platform for analysis. Regions with the highest pollution levels are prioritized, turning passive crowdsourced data into tactical guidance. 

GhostNetZero.ai uses high-resolution sidescan sonar—think of it like an ultrasound for the ocean floor—paired with machine learning to automatically spot possible ghost nets. The sonar scans are converted into images, and AI analyzes these images to pinpoint likely locations of ghost nets. WWF experts then review and validate what AI finds, but they only need to check a fraction of the images—AI speeds up the process by highlighting where to look. This helps the team focus their efforts where it matters most. Once a ghost net is confirmed, qualified divers use an app to verify the net’s position and begin retrieval.  

Beyond detection, GhostNetZero.ai also helps reduce costs by analyzing existing sonar data to ensure efficient diving and retrieval of ghost nets. The platform identifies potential ghost net positions through image recognition of ghost net structures then feeds this data into the app. A diver can then report the finding of a net and verify its existence and position. In the noisy, complex world of marine ecosystems, having a smart, confident guide that helps divers cut through the clutter has truly been a game-changer. 

In order for us to have an impact, we need to retrieve the ghost nets. The relationship between us and divers is critical. Without it, this project wouldn’t work.
Dr. Juan Lavista Ferres
Chief Data Scientist, Microsoft’s AI for Good Lab

The future of ocean cleanup

So far, WWF Germany has recovered over 33 tons of ghost nets from the Baltic Sea. But this is only the beginning—worldwide efforts are in the works for areas with intense fishing activity like the Coral Triangle, the North Atlantic, and the Indian Ocean. And because of AI, this impossible task is becoming more manageable. AI can scan massive amounts of sonar data, flagging patterns that suggest ghost nets might be lurking below, and give qualified divers precise locations of where to descend to retrieve it. 

We’re seeing AI deliver real results for sustainability, from protecting marine ecosystems with tools like GhostNetZero.ai to advancing climate resilience. It’s accelerating progress and unlocking possibilities we couldn’t have imagined until now.
Melanie Nakagawa
Chief Sustainability Officer at Microsoft

You can help make a difference

Anyone with access to sonar or hydrographic data can contribute to ghost net cleanup—just upload it to GhostNetZero.ai. We invite all offshore energy operators, research institutes, authorities, and other organizations to share their sonar data as we work together for cleaner oceans. And, if you’re a qualified diver or part of a fishing crew, your hands-on help is welcome and vital.

Visit GhostNetZero.ai

Even if you’re landlocked, you can support the mission with a donation to WWF Germany or email to learn more – GhostNetZero.ai.

Skilling up from K-to-Gray

The Uplift
TechBuffalo is building an AI-ready community in western New York
A woman wearing a “TechBuffalo” shirt speaks, with smaller images of diverse people engaging in activities in the background, overlaid with geometric shapes.
Audio Described

On a warm summer evening, kids and parents are gathered around laptops ready to dive into the world of coding. The atmosphere is electric, filled with laughter and the thrill of discovery.

Families have come together to learn, create, and have fun with technology, excited because they’ve been anticipating Family Code Night for weeks. And it’s finally happening in their hometown of Buffalo, NY!

Buffalo is rewriting its story—not by erasing its industrial past, but by building on it. Once a titan of American manufacturing, the Queen City is now cultivating a new identity: affordable, creative, resilient, and increasingly tech-forward.

At the heart of this transformation is TechBuffalo, a nonprofit helping build a more inclusive, AI-ready workforce across Western New York. With support from Microsoft’s TechSpark initiative, M&T Bank, and the 43North Foundation, TechBuffalo is bringing digital skills training directly into schools, libraries, churches, and community centers—proving that innovation isn’t confined to Silicon Valley. It belongs in Buffalo.

A woman wearing a bandana sits facing forward, with her hands on her lap, against a background of red, blue, and turquoise geometric shapes.
This isn’t just about tech. It’s about showing people they belong in the future we’re building.
Rachel Eastlack
TechSpark Fellow & Program Manager, TechBuffalo

A fellowship becomes a catalyst

In 2024, Rachel Eastlack became a TechSpark Fellow through TechBuffalo, part of Microsoft’s broader commitment to expanding economic opportunity in underserved communities. TechSpark Fellows work within local nonprofits to launch grassroots programs that reflect community needs, backed by Microsoft’s tools, funding, and mentorship.

One of Eastlack’s first initiatives was Family Code Night, a hands-on learning event designed to eliminate barriers to tech access like childcare and intimidation. Families code side by side using Minecraft Education and Microsoft’s Generation AI curriculum. What began as a 15-person pilot has now reached over 500 participants across 18 sessions, and momentum continues to grow.

The program’s strength lies in its simplicity: meet people where they are and show them that tech is for everyone. Kids light up building their first Minecraft mod. Parents rediscover the joy of learning. Some students become youth navigators, earning gift cards and confidence. Adults use the experience as a springboard to explore new careers.

A man and a boy sit at a table looking at a laptop screen together. Various objects and a water bottle are on the table in front of them.

Kids and parents can learn, create, and have fun together during Family Code Night, a learning event designed to eliminate barriers to tech access.

A child uses a laptop to work on a coding project in Minecraft, with visual programming blocks displayed on the screen.

Powered by partners

Family Code Night is part of TechBuffalo’s broader “K-to-gray” skilling strategy, an approach that serves learners across generations.

The program’s mobility is a key advantage. Thanks to laptop donations from M&T Bank, they can bring tech training into every corner of the city. M&T’s partnership doesn’t stop with devices; it’s a model of digital transformation in action. As the bank modernized its own operations on Microsoft Azure, it’s also investing in the region’s talent pipeline, helping to ensure that Buffalo’s future workforce is tech-ready, in some cases becoming employees of the bank through TechBuffalo programs. That was the case for Antonéo, who gained new skills through an AI skilling program and was ultimately hired by M&T.

A lot of people move away from Buffalo, but for the first time in my life, I feel like I can succeed here.
Antonéo DezMond Page
Data Center Analyst, M&T Bank
A man in a light-colored polo shirt smiles while sitting against a background of colorful geometric shapes and digital graphics.
Audio Described

Support from the 43North Foundation, a cornerstone of Buffalo’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, is accelerating this momentum. The foundation recognized Family Code Night as a critical on-ramp for exposing young people to technology at a pivotal age and committed funding to help scale its impact.

The organization’s annual PowerUpTech event serves as another vital pathway to careers. This multiday initiative connects college students with Buffalo-based companies, pairing them with summer technology internships. Each year, hundreds of students participate, eager to gain hands-on experience and take meaningful steps toward their future tech careers. These internships not only help students envision a long-term future in Buffalo but also bring fresh ideas and energy to local companies, a dynamic that Microsoft continues to benefit from year after year.

Next up: the Innovation Fellows Program, launching in fall 2025. It will equip teachers with tools and training to bring Family Code Night into classrooms and after-school clubs. Students will eventually compete in the Minecraft Global Build Challenge, designing in a custom-built digital version of Buffalo. Top participants will earn spots in TechBuffalo’s summer bootcamps, deepening their skills and connecting with like-minded peers.

Four people sit at a table using laptops and talking, with other groups working in the background in a brightly lit room.
Their curiosity is a seedling that can grow into this giant tree of knowledge, and finding out what they want to do in life, which will most likely be in the tech world.
Cory McCants
Community School Navigator, Say Yes Buffalo

Tech for all

Together, these programs are reframing what’s possible for Buffalo’s future. They show young people they don’t have to leave to find jobs. They empower small organizations to modernize. And they’re shaping a tech culture rooted in Buffalo’s values: grit, collaboration, and community.

And thanks to the shared vision of TechBuffalo, Microsoft, M&T Bank, and the 43North Foundation, that future is already taking shape—one family, one classroom, one line of code at a time.

AI at the heart of the beautiful game

Changing the Game
Premier League introduces a new intelligence engine for every fan touchpoint.
A large crowd of people in stadium seats cheer and raise their arms, suggesting a lively and energetic atmosphere at a sports event.
Audio Described
The Premier League is a global phenomenon, boasting 1.8 billion fans across every continent, culture, and language. The league is evolving to meet the needs of its global fans. At the heart of this transformation is Microsoft technology, bringing trusted cloud and AI innovation to transform how billions of fans globally engage with the league they love.

In a fragmented digital landscape, the Premier League is reimagining how fans connect with the game. In a world of endless content, fueling their passion means chasing it from different platforms and content providers, making it more challenging for fans to stay connected. Fans expect personalized experiences that cater to their unique interests. With Microsoft’s technology, the League is building a unified, intelligent platform that brings fans closer to what matters most to them, on their terms.

At its core, the partnership between Microsoft and the Premier League is about redefining the fan experience and revolutionizing league operations through cutting-edge technology. From personalized content for every fan to streamlined internal processes, Microsoft’s comprehensive suite of tools is helping the Premier League evolve and thrive in the modern digital landscape.

With the full power of Azure, AI, Copilot, Microsoft 365, Power Platform and Security, we’re delivering one of the most significant technology transformations in Premier League history. Together, we’re building the leading media, data, and AI platform in global sport – one that redefines how fans engage, how clubs grow, and how the Premier League thrives.

With the AI-powered assistant, fans can receive personalized insights in real time that include stats and videos of plays.

Living, intelligent content

From over 30 seasons of stats and 300,000 articles to 9,000 videos and 380 live matches with real time data per season, Microsoft and the Premier League are turning legacy into living intelligent content that’s translated, personalized, and delivered in real time so fans can engage in their own way.

Microsoft is helping the Premier League build a breakthrough digital fan platform using Azure AI Foundry and agentic architecture, which have inspired the Premier League to imagine a new fan experience with groundbreaking functionality.

But it isn’t just about engagement, it’s about evolution. Microsoft is helping the Premier League scale innovation, and empower its workforce with secure, intelligent tools. The result is a richer, more personal connection for fans; a scalable, sustainable business for the league; and a showcase for Microsoft’s ability to turn what’s expected into what’s possible.

Machine learning meets matchday

With Microsoft AI at its core, the Premier League Companion is transforming into a dynamic, AI-powered assistant that offers fans real-time insights and personalized content, reflecting the diversity of its global fanbase.

Later this season fans can look forward to an enhanced experience with a variety of new features. These include generative AI for creating personalized video packages, multi-language content, and an AI-powered Fantasy Premier League assistance manager. With these options, fans will also be able to access real-time statistics and insights, immersing them directly into the game.

A vision for powering tomorrow’s sports

Together, Microsoft and the Premier League are aiming to build the most advanced media, data, and AI platform in global sports—one that empowers fans, drives innovation, and sets a new benchmark for how technology can elevate the game.

Four images show soccer fans wearing different team jerseys and scarves, smiling and posing outdoors; teams represented include Nottingham Forest, Fulham, Liverpool, and Tottenham.

More time for wishes

The Uplift
Make-A-Wish is leveraging Microsoft AI to streamline its operations and grant more wishes
A close-up photo of a girl in a sunlit outdoor setting appears next to a family of three posing together on a beach with palm trees in the background.
Audio Described
Make-A-Wish knows that granting the wish of a critically ill child takes many steps. From fundraising and medical provider referrals to planning and delivering the wish, seamless organization is key to making dreams come true. Make-A-Wish is a nonprofit that works with communities to help children endure challenging therapies through unique experiences that give them hope, joy, and strength.

Because of Make-A-Wish, 13-year-old’s Sadie’s dream of visiting Hawaii recently became a reality. When her neurologist suggested to her parents they apply for a wish, they didn‘t expect it to be such a life-changing, magical experience. Sadie patiently waited for her travel wish to be granted, which gave her something to look forward to every day, especially on the hard days. While in Hawaii, she was super excited to see all the pretty flowers, the gorgeous beaches, and explore the island of Kauai with her parents. One of the many highlights of her trip was learning how to surf followed by a nap in the sun and a yummy fresh dinner.

Sadie’s parents were thrilled to join her in Hawaii on a real family vacation, but they weren’t sure about traveling with a child with epilepsy who needed medication. They also feared someone might tell Sadie she couldn’t do something because of medical concerns, but Make-A-Wish organized everything from start to finish, ensuring that Sadie would be able to experience all the activities she wanted to do. The Make-A-Wish team checked in frequently throughout the trip, and they followed up after, giving Sadie’s parents perfect peace of mind.

To make more trips like Sadie’s happen, Make-A-Wish has leveraged Microsoft technology to streamline its operations, from fundraising to wish fulfillment. With tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot, Azure, Power BI, and security products, staff can focus more on mission-critical work. They’re able to grant more wishes like a trip to a theme park, a celebrity meetup, or a photoshoot with a unicorn.

Once Sadie’s wish was granted, the process was very streamlined. We didn’t have to worry about anything we typically would have.
Jennifer Cooper
Sadie’s mother

Seamless organization

Before the Microsoft rollout, Make-A-Wish’s national and regional chapters needed an accurate, up-to-date understanding of the organization’s fundraising, engagement, and wish-granting pipelines. Reporting was manual and staff would often spend hours reconciling data. By transitioning to a unified data platform in Azure and Microsoft Fabric, Make-A-Wish now has a single source of truth. This data visibility empowers leadership to distill insights that help support chapters, increase donor value, plan for the future, and fulfill their mission of granting more wishes to children.

Data visibility happens when data gets funneled into centralized storage in Azure cloud, where it’s aggregated and cleansed into data sets. National and regional chapters can access deep wells of data stored in Azure warehouses that provide detailed analytics.

Power BI pulls stored data from Azure and Fabric to create dashboards for every chapter. These dashboards function like real-time report cards and are displayed within offices to show the status of in-process wishes or fundraising streams so staff can track important metrics. Since Power BI operates under Fabric as a unified source, dashboards are connected to multiple data sources and utilitize Power BI’s automation capabilities to better analyze wish granting, revenue, budget, and more. Staff can access this data to compare their benchmarks to national averages and nearby chapters, providing insight into performance. These dashboards also give leadership the information they need to solve challenges and make improvements.

Based on data from the cloud, Azure Machine Learning created a predictive model for the fundraising team that scans donation transactions and identifies supporters who are more likely to increase their giving. This helps staff focus more on building relationships with the greatest potential of generating more wish-granting revenue. Microsoft 365 Copilot also plays a significant role in increasing productivity by assisting staff with drafting emails, updating blog posts, executing strategic planning, and more. It takes notes during meetings, transcribes calls, and tracks follow-up actions, helping staff tackle time-intensive tasks.

Additionally, Make-A-Wish’s IT team developed Wish Helper, a generative AI chatbot built with Copilot Studio that enables self-service IT support. About two-thirds of staff use it on a weekly basis for things like resetting passwords or setting up new Sharepoint folders, and it’s always available for staff working fundraising events or outside regular business hours. The IT team continues to develop the tool and they anticipate improvements that will further allow users to solve their own IT challenges. This will free up time for the IT team to work on other valuable projects like expanding the chatbot to cover HR and finance questions.

We’re seeing a lot of demand for AI, in part because of the success of the chatbot.
Derek Johnson
Senior Director of Infrastructure, Security and Operations, Make-A-Wish
A girl in a white dress and tiara sits in a decorative, flower-adorned carriage with three other people on a street.

Each year, Make-A-Wish grants over 16,000 wishes from enchanted carriage rides to superhero meetups.

A young child in a colorful superhero costume and red mask waves while standing outdoors among a crowd.

Fulfilling even more wishes

Wish-associated travel can be one of the costliest wishes to grant, and 80% of wishes involve some form of it. Thankfully, generous supporters can donate loyalty points and other in-kind gifts that help serve more families on limited budgets. Make-A-Wish’s .NET internet application, Wish Bank, tracked these donations, but it was due for much-needed improvements.

Wish Bank was upgraded with Microsoft Power Platform to enhance security, refine the user interface, enable ongoing adjustments, and improve tracking. The on-premises SQL database was migrated to a newly established Azure SQL database, which includes comprehensive management of data, security, and database administration. The .NET application and its forms were reconstructed using Microsoft Power Apps and Power Automate, and Power BI is used for reporting purposes. The Wish Bank now employs shared connectors to the SQL database for data updates, and a Microsoft 365 Outlook connector automates email notifications.

An Azure SQL database houses the gifted points organized by airline, hotel brand, credit card company, and more. External partners require these details to ensure miles are used before expiring, and the centralized inventory empowers staff to use the donations efficiently. The new, intuitive interface streamlines the previously manual process of requesting, approving, and distributing requests for travel points and airline mileage, giving staff everything they need to fulfill wish-associated travel with ease.

Before the upgrade, a developer was required to make modifications to the Wish Bank, but now, staff can easily make adjustment within the low- and no-code Microsoft Power Platform. They can refine the tool as needed, allowing them to add various categories of donations to the Wish Bank and quickly organize them.

To fulfill our mission, people must trust that we can protect their data.
Keith Goodwin
Chief Information Officer, Make-A-Wish

Data protection for families

Make-A-Wish is also dedicated to protecting the privacy of children and their families through industry-leading safeguards. Highly sensitive information like medical records and financial reports must be shielded across the board. By centralizing its apps and data on Azure, the nonprofit was able to diminish its security vulnerabilities of on-premises servers and keep data safe.

Microsoft security products and services guard Make-A-Wish’s operations with Microsoft Defender for Cloud, which uses advanced threat protection, detection, and response for the nonprofit’s cloud applications, storage, devices, identities, and more. Microsoft Purview provides next-level data security that includes a holistic platform for data governance and compliance. Within Purview, policies and procedures are safeguarded, ensuring that only approved staff can access beneficiary information. Data is securely stewarded and retained only as long as it’s needed.

By centralizing its apps and data on Azure diminished security vulnerabilities of on-premises servers, Make-A-Wish protects its digital infrastructure and platforms with Microsoft Cloud’s defenses, and enables secure communication with external partners. Make-A-Wish also creates and hosts several public-facing websites with Azure App Service that utilize built-in security and compliance features.

Make-A-Wish grants over 16,000 wishes a year with the goal of serving every eligible child. Saving money and time through tech means more wishes for children. And that’s what Make-A-Wish is all about.

Tame your creative demons

It’s Happening
Discover tips to unblock the obstacles on your creative journey. 
Colorful objects with googly eyes arranged around the edges of the image, including ropes, sponges, stones, and geometric shapes, with a soft, blurred background.

We all have our creative demons. You know the ones. Stalling. Spiraling. Stressing. Second-Guessing. Self-doubt and Overwhelm. Just to name a few.

These pesky little critters show up and throw down obstacles that can keep us from doing our best work. Or even just getting off the couch. Sometimes we need a little emotional intelligence to unlock the blocks that get in our way.

Copilot can help you calm the chaos and put confidence back into your creative process.

So you can take a beat—and turn that midnight oil into creative juice!

Which demon do you identify with?

Check out some of the most vexing blockers below—and get tips to help tame them with Copilot.

A gallery of 6 pairs of cards which can be toggled to read the front and back cards

Make your own creative demon

How’s your creative demon feeling? What’s it made of? Does it move much? What’s its vibe? Use this formula to ask Copilot to reveal your very own creative troublemaker. Meet the chaos behind your creativity!

emotion behavior material shape texture size accessories vibe

Here’s an example: Design a pint-sized creative demon tangled in self-doubt and overthinking. It’s soft, squishy, rocks a cowboy hat, and makes you want to give it a hug.

Create your own

Crafting skills that matter

The Uplift
When online threats are real, what’s the best way to prepare students? Not with a password. With a pickaxe.
Two children sit on patterned chairs in a library, separated by a small table, with bookshelves and posters visible in the background.
Audio Described

Today’s students don’t just need to access the digital world—they need to understand, question, and engage with it in a responsible manner. As AI shapes more and more of our experiences, educators and parents need to prepare young people with the skills to stay safe online and the curiosity and resilience to help them thrive. While many tools and platforms provide safety measures for children, one game studio decided to take it a step further and develop an entire learning environment for the new era.

Dig in with a click. Add sound for the full experience.

There are 4 breakable blocks hidden in this scene.

Digging deeper

Already one of the most familiar spaces in millions of students’ lives, Minecraft encourages players to dive headfirst into immersive gameplay with curiosity and creativity. With Minecraft Education now part of classrooms in more than 180 countries, the leap from gameplay to learning doesn’t feel like a leap at all.

This isn’t textbook learning. It’s hands-on, peer-to-peer, ‘what-happens-if-I-do-this’ learning. In Minecraft Education, students learn through simulations that reflect real-world scenarios. Rather than fighting Piglin brutes in the Nether, they face quandaries like whether or not to use AI for homework or share their password with a friend. Instead of wielding diamond swords, they hone their judgment and critical thinking. The sandbox environment is ideal for inquiry-based learning, allowing students to design and conduct their own experiments that spark creative solutions. Lessons in game worlds like “Privacy Prodigy” allow students to veer away from their fictional home and encounter people (and creatures) that help them understand which information is safe to share online.

Learning with Minecraft is definitely more visual, and it helps picture things, I feel like. The lessons and stuff on Minecraft help relate more to the real world.
Amelia
Student, Chandler Unified School District
72% of students are seeking help from adults to understand and use AI correctly
Minecraft Education game scene showing a character standing near a 3D printer

“Dig Deeper” encourages experimentation with AI outputs and why it’s important to check AI results against other trusted sources of information.

Minecraft Education game scene showing two blocky, red Data Byte creatures alongside a spider

“Privacy Prodigy” teaches students about personal data and privacy using “data byte” creatures to help them learn to manage and protect their information.

A common quest to understand AI

With AI increasingly embedded in everyday tools and content, students need help understanding how AI tools work and how to engage with AI critically. It’s connected to a growing idea in education called digital citizenship. While digital safety focuses on personal online protection, digital citizenship is about active participation. It’s about taking positive actions online, which in turn help boost the AI literacy skills taught in the lessons.

Minecraft Education demystifies AI by making the invisible visible. As students explore virtual settings like schools, animal parks, and even E-sports championship arenas, they begin to understand how AI makes decisions—and how those decisions reflect human choices. “At first, I thought the AI just knew everything on its own,” said Rylan, a Chandler Unified School District student. “But then I realized it was just doing what someone told it to do. That kind of blew my mind.” With 72% of students seeking help from adults to understand and use AI correctly, Minecraft Education’s immersive experience captures the excitement of the beloved game, making it easy for students to get excited about the lessons. 1

Think before you click

Cybersecurity is a real and immediate part of students’ everyday lives, from phishing scams to hacked accounts. Minecraft Education addresses these issues through immersive lessons that mirror real-world risks and responses. Rather than abstract warnings, students engage with scenarios they might actually face—and some already have. Rylan shared his experience: “I went on this website, and it asked to allow a notification. I just clicked yes. Moments later, I got a message that said, ‘Your computer has been hacked.’ It was very scary.”

“CyberSafe AI: Dig Deeper,” a Minecraft Education world designed to introduce students to AI, starts like any other in-game quest—you follow rules, complete tasks, and unlock the next challenge. But then the questions start stacking up: Why did the AI make that call? What info was it using? Students have to pause. Rethink. Ask better questions or, rather, dig deeper.

I learned you have to be very specific with AI. You can’t just let it do things on its own—you have to tell it exactly what you want.
Nathan
Student, Chandler Unified School District

There are 5 breakable blocks hidden in this scene.

There are 4 breakable blocks hidden in this scene.

Behind the blocks

Minecraft Education is the result of expert partnerships—working with industry leaders in cybersecurity and AI and top educators to ensure the lessons are relevant and aligned to national classroom standards. Their pilot programs are built off evidence-based research to ensure they work. According to Sara Cornish, Senior Product Marketing Manager for Minecraft Education, their mission is to “prepare the next generation of young people for a changing world. And we really want to empower students with the skills they need to thrive in this AI era.”

In addition to the immersive Minecraft worlds, educators are equipped with professional development and easy-to-use curriculums that they can plug and play into their classrooms, seamlessly integrating Minecraft Education into their teaching. They’re also given tools to assess the learning outcomes and family toolkits to help parents and children learn about AI and cyber safety together at home.  Students are learning to think for themselves, ask questions, and connect thoughtfully with others, so they’re not just prepared for the age of AI; they’re ready for anything.

We’re empowering every learner to develop future ready skills through immersive, engaging experiences that ignite creativity.
Laylah Bulman
Senior Business Program Manager, Minecraft Education
For more resources for parents and educators, visit Minecraft Education.

Download the CyberSafe series for free in Minecraft: Bedrock Education or download a free demo of Minecraft Education to get started.

Choose a card to see what some students are saying about digital safety and AI

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Start your own discussion by downloading the conversation pack.

Download all

References

  1. Microsoft. (2024, April 25). AI in Education: A Microsoft Special Report

Pride for each other

It’s Happening!
LGBTQIA+ people at Microsoft invite everyone to forge bonds of friendship, affection, and allyship

Pride has always been a celebration of identity—visibility, self-expression, and the joy of being unapologetically yourself. But at its heart, Pride is more than just individual expression; it’s the strength of a community that encourages, uplifts, and cares for one another.

This year, LGBTQIA+ people at Microsoft remind us that Pride isn’t just about showing up for ourselves—it’s about supporting each other. They invite everyone to forge bonds of friendship, affection, and allyship. Because our greatest strength has always been each other. And that will never change.

For each other

LGBTQIA+ employees at Microsoft open up about how community shapes, supports, and empowers them.

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A woman with dark hair smiles at the camera against a colorful, blurred background. Text above her reads, “Our hearts are tied to each other.”.

“The queer South Asian community never fails to make me feel uniquely at home. From the friends who uplifted me and helped me feel comfortable in my queerness throughout college to strangers whose stories of family, love, and neglect made me feel an instant connection to them. My heart is tied to this community, imperfect but full of love.”

Jinal (she/her)

A person with glasses and a beard stands in front of a colorful, abstract background. Text above reads: "Community is where I found strength.

“The LGBTQIA+ employee resource group at Microsoft showed me how broad and rich the community can be compared to what I knew growing up. As I traveled, the community grew even more. Let’s keep building the network—where we don’t just celebrate who we are individually but lift each other up collectively.”

Daniel (he/him)

An adult and a child smile at each other against a colorful, abstract background. Text above reads: “Through community, I understand my daughter more deeply.”.

“My daughter’s journey was completely organic—I was the one that needed to educate myself to better understand trans kids. Joining a gender diversity parent group, I learned SO much! They taught me the language to talk to her and give her space to be her true self. A fashionista at 14, she’s now living her best life because of our community—and so am I.”

Tracy (she/her)

A woman with long black hair smiles in front of a colorful, blurred background with the text: “My cousin’s courage paved the way.”.

“I’m inspired by those who are unapologetically themselves. Watching my cousin create her own space empowered me to embrace who I am. She really helped my family open their minds, and her courage carved a path for me. Now, I’m able to do that for others.”

Brynna (she/her)

A person wearing glasses and a light blue shirt smiles in front of a colorful background with the quote, "Because we marched, I move forward with hope.

“Actively participating in the Pride March had a huge impact on my self-esteem. It made me brave enough to stand up for what I believe in and for others. Whether in the grocery store, while queuing for coffee, or walking down the street, it’s crucial to have the confidence to be kind every day. Only then can we look to the future with hope.”

Fabrizio (he/him)

Strength in one another

We honor the power and collective strength of LGBTQIA+ communities in many ways—one is through vibrant, fluid artwork featuring 74 community flags. The designs embody our spirit of togetherness and serve as a reminder of the strength we find in each other. To support visibility and inclusion, we’re making them entirely open-source—available for everyone to use, remix, and share.

pride

Share your Pride with others

No path is walked alone

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A man in a suit stands against a colorful, abstract background with the text, "I’m forging a path for the next dad." displayed above him.

“As far back as I can remember, I’ve always wanted to be a father. With the passage of a new law and thanks to all those who pushed for it, I’m now the first single LGBTQIA+ dad in my country to become a parent through surrogacy. By ‘being the first’ to follow my dream, I advocated for myself, my kid, my community. There’s now a model for others to follow—to find their way.”

Yaniv (he/him)

A person with red hair and glasses smiles in front of a colorful background with the text, “Trans representation changed my life.”.

“I heard a trans woman’s story for the first time at an employee resource group meeting. She helped me understand my own gender identity—guiding me and my family through all the things to consider from health care to social transitions. I gained massive confidence in myself and flourished. That wouldn’t have been possible if she hadn’t shared her journey.”

Lucy (she/her)

Two women stand facing each other, smiling and holding hands, with a colorful background and the text, "I show up by listening first." displayed above them.

“Being part of an employee resource group really paved the way for me to leverage my time, privilege, and skills to show up and stand up for LGBTQIA+ rights with a focus on supporting transgender youth. As a board member and philanthropist, I always look to the community to tell me what’s needed. Volunteering to help people feel safe and connected isn’t just rewarding—it helps combat the darkness.”

Nichole (she/her)

A young person with dark hair smiles at the camera, standing in front of a colorful abstract background with the text, "I am, because we are.

“There’s an Angolan saying ‘sou porque somos,’ ‘I am, because we are,’ that captures the spirit of Pride for me. I’m first and foremost a culmination of my community—like my favorite Wednesday queer line-dancing group! They make it possible for me to feel seen, heard, and proud to be who I am … and to be who we are.”

Steven (he/him)

A man wearing glasses and a beige sweater smiles in front of a pastel, abstract background with the text, “I’m always in your corner.” at the top.

“Just because employees aren’t out publicly doesn’t mean that they don’t exist or they don’t face challenges. My region’s LGBTQIA+ employee resource group at Microsoft offers a safe space. When I joined, a colleague grappling with his identity reached out privately. Over time he found the courage to open up. Visibility is so important—being seen by even one person makes a difference.”

Saber (he/him)

For you, and for each other

More stories

Personal is professional

Personalize your Microsoft 365 app with Pride themes*

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Screenshot of the Outlook email inbox interface showing unread messages and navigation options, with the Outlook logo in the top left corner.
Outlook

Use flag-inspired Pride themes in Outlook for iOS, Android, and Mac.

A computer interface displays a "Themes" section with the text "PRIDE for each other" and a button labeled "Pride 2025." A sidebar shows user profile and navigation icons.

PowerPoint

Add a touch of Pride to PowerPoint on iOS and Mac.

A digital spreadsheet titled "Pride Budget" is open, showing a table with columns for payment number and payment date.

Excel

Introduce a sprinkle of Pride to Excel on iOS and Mac.

Smartphone screen showing a file management app with recent documents, including a rainbow graphic and a Pride poster; Microsoft Word icon is in the corner.

Word

Pride is the word. Literally—with a theme for iOS and Mac.

A digital Pride scavenger hunt checklist and a Microsoft OneNote window with three notebooks are displayed on a colorful purple background.

OneNote

Feel Pride while you take notes on iOS and Mac.

*Choose your favorite Pride theme for Outlook in Settings > Appearance. In all other M365 apps, enable the Pride theme in Settings > Show Your Pride.

The power of play

Discover Pride on Xbox

More stories

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Colorful ribbon forms a spherical shape with an Xbox logo in the center against a bright, cloudy sky background.

Honoring Pride through play

Explore how Xbox is honoring Pride—from games by LGBTQIA+ creators and limited edition merch to opportunities to give back.

Collage of three video game scenes featuring characters celebrating Pride with rainbow flags and festive backgrounds.

Pride built into games

Discover how Overwatch 2, Sea of Thieves, and Farm Heroes Saga bring Pride to gaming.

Three graphic t-shirts are displayed on a colorful pastel background. Designs include a Halo helmet, a rainbow-colored Xbox logo, and a shirt with colorful planets and text.

Xbox Gear Shop

Show your support with limited-edition Pride T-shirts, hoodies, and more—designed by and with LGBTQIA+ communities.

A collage of four video game covers: Psychroma, Dragon Age The Veilguard, Tell Me Why, and Overwatch 2 Stadium.

Games shaped by the LGBTQIA+ community

Explore a curated collection of games that highlight the incredible creativity and storytelling from LGBTQIA+ developers and creators.

Text reads "GAMING with impact" on a soft pink background with colorful, abstract light patterns in the corners.

Gaming with impact

Microsoft Rewards members in the United States can earn and donate points to organizations supporting LGBTQIA+ communities.

When you bring your whole self, everyone shines

The Code of Us puts a spotlight on LBGTQIA+ voices so they can shine. Real stories, Bold truths. Big Heart. These are the people who make Microsoft more vibrant – one day, one story, one spark at a time.

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Two people smiling and posing against a colorful, pixelated background with the text "Celebrate Pride" displayed beside them.

At Microsoft, we celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community – every voice, very journey, and every shade of Pride.

Two women holding "True" and "False" signs stand in front of a colorful background with the text “True or False LGBTIQA+ Edition” between them.

Microsoft’s LGBTQIA+ community is expressing identity and pride one avatar at a time. Because identity is limitless and so is Pride.

Two women holding tablets stand beside illustrated avatars, with the text "Who's Your Avatar? LBGTQIA+ Edition" on a gradient background.

Self expression is a core part of our existence. Watch as two of our employees create their own avatars and how it tells their story.

We’re donating $100,000 to LGBTQIA+ nonprofits

For more than 30 years, Microsoft and our employees have stood alongside LGBTQIA+ communities—contributing over $17 million to organizations advancing equity, dignity, and human rights. Just last year, we gave more than $1.3 million to support this work globally.

As we launch our Pride 2025 campaign, we’re deepening that commitment with a $100,000 donation to organizations doing critical work for the community.

Abstract pastel and rainbow-colored background with the Portuguese text "ORGULHO uns pelos outros" written in the center.
Text "MÂNDRIE unii pentru ceilalți" on a pastel, abstract background with blurred colors of yellow, green, purple, and blue.

Conversations with Bill, Steve, & Satya

Intersections
Our past and present leaders recall the early days of Microsoft and anticipate an exciting future

Join Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith as he sits down with our past and present CEOs in three enlightening interviews. Bill Gates discusses his memoir, Source Code: My Beginnings, Microsoft’s impact over the past 50 years, and reflects on the journey. Steve Ballmer reflects on his time at Microsoft, the shift to becoming CEO, and passing the torch to Satya. And Satya emphasizes the importance of culture as a strategic asset that drives innovation, and accentuates how Microsoft has remained relevant by seizing opportunities to reinvent itself.

Satya Nadella: Leading through the AI Revolution

While growing up in India, Satya’s passion for cricket and poetry began to shape his unique approach to leadership. His father’s role as a civil servant at the UN coupled with his mother’s position as a professor of Sanskrit drama influenced Satya’s dedication to building a culture of learning at Microsoft.

Today, Satya believes a company culture that’s encouraging a growth mindset and pursuing new concepts will never stop changing for the better. The next step in the evolution of work is the implementation of AI in almost everything we do. Satya sees AI as the future of knowledge at work that can empower every person and organization on the planet to achieve more. He’s excited about a world where everyone can create and share information and express themselves to their fullest potential.

A man with glasses and a microphone sits in front of a colorful geometric background with grid lines, appearing ready for an interview or podcast.
In this AI age, I’ve been thinking about what it means to build for the future. Two lines from Rilke are the best for anybody who wants to build anything: Let the future enter us then change itself in us before it becomes real.

Steve Ballmer: Scaling the digital revolution

Steve remembers the growing pains—including that time he and Bill didn’t speak for three days—and how irrational confidence, realism, and persistence sparked their vision. Steve’s commitment to innovation and developing new skills made Microsoft progress and stay accountable in the competitive tech industry.

Steve proudly remains a Microsoft booster, with an obvious affection, fondness, and loyalty for everything he helped build.

To be great, you have to have some combination of irrational confidence and realism that says, yeah, everything’s a mess right now, but it’s going to be okay. Oh, and persistence.

Bill Gates: Starting the digital revolution

Bill Gates and Paul Allen were driven by their vision of making computing accessible to everyone and were fueled by the incredible growth in technology along the way. Bill recalls the digital revolution transforming industries, enabling electronic solutions to replace manual processes, and emphasizes the role of software.

Bill’s excitement about advancements in AI and its potential to address global challenges in healthcare and education make him curious about where AI can take the world next.

A smiling person wearing glasses sits behind a microphone, with a coffee cup on the table, against a grid-patterned blue background.
The progress of the digital revolution is the biggest change agent in the world, and now we’re talking about real, deep intelligence. It’s moving quickly and there’s no upper bound to how good it gets.

Deep dives into tech and beyond

Listen and subscribe to more conversations at the intersection of tech and society on Tools and Weapons with Brad Smith:

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