Microsoft Employees Have Raised $1 Billion in 30 Years For Charity

Employee Giving Campaign began in 1983

In the three decades since Microsoft launched a program encouraging employees to give to charity, the software company's workers have raised $1 billion.

Back in 1983, Microsoft started its Employee Giving Campaign, an initiative that donates $17 for every hour an employee volunteers and also matches every employee contribution to charity, dollar-for-dollar.

The company says 65 percent of employees have gotten involved, accounting for more than 35,000 participants, and Microsoft announced Thursday that the program has generated $1 billion for 31,000 nonprofits and community organizations around the world.