Who doesn’t love Microsoft, right? I know I do, so I was excited when SocialMoms contacted me to be part of the Microsoft store Holiday 12 Days of Deals sponsored program! What a great time of year to work with Microsoft, as now through December 19, you’ll find all kinds of amazing new deals each day at the Microsoft store! Looking for the hottest new gear like Xbox One and Windows Phone? You’ll find it at Microsoft!

Everyone wants the best holiday gifts for less, and Microsoft is featuring one-day-only savings on the hottest tech at the top of everyone’s list! Each day brings a new deal in the Microsoft 12 Days of Deals, so shop early and often now through December 19th! You can even opt-in via email or test so you don’t miss any of the online or in-store deals! Want a taste of what’s in store? On December 8th, the first deal is going to be the Toshiba Encore Mini tablet! You’ll have to check the 12 Days of Deals site or visit a Microsoft store to see the deal for each day after that, but I thought you’d like a heads up on this one. You’re welcome!

Don’t forget to take advantage of The Answer Techs, Microsoft’s world-class customer service team. They can answer any tech questions and even help you get your items set up for gift-giving before you give it or or after it’s gifted! Imagine Mom’s surprise when she get’s that new Windows Phone, and her anxiety of using it! No worries, The Answer Techs are available by phone or in-store to help new users enjoy their gifts.

Need another reason to love Microsoft? In 2012, Microsoft created YouthSpark, a global initiative to create opportunities for 300 million youth by 2015. Microsoft realized that not everyone had access to the skills and training needed to become successful, and they decided to do something about it. The youth are our future, and with 75 million youth around the world unemployed, the future is not a bright one unless we work together to make a change. It’s pretty clear Microsoft knows what they’re doing, because at the end of the second year of YouthSpark, new opportunities were created for more than 227 million young people from over 100 countries. Well done, Microsoft! But they didn’t do it alone. They knew we needed to work together, so they partnered with more than 350 youth-focused non-profits.

Examples of how Microsoft is changing the future for young people

• Joshua Uwadiae used to run a gang in a rough London neighborhood. He had been arrested and expelled from school at 15. Now, Joshua is IT manager at eCourier, an international service that ensures delivery of things like important medical specimens and documents.
• Wanderson Shrock was a drug trafficker and landed in jail twice before the age of 17. While serving his second sentence, he took a computer class offered by the non-profit, Center for Digital Inclusion (CDI). That class changed his life. He now works for CDI, and has taught digital literacy to other inmates, knowing it can change their lives just like it changed his.
• Muriel Surmely grew up in France, and felt aimless while in high school, so she dropped out. After years of working in all kinds of different job, from fast food to a pet shop, Muriel realized she was going nowhere fast. A friend told her about Web@cademie, a non-profit Microsoft program created with a YouthSpark grant. Muriel applied and was accepted. After going through the program, her dedication was recognized, and she was offered and internship with Microsoft France.

Where would these and millions of our youth be without programs like this? The future for all of us is brighter because someone is willing to take a chance on these young people.

Kind of makes you want to head to a Microsoft store right now, doesn’t it? I know, me too! Remember you can shop the Microsoft 12 Days of Deals online, too!

Be sure to follow Microsoft on all their social channels!

Microsoft Store on Twitter: http://twitter.com/microsoftstore

Microsoft Store on Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/microsoftstore/

Microsoft Store on Instagram: http://instagram.com/microsoftstore

“This blog post is part of a paid SocialMoms and Microsoft blogging program. The opinions and ideas expressed here are my own.”