Oracle Education Foundation, Adobe Systems Incorporated team to help students around globe

OEF, an independent, charitable, 501(c)(3) organization funded by Oracle Corporation, is committed to helping students develop vital skills for life and work in the 21st century. As part of its mission, OEF provides its ThinkQuest technology program as a free service to primary and secondary schools around the world. More than 397,000 children in 60 countries benefit from OEF's programs.

The donated Adobe software will be bundled and granted to qualifying elementary and secondary schools enrolled in OEF's ThinkQuest Website Competition 2009, which challenges students to develop educational websites on topics of their choosing.

The Adobe software available as part of the grant includes: Adobe Photoshop Elements 6, Adobe Premiere Elements 4, Adobe Dreamweaver CS3, and Adobe Flash Pro CS3.

The students receiving the software will include those who may not typically have access to advanced web design software. As a result, these gifts will allow the students to compete in ThinkQuest more effectively, introduce them to industry-leading technology, and help them acquire vital 21st century learning and technology skills.

Adobe has supported ThinkQuest and OEF by donating more than 15,000 software copies and licenses since 2006.

Clare Dolan, Vice President, Oracle Corporate Citizenship, said:

"The Oracle Education Foundation and Adobe Systems are providing a rare opportunity to young students around the world, many of whom do not have access to high-level software tools. By working together we can bring this leading technology to schools around the world and help ensure that all students have access to the tools needed to succeed in life and work in the 21st century."

Peter Isaacson, Vice President, Worldwide Education at Adobe, said:

"Digital media provides students with more direct and engaging experiences for learning critical subjects. Through digital media, students don't just learn about science, they become scientists by interacting directly with real-world phenomena that would otherwise be inaccessible to them. They don't just study history—they become historians by creating their own documentaries using historical footage. Using today's digital tools, the possibilities are endless."