Earth Citizens Organization (ECO), an Arizona nonprofit based in Sedona, has been selected as one of five publically voted winners in Microsoft’s UpgradeYourWorld campaign.

The UpgradeYourWorld campaign was conducted in 10 countries — Australia, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, the United Kingdom and the United States. Ten organizations in each country will receive a $50,000 donation and technology support from Microsoft. The first five were pre-selected by Microsoft, and the remaining five nonprofits were elected by a public vote through social media from Sept. 1 through 23.

ECO participated in the voting campaign, and with active support from the public, ECO was voted a winner.

The results were announced on Microsoft’s website: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/upgradeyourworld/

ECO was established as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization to promote mindful living for a sustainable world. ECO has been focusing on developing leadership as the driving force for implementing positive change in communities. Since its establishment in September 2013, ECO has trained more than 500 leaders through the HEROES leadership programs. The graduates of these programs are serving their community by teaching outreach exercise classes, creating community initiatives, and helping other charitable causes. Although they work in diverse areas, one common element that ties them together is the spirit of Earth Citizenship, which helps individuals make daily life choices that are necessary for the well-being of the planet and all lifeforms on it. ECO’s goal is to help 1 percent of the world’s population incorporate the spirit of Earth Citizenship into their mindset and daily lives.

“ECO is very proud of being a partner with Microsoft in our collective efforts to make our world a better place,” said Steve Kim, executive director, Earth Citizens Organization. “We believe through this partnership that we can reach more people and help them do great things for the planet and all of its inhabitants. We thank our support groups, including Body & Brain and Change Your Energy, for helping us make this happen.”

To keep the momentum created by this public awareness, ECO is preparing its own campaign plan to promote the spirit of Earth Citizenship and strengthen its effort to develop leadership to make a difference in communities. ECO will announce the plan in late October.