Computer Donations

Did you know your old computer can be refurbished to help a school? This weekend there is a drive to get 100,000 old computers donated to help schools. I found this link via Illinois Bloggers. The drive is being headed by Lt. Gov. Quinn and Computers for Schools Association. Below is the Press Release.


          

April 17
Lt. Gov Quinn Seeks 100,000 Donated Computers
From the Lt. Governor’s Office, April 17, 2006

This Tuesday, April 18, 1:30 p.m., Lt. Governor Pat Quinn will help the Computers for Schools Association launch “100 Percent Day,” an ambitious plan to collect 100,000 used computers in only two days.

“This Saturday is Earth Day and there is no better way to celebrate than by donating those old computers,” Quinn said. “Not only can we reduce the strain on our landfills, but we can reuse those computers to help bridge the digital divide.”

The Computers for Schools Association is a national non-profit dedicated to bridging the digital divide and supporting environmental responsibility through the refreshment of prematurely retired computers. The Association has placed more than 25,000 refurbished computers in schools, non-profit organizations, and need-based homes.

And now, in celebration of Earth Day, Computers for Schools is challenging itself and the nation to collect 100,000 used computers in only two days.

The goal is big but far from impossible. It is estimated that an average of 100,000 computers are discarded every day in the United States. Computers for Schools aims to collect just one day’s worth of discarded computers.

All computers collected on April 21 and April 22 will count toward the nationwide goal. To donate a computer visit the following locations:


Corporations: Friday, April 21, at 3350 N. Kedzie
Individuals: Saturday, April 22 at the Goose Island Drop Off Center: 1150 N. Branch

“The Computer for Schools Association is challenging the nation to reuse and recycle computers,” Quinn said. “Recycling our used computers will reduce the amount of hazardous materials in our landfills and allow our students to learn with technology. We – in the state of Illinois – accept this challenge.”

Quinn will be joined by Willie Cade, CEO of the Computer for Schools Association; Turon Ivy, director of the Chicago International Charter School and; T.J. Trojan, divisional president of NEC Display Solutions.

NEC Display Solutions, a company specializing in visual display products has donated 1,000 17- and 18-inch displays to Computers for Schools, and they will donate a 30-inch display to the Chicago International Charter School during the press conference. A computer demonstration and assembly will follow the press conference.

Lt. Governor Quinn serves as Chairman of the Broadband Deployment Council and the Green Government Coordinating Council. The Broadband Council was created under Executive Order in September to address Internet access needs for all Illinois citizens and to help bridge the digital divide. The Green Government Coordinating Council works with state agencies to develop policies that reduce pollution and incorporate conservation into government operations.

For information about more ways to bridge the digital divide, please visit www.IllinoisConnect.org.

If you have an old computer you are not using, please consider donating it to this cause.

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One Response to “Computer Donations”

  1. S.Harrell, on April 24th, 2006 at 10:24 pm Said:

    Problems with private donations.

    I workded as an electrician in Chicago for many years. At the close of the school year, all the public schools and private ones build and reconstruct. Growth is always a wonderful thing.

    The problem with all the used equipment is, there has to be a NEW place for is, and once installed, is outdated. Then the school tenders and bills for “modern equipment.” The way to do this is…..

    Run the schools in two shifts. Early morning, no free lunch and an afternoon shift. Seems you take care of the “class space problem” and the money spent on food service would pay for a wonderful, up to date computer lab. Remove the employees, the equipment, storage and fire hazzard and turn the kitchen/seating area into a useful area.

    Truth be told, keeps the school in the area, doubles the capacity. Even if you build a NEW school somewhere, you have to get more teachers anyway. Run two shifts. The wonderful outcome of this is, if a student needs special, more or a repeat of a subject not being understood, the student can sit through a second class! May spend the whole 14 hours there. Keeps them off the street from sun up to sun down and perhaps the realization will set in some.

    If one chooses to excel in a given area, certainly a service open for 12 to 14 hours a day will afford a much greater oppertunity. Perhaps we can change the trend of watering down the curriculum to the slowest student, to allowing acheivers to move on.

    Just a thought.
    S.Harrell

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