| Foster children receive computers | | Posted: Tuesday, May 8, 2012 10:16 am
| On Thursday, Connected Tennessee presented foster children throughout northwest Tennessee with brand new computers through the Computers 4 Kids program.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act-funded project deploys computers, academic support programs, and workforce training to two disparate, but especially at-risk, populations: those in the state’s foster care system who are “aging out” as they turn 18, and youth who are active in the state’s 76 Boys & Girls Clubs.
The program will impact the lives of nearly 60,000 youth across the state throughout the life of the grant.
“With the Computers 4 Kids program, we are able to impact the lives of children in need across Tennessee through the gift of technology,” remarked Deanna Ward, Connected Tennessee’s State Operations Manager for West Tennessee.
“Already nearly 4,000 children, families, and community organizations across the state have benefited from this program. From completing homework assignments to job searching to earning a degree online – we are proud to say that Computers 4 Kids is opening up a world of opportunities to the citizens of Tennessee who need it the most.”
Though Thursday’s event was held at the Weakley County Department of Children’s Services office, recipients hailed from nine counties across the Northwest region, including Dyer, Benton, Carroll, Crockett, Gibson, Henry, Lake, Obion, and Weakley.
Weakley County Mayor Houston Patrick was on hand to offer his congratulations to the awardees.
The “Preparing Tennessee’s Next Generation for Success” project is a result of a $2.3 million American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant awarded to the C4K program in August 2010 by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP).
BTOP provides grants to support the deployment of broadband infrastructure, enhance and expand public computer centers, and encourage sustainable adoption of broadband service.
About Connected
Tennessee
As a public-private partnership, Connected Tennessee partners with technology-minded businesses, government entities and universities to accelerate technology in the state.
For more information about what Connected Tennessee is doing to accelerate technology in Tennessee’s communities, visit www.connectedtennessee.org.
About Computers 4 Kids
Preparing Tennessee’s Next Generation for Success: Connected Tennessee’s Computers 4 Kids project is helping to prepare Tennessee’s most vulnerable youth for success by providing them with connectivity. The program promotes economic, career, and educational development through the provision of computers and broadband Internet, online technology training, career training, and community awareness that highlights the benefits of technology adoption. WCP 5.01.12 | | | | |
