Comp-U-Dopt: 4,000th Houston-Area Child Receives a Donated Computer
HOUSTON, March 10, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Houston elementary school student Jamilet Hernandez became the 4,000th child to receive a donated computer from local technology non-profit Comp-U-Dopt and she did so with a smiling face, enthusiasm and a single word to describe the moment: happy.
Miss Hernandez, who attends Durkee Elementary in the Houston Independent School District, and her mother joined dozens of other elementary students who recently received refurbished computers at the school.
Comp-U-Dopt Executive Director Minal Patel Davis said, "Like all of the children we serve, Jamilet's passion for learning impressed us. She was shy today, but she is a great example of the local children who show so much potential for learning."
Founded in 2007 by John Osha, Comp-U-Dopt provides refurbished computers and technology education to enthusiastic, motivated children in underserved communities in the Houston area. The organization encourages development of technology skills in children and helps foster computer reuse and better environmental stewardship.
Computers are awarded to children who submit essays explaining how a computer will benefit their education. Each refurbished computer comes with Linux-based educational tools such as word processing, spreadsheet and other programs, and Internet capabilities. Children who receive computers attend a two-hour "adoption" session with parents or guardians to learn software use and computer care.
The 4,000th-computer presentation to Jamilet and the other students were made by Comp-U-Dopt Board Chair Larry Smith, Executive Director Minal Patel Davis, Program Director Julissa Chappell, and volunteer Jennifer Brown, who taught the computer care and use class to the children.
Comp-U-Dopt is grateful for the support of the event by the Houston office of the Pillsbury law firm, which provided volunteers, and Durkee Elementary parent volunteer Gloria Mesa.
Houston companies and individuals can help Comp-U-Dopt in three ways: 1) donations of working PCs and laptops, 2) tax-deductible financial donations which cover the costs of refurbishing and distributing the computers and related educational support, and 3) volunteers – with or without technology expertise.
Comp-U-Dopt Board of Directors Chair Larry Smith said, "Donations of computers, financial support and time can make an immediate difference in a child's life – as it will for Jamilet and has for the thousands of other Houston-area children we have served. Financial donations and volunteer support for Comp-U-Dopt help foster the educational aspirations of children throughout Houston."
Donating computers to Comp-U-Dopt is a safe, reliable way to dispose of working computers and monitors that are not in use. Corporate, institutional and individual donors can be assured hard drives of donated computers are erased to U.S. Department of Defense standards. More information is available at www.compudopt.org.
Contact: Minal Patel Davis, [email protected], 713.426.2330.
SOURCE Comp-U-Dopt
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