PlanITROI to Provide Free and Low-Cost Devices to Digitally Underserved Students in El Paso, TX and Memphis, TN with Microsoft

DENVILLE, N.J., June 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- PlanITROI, through its social enterprise division Digital Dreams Project (DDP), announced today an agreement with Microsoft, as part of its Airband Initiative to provide free and low-cost devices to communities of color in El Paso, Texas and Memphis, Tennessee.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, PlanITROI, a global leader in IT asset disposition (ITAD), launched DDP. The mission is to continue bridging the digital divide. PlanITROI is working toward accomplishing this by partnering with individuals, organizations and businesses, to provide refurbished devices and mentorship to K-12 students in need. To advance its mission, PlanITROI recently joined with Take On Race, a Coalition of like-minded companies who are committed to Advancing Racial Equality in America.

"PlanITROI has a long-standing relationship with Microsoft, as a founding member of its Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher program," said Paul Baum, founder and CEO of PlanITROI. "We're excited to be teaming up again. The Microsoft Airband Initiative collaboration will bring PlanITROI one step closer to realizing its mission to create a digitally inclusive world, where K-12 students trapped in the digital divide will have access to the devices needed for online learning and can dream without limitations."

According to a recent report by Boston Consulting Group in partnership with Common Sense and Southern Education Foundation, just before 2021, up to 12 million K-12 students remained digitally underserved. This includes students who lacked connectivity, an e-learning device or both. Although progress to bridge the digital divide has been significant, this is not a short-term issue.

"The digital divide disproportionately impacts communities of color, especially when it comes to device ownership, as well as two other key aspects of digital equity: broadband adoption and digital fluency," said Vickie Robinson, general manager, Microsoft Airband. "Our collaboration with PlanITROI aims to bridge that divide to help ensure communities have access to affordable in-home devices and in turn, greater access to education, health care services, and economic opportunities."

Since 2001, PlanITROI has recertified and distributed computers to more than 7 million individuals. A provider of ITAD services to corporations, educational institutions, government and OEM retailers, PlanITROI is committed to preserving the highest levels of environmental responsibility and data security. With a history of processing more than 10 million devices and billions of bits of data, PlanITROI has never had an incident of a client's confidential information being exposed.

For more information, visit digitaldreamsproject.com. 

About PlanITROI
Founded in 2001, PlanITROI is a global leader in IT asset disposition (ITAD). A provider of ITAD services to corporations, educational institutions, government and OEM retailers, PlanITROI is committed to preserving the highest levels of environmental responsibility and data security. Since its inception, PlanITROI has recertified and distributed computers to more than 7 million individuals. PlanITROI launched a social enterprise division, Digital Dreams Project (DDP), to continue bridging the digital divide. DDP stemmed from Tech Tuesday, which PlanITROI founder and CEO, Paul Baum, and his daughter created in 2017 to help families caught in the digital divide. PlanITROI is a member of Take on Race and recognized as a Great Place to Work^®.

SOURCE PlanITROI