United Way of Essex and West Hudson Receives IBM Early Learning Technology to Inspire Young Students in Newark and Surrounding Area

NEWARK, N.J., Oct. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- United Way of Essex and West Hudson has received a grant from IBM of 75 Young Explorer™ learning centers, which are the centerpiece of IBM's KidSmart Early Learning grant program.  The Young Explorers are being donated to United Way to distribute to preschool programs within Newark, Irvington and East Orange, targeting children between the ages of three and seven.  

"IBM is excited to partner with United Way of Essex and West Hudson on our KidSmart Early Learning program, providing new opportunities for children to explore concepts in math, science and language.  IBM is dedicated to bridging the digital divide and building the skills that young students need to succeed in their future education and their eventual careers," said Stanley Litow, Vice President, Corporate Citizenship & Corporate Affairs and President, IBM International Foundation.

IBM's KidSmart program includes the Young Explorer, a computer housed in brightly colored, child-friendly Little Tikes™ furniture and equipped with award-winning educational software to help children learn and explore concepts in math, science and language.  The computer centers can also help children learn important socialization skills such as cooperation and sharing, which are essential to classroom success.  In addition, teachers participating in the program become more confident about incorporating technology into their classrooms.

"We're excited to be part of this initiative and deliver high-quality learning resources to as many children as possible," said Keith H. Green, President and Chief Executive Officer, United Way of Essex and West Hudson.  IBM's generous donation will service 35 childcare centers and offer 2963 children with innovative learning within 190 classrooms.

The KidSmart program also includes access to the KidSmart website kidsmartearlylearning.org.  Available in eight languages, the site helps parents guide their children's use of technology and preschool teachers use technology more effectively in their classrooms.

IBM developed the KidSmart program in 1998 to help reduce the digital divide, especially in urban areas, where it was becoming apparent that children from less affluent backgrounds needed access to specialized technology tools and educational materials to better prepare them to enter school. IBM is focused on increasing the number of children entering into math, science and engineering, and believes that success in early childhood learning is a critical step.  Since the inception of KidSmart, IBM has donated more than 55,000 Young Explorer learning centers to schools and nonprofit organizations in 60 countries, serving more than 10 million students and 100,000 teachers.  For more information about IBM, please visit: www.ibm.com

Founded in 1923, the United Way of Essex and West Hudson is a non-profit organization that seeks to address the root causes of community concerns by aligning resources to best meet the needs of individuals, children and families through its service-area. For more information about United Way of Essex and West Hudson, visit www.uwewh.org

Contact: Catherine Wilson, Director
Community Impact (973) 854-2249

SOURCE United Way of Essex and West Hudson