500 Houston Children Receive Donated Computers from Comp-U-Dopt
HOUSTON, April 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Houston fourth grader Amber McCray, whose home was lost in a fire caused by Hurricane Ike in 2008, added another chapter to her family's recovery story this week when she became the 500th child to receive a computer from Comp-U-Dopt, Inc.
On a day she and 56 other local children took home donated computers, Amber said, "I am so thankful to have this computer. I have been going to the library or asking friends to work on their computers. Now, I can work on writing and math on my own computer at home."
Amber's mother Linda added, "We lost almost everything in the fire. We are blessed to be in another home, but Amber has been asking about a computer for as long as I can remember. She loves school and she loves learning, and I want her to have the opportunities that come with education. For kids now, computers are an important part of learning."
Comp-U-Dopt founder John Osha said, "Comp-U-Dopt achieved an important milestone this week with the support of our corporate and individual donors, but we are just beginning to make a difference in the Houston area with children like Amber. Hundreds of children are on our waiting list. Donations of computers, financial support, and time can make an immediate difference in a child's life."
Donated computers are awarded to enthusiastic, motivated children who submit applications to Comp-U-Dopt explaining how a computer will benefit their education. Each refurbished computer comes with Linux-based educational tools as well as word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, and Internet capabilities. Children chosen to receive computers attend a two-hour "adoption" session with parents or guardians to learn software use and computer care.
Founded in 2007, Comp-U-Dopt encourages the development of increasingly necessary technology skills in children and helps foster computer reuse and better stewardship of the environment. Executive Director Veronica Harford added that a computer donation to Comp-U-Dopt is a safe, reliable way to dispose of working computers and monitors that may have been updated or are not in use. "Far too many serviceable computers collect in offices and homes, are stockpiled in warehouses, or end up in landfills," she said.
Houstonians can help Comp-U-Dopt in three ways. Harford said, "First, your donations of working PCs and laptops are critical. Second, your tax-deductible donations cover the costs of refurbishing and distributing the computers and the related educational support. And, third, we rely on volunteers. Some of our volunteers are technologically knowledgeable, but many others are not. It's not a requirement to serve."
Osha said, "Please keep Comp-U-Dopt in mind when you or your Houston-area company upgrade computers and need a new home for the old ones. Anyone who contributes to this organization can take pride in knowing that he or she is helping children throughout the city by investing in their curiosity and interest in learning."
Donors also can rest assured that the hard drives of donated computers to Comp-U-Dopt are erased to U.S. Department of Defense standards. "Our computer donors, whether they are large corporations or families, know they can count on us to carry out the hard drive 'wipe' process," Harford said.
More information is available online at www.compudopt.org.
Contact: Veronica Harford, Comp-U-Dopt, Inc., Executive Director, 713.855.2650, www.compudopt.org.
SOURCE Comp-U-Dopt, Inc.
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