United Way Services distributes to area nonprofit agencies donated state-of-the-art computer systems from IBM Corporation on Sept 17

(Cleveland, Ohio) September 16, 2003
United Way Services of Greater Cleveland and IBM Corp. will help narrow the digital divide by ensuring that ten charitable agencies receive leading-edge computer systems. The computer systems, donated by IBM Corp. through United Ways Service’s Donated Goods/Gifts in Kind Program, will be distributed at 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, September 17 at United Way Services, 1331 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio by Cynthia H. Andrews, senior location executive, IBM Corporation, Cleveland, and K. Michael Benz, president and CEO, United Way Services.

IBM generously donated the equipment listed below to charitable agencies in Cuyahoga County that provide services in one or more of the following areas: youth education opportunities/early learning programs, community and family services, support for the disabled/disadvantaged, adult services (i.e. literacy, job training), and/or youth development programs. This equipment, valued at $15,226, includes: four Net Vista A30 PCs (Pentium 4, 17” monitor with CD-ROM), four Young Explore Systems (Pentium 4, 15” monitor, Little Tikes desk) and two ThinkPad TPA30s (Pentium 4).

The charities that will receive the donations are: (Young Explorers) *Bellefaire, JCB - Monarch School, *Center for Families and Children - Mather Child Care Center, *Goodrich-Gannett Neighborhood Center, *The MetroHealth’s Child Life Program; (laptops) Alta House, *Esperanza, Inc.; (PCs) Broken Connections, *The Cleveland Music School Settlement, Open Doors, Inc. and *United Way Services.

The recipient agencies are 501(c)(3) nonprofits. Those with * are United Way and its partner agencies. The grants were reviewed by the IBM Community Action Council and Melodie Mayberry Stewart, chief of the technology office of the City of Cleveland.

IBM’s contribution is part of the company’s annual nation-wide technology donation program, this year valued at more than $5 million. Gifts In Kind International, the world’s leading charity in product philanthropy, manages the donation program, coordinating distribution of the computers with approximately 150 local United Way organizations across the country.

Reflecting its commitment to education, IBM’s total donation nationally includes 1,500 Young Explorer systems, which use the IBM NetVista computer with a Pentium 4/1.6 GHz processor, 15” color monitor, CD-ROM, Little Tikes desk, software and accessories. Also included are specially developed educational materials for teachers as part the IBM KidSmart Early Learning Program. Young Explorer systems will help give children in daycare and childcare centers a jump-start on their education.

Additionally, IBM will donate more than 1,300 IBM NetVista A30 PCs with a Pentium 4/2.0 GHz processor, 1284 MB total memory, CD-ROM, 40 gig hard disk drive, 17” color monitor, and Windows 2000 installed; and 300 IBM ThinkPad TPA30 systems with a Pentium 4, 1.6 GHz processor, 128 MB memory, 20 gig hard disk drive, CD-ROM, modem, and Windows 2000 installed.

"On behalf of Goodrich-Gannet Neighborhood House, I thank IBM for the Young Explorer system, which will be used in our preschool educational program,” said Allison L.E. Wallace, executive director. “It will help to introduce technology to children so they can use it properly as an educational tool."

"IBM’s technology donations have continued to be an invaluable resource to those who need them most,” said Susan Corrigan, president and chief executive officer of Gifts In Kind International. “This commitment has enabled thousands of nonprofits to serve their communities more effectively."

"IBM appreciates the significant impact these charities have on the people they serve," said Stanley S. Litow, IBM’s vice president of corporate community relations and president of IBM’s International Foundation. "We at IBM are committed to improving lives and to helping communities realize their full potential through technology use."