Net Literacy student volunteers, with the support of ten Orr Fellows – plan to collect computers throughout Hamilton County to increase digital inclusion to over 1,000 Hoosiers!
The five largest municipal governments in Hamilton County are partnering together with Net Literacy, a youth-managed Hamilton County nonprofit, to hold the county’s largest computer drive. The Mayors and Town Manager of Carmel, Fishers, Westfield, and Noblesville together with the County Commissioners are encouraging businesses, individuals, and other organizations to donate “gently used” and working computers that are Pentium IIIs, Pentium IV, or have Windows 2000 or Windows XP as operating system to donate their computers. The computers will be cleaned, data wiped, new software installed, and they will be donated to nonprofits to build or expand computer labs in Hamilton County and throughout the State. Net Literacy (www.netliteracy.org) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and all contributors will receive a receipt for their donation.
“Net Literacy’s student volunteers have taught senior citizens and provided computers to independent living facilities in Carmel. Carmel has spotlighted Net Literacy’s programs on our Carmel CAN Community Volunteer Initiative on Cable Channel 16, and we support the students that volunteer during their weekends and after school time to help increase digital inclusion throughout Indiana. I encourage Carmel residents to support students and Net Literacy by participating in this computer drive on May 6th and 7th at City Hall (9:00am to 4:00pm). Also, residents can drop off their gently used computers at the Carmel Clay Schools Educational Center on Friday, April 30th (3:00pm-7:00pm) and Saturday, May 1st (10:00am to 2:00pm). The City of Carmel is pleased to continue to support Net Literacy, its students, and its mission for a ninth year.”
– Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard
• Since 2003, Net Literacy has provided or expanded computer facilities serving over 150,000 Hoosiers and its student volunteers have provided almost 200,000 hours of service to Indiana! In 2009, Net Literacy was awarded “The Above and Beyond Award” by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society for the State of Indiana. Learn more by visiting www.netliteracy.org.
“In today’s world, it’s extremely important for people of all ages to be computer literate. Not only does it allow people to easily access a wealth of information, but it’s also a great way to keep in touch with family and friends. I applaud Net Literacy and encourage all residents of Noblesville to participate in the computer drive on May 6th and May 7th. The City has issued a Proclamation entitled ‘Net Literacy Computer Drive to Give “Gently Used” Computers a Second Life, to Increase Broadband Adoption, and Reduce the Amount of Computers Discarded in Landfills’ to encourage Noblesville residents to participate in this computer drive. The City of Noblesville has participated in every one of Net Literacy’s computer drives, and is proud to support these student volunteers again in 2010. Please bring your ‘gently used’ computers to our City Hall on May 6th and May 7th.”
– Noblesville Mayor John Ditslear
• Net Literacy is teaching students and parents about how to remain safe on the Internet – learn more by visiting www.safeconnects.org. Over 100,000 Indiana residents have watched Net Literacy’s “The Ten Most Important Things To Know About the Internet” PSA campaign. All Safe Connects content has been reviewed by the IDOE, and is available to schools and nonprofits at no cost.
“The Town of Fishers is proud to support Net Literacy’s computer drive and its mission to increase computer access. We have issued Proclamations in the past supporting Net Literacy and their Senior Connects’ program, and the Town has a long history of directly supporting Net Literacy program of increasing computer access. We encourage all residents to support the computer drive by dropping off computers at the Train Station by Town Hall on May 6th and May 7th between 8:00am and 5:00pm. We also encourage youths, adults, and senior residents of Fishers to be both computer and Internet literate to improve their quality-of-life, and empowering citizens through technology to be better connected with friends and family.”
– Fishers Town Manager Gary Huff
• US Senators Lugar and Bayh have served as Net Literacy’s Honorary Co-Chairs since 2005 and Lt. Governor Skillman joined Net Literacy’s Honorary Board in 2009. In 2009, Net Literacy won the
Governor’s Award and was awarded the Jefferson Award for Public Service in a Washington DC ceremony by US Senators Lugar and Bayh.
“Westfield is proud to be a part of and support Net Literacy’s computer drive, and the City has issued a proclamation declaring May 6th and May 7th to be “Net Literacy Computer Drive Day to Increase Digital Inclusion and Promote a Green Environment.” Net Literacy has taught senior citizens and repurposed over 1000 computers while working at Sanders Glen. The City encourages all citizens to bring their gently used computers and monitors to the Westfield City Hall on May 6th and 7th between 8:00am and 4:00pm.”
– Andy Cook, Mayor of Westfield
• Hundreds of Hamilton County students have volunteered to teach senior citizens computer and Internet skills and have repurposed thousands of computers since Net Literacy was founded by middle school students in 2003. In the Federal Communication Commission’s National Broadband Plan presented to Congress on March 15, 2010, cited three of Net Literacy’s programs as best practice models.
“Hamilton County appreciates Net Literacy’s efforts to increase computer access and its support of Prime Life Enrichment during the last many years. In 2010, all Hamilton County students and adults should be Internet literate to be able to access the ever increasing amount of government resources, news, and information that is available online. The County has issued a Proclamation in support of Net Literacy’s computer drive, and the emphasis it places on recycling and keeping Hamilton County green. The County supports an organization that engages student volunteers and works to support nonprofits build and expand computer labs.”
– Mr. Dan Stevens, Hamilton County
• Net Literacy has recently launched a new program to increase financial literacy among high school and college students. More information is available at www.financialconnects.org. Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Tony Bennett said “I am proud that Net Literacy, an organization made of Indiana Students, successfully competed for State Farm’s ($98,000) financial literacy grant. This is the type of service learning project that encourages student success, and I congratulate them on this endeavor.”
“Net Literacy is grateful for the strong support and leadership of Hamilton County, Westfield, Fishers, Noblesville, and Carmel by promoting broadband adoption, encouraging us to have a green environment, and strongly supporting a student run nonprofit where students comprise 50% of the board of directors. We also appreciate that the Orr Fellows that have adopted our ‘gently used computer drive’ as their community service project and will be helping us high school students by working to collect the computers. We want to thank the Carmel Clay School District for holding a separate computer drive for us at the Carmel Clay Schools Educational Center on Friday, April 30th (3:00pm-7:00pm) and Saturday, May 1st (10:00am to 2:00pm), and we appreciate that other school districts will be conducting computer drives for us in September. Finally, thank you, residents of Hamilton County, for helping us to help others. Learn more about Net Literacy by visiting us on the web at www.NetLiteracy.org.”
– Levi Kiser, Net Literacy Student Board Member and high school junior
Net Literacy thanks the Orr Fellows for partnering with us and helping make this computer drive a success!
