InsideIndianaBusiness.com Report
August 20, 2007
The City of Indianapolis has declared today as “Bright House Networks and TechPoint Foundation Day” to recognize the firms’ civic engagement, support and community service and partnerships. The companies this morning donated 200 refurbished computers to Minnie Hartman School – IPS No. 78. A Large portion of the donated computers will be given to students to use in their homes.
INDIANAPOLIS – Two hundred refurbished computers were donated to an Indianapolis elementary school and its students today, a day the city of Indianapolis and partner Net Literacy declared as ‘Bright House Networks and TechPoint Foundation Day.’
This morning at IPS No. 78 Minnie Hartman School, located at 3734 E. Vermont St., Indianapolis Deputy Mayor Ellen Guigley and Net Literacy Executive Director Don Kent publicly honored both Bright House Networks for its active civic engagement, community service and financial contributions that have positively affected the city and its residents and TechPoint Foundation for its support of Net Literacy’s programs and community partnerships.
The computers are being donated to the school which in turn will distribute the majority of them to students and their families for use in their homes. Some computers will be utilized in the school’s computer lab and others will be used to teach keyboarding skills.
“I am very excited about this opportunity to connect students with technology. A computer is a valuable teaching tool that can greatly enhance a student’s home life as well as boost their classroom learning experience,” said Deputy Mayor Ellen Quigley.
The mission of Net Literacy, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, is to empower youth to increase computer availability and Internet literacy throughout Indiana by focusing on underserved youth, families and seniors. U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar and U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh serve as honorary co-chairs and programs are conducted by hundreds of youth volunteer instructors. Net Literacy helps establish public computer labs for the underserved, supplies computer and Internet training materials and has provided trained youth instructors to lead computer skills and Internet literacy classes. Free-access computer labs have been established in such places as community centers, senior citizen centers, churches, federal housing communities and both independent- and assisted-living facilities.
Both Bright House Networks and TechPoint Foundation provide funding and support that enables Net Literacy to create and maintain community computer labs and equip them with fully-functioning refurbished computers. Bright House Networks further delivers computers to the various labs and wire the labs for Internet access.
Melissa Richards, Principal of Minnie Hartmann School 78, is enthusiastic about how these computers will impact her school. “I am excited that our students and parents will have additional access to technology in their homes. Increasing computer access in our students’ homes is one of the most effective ways of helping them become even more successful at school, Bright House Networks, the TechPoint Foundation and Net Literacy are making a difference at Minnie Hartmann.”
“It is critical that children learn basic computer skills at an early age and continue to build their skills throughout their life,” said Bright House Networks Indiana President Buz Nesbit. “It is also imperative that students’ parents and other family members be computer literate. In all communities that Bright House Networks serves, we focus our philanthropy resources on youth, education and community enhancement. With our partners Net Literacy and TechPoint Foundation, we are thankful to be making a difference in so many lives.”
Net Literacy’s Kent agrees. “This is also an outstanding example of how the Indianapolis community is working together and the impact that Bright House Networks, a local and socially responsible company, is having on our community,” he said. “The support of Bright House Networks and TechPoint Foundation has enabled Net Literacy to significantly expand computer access and instruction to more under served areas of our city.”
“Through its guidance and support, Bright House Networks enabled Net Literacy youth volunteers to achieve remarkable results in a very short time,” said TechPoint Foundation Executive Director Rip Taggart. “Our partnershipwith Bright House Networks is an inspiration to volunteers of all ages and to other companies that can provide resources and leadership to build these skills in our community.”
Bright House Networks began its partnership with Net Literacy in 2005 to increase computer access and Internet literacy throughout Central Indiana. The initial goal was to provide 30,000 residents with increased access to computers through the creation of community computer labs for underserved residents. Today, more than 100 computer labs are up and running, using Net Literacy computer and training materials. Net Literacy youth volunteer instructors also have taught basic computer skills and Internet literacy at some locations.
Since the partnership’s inception and the first computer lab sponsored by Bright House Networks opened in November 2005, more than 40,000 central Indiana residents have enjoyed increased access to computer, instruction and classes and the Internet.
