11:04 AM, Oct 25, 2010 on IndyStar.com
Through a partnership between Bright House Networks and Net Literacy, The Carmel High School Net Literacy Chapter will repurpose 60 computers to be donated to K-12 students in the Carmel Clay school district, who are on free assisted lunches and do not have a computer at home. The first of these 60 computers will be delivered Friday, October 29th to the students by Bright House Networks employees and Net Literacy student volunteers.
The donation kicks off a program between Net Literacy and the Indiana Association of United Ways to repurpose over 500 computers that will be given to United Way agencies throughout the 2010 – 2011 school year. Last year, in response to a request made by Net Literacy Honorary Board Member Lt. Governor Skillman, the Carmel Chapter of Net Literacy donated over 500 computers that helped 17 United Ways in rural counties. The donation enabled 85 of their agencies to build or expand computer labs, increasing computer access to approximately 12,000 Hoosiers.
Bright House Networks and Net Literacy of Indiana joined forces in 2004 with a mission to increase computer access across Central Indiana and educate youth on the importance of Internet safety. One of the most significant accomplishments of the partnership is the creation of a Bright House Networks – Net Literacy Internet safety public service awareness campaign that was scripted by and stars Net Literacy Student volunteers talking about Internet safety issues such as cyber bullying, sexting, social networks and many other tough issues youth face online. These Internet safety public service announcements have been carried on Bright House Networks since 2008.
“Bright House Networks strives to give back to every community we serve,” said Karen Broach Regional Vice President of Operations for Bright House Networks. “Our partnership with Net Literacy allows us to provide free, critically needed computers to thousands of individuals, and also reinforces our commitment to educating our youth about the potential dangers that do exist online.”
“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,” said Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard. “Bright House Network’s support of Net Literacy has been instrumental in providing the resources necessary to continue this program and I was pleased to serve as Master of Ceremonies at an event at Carmel High School where Net Literacy’s student volunteers recognized Bright House Networks’ contributions. The City of Carmel supports Net Literacy, its students, and its mission in their ninth year of providing service learning.”
“Most Saturdays, a group of Carmel student volunteers spend their day refurbishing computers at our computer refurbishing facility located in Carmel,” said Levi Kiser, a Carmel High School Junior, Co-President of Carmel High School’s Net Literacy Chapter, and a member of Net Literacy’s Board of Directors. “We provide volunteers technical training that increases students’ job skills at the same time that they are helping serve our communities.” Steven Chen, a Senior at Carmel High and chapter Co-President agrees. “We also have a program that teaches students technical skills and service learning on Mondays after school. We learn team building, problem solving, and networking skills while reducing the digital divide.”
Founded by students in 2003 at Carmel Middle School, Net Literacy is a student-managed non-profit organization that promotes youth philanthropy through community outreach programs. Its mission is to increase computer access by creating public computer labs, teaching computer and Internet skills and educating youth and parents about Internet safety. Comprised of youth and adult board members, Net Literacy has established hundreds of computer labs to increase computer and Internet access to the underserved, including labs at community centers, HUD-subsidized Section 8 housing units, independent living facilities, senior centers, schools, churches and non-profit agencies. Its programs have been recognized and received awards from two U.S. Presidents.
For more about Net Literacy, visit www.netliteracy.org.
About Bright House Networks
Bright House Networks is the ninth largest multichannel video programmer distributor (MVPD) in the US with 2.4 million customers in several large cities including Tampa Bay and Orlando, Florida; Bakersfield, California; Indianapolis, Indiana; Detroit, Michigan; and Birmingham, Alabama; along with several other smaller regions in Alabama and the Florida Panhandle. The Florida markets are adjacent and form one of the country’s largest cable clusters.
For more information about Bright House Networks or our products and services, please visit brighthouse.com.
