Inaugural Digital Update Grant Seeking Applicants
By Temple City Tribune
Published: Wednesday, August 5th, 2009
Beacon Media and Priceless Computer are proud to present to the community the first inaugural “Digital Upgrade Grant”, a program that aims to arm local schoolchildren in need with a personal digital makeover: namely, a computer.
Similar to the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) project to provide cheap laptops for children in Africa, this grant will provide computers for ten local children, grades K-12, who lack adequate computer access necessary for their schoolwork.
Applications for the grant are available online at Beacon Media’s five news web sites. The applications will also be available at certain locations for pickup. (See locations in adjacent ad.)
The application will require an essay of approximately 500 words explaining “Why I Need a Computer.”
Beacon Media’s Editor John Stephens said of the initiative, “OLPC is a wonderful idea, but what about underprivileged children in our own country, in our own towns?
Without access to the wealth of information available online, how is the coming generation supposed to compete, or even keep up, academically and professionally?
“The best thing about this program is that the software on these computers is free and open source. The opportunity to educate and inform the public about these resources is something that truly excites me,” said Stephens.
The software suite will feature freely available open source software. Open Office will be installed, which includes word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, and databases. Also included is a Firefox web browser. An instant messenger client will also be installed, allowing the students to access a variety of messaging services like AIM and MSN.
Applications will be due Monday, August 31, whether submitted online, by mail or in person. Winners will be chosen within two weeks, and the computers will be delivered immediately afterward so that the children can utilize the computers for the new school year.
Beacon Media Inc, publishes five weekly newspapers in the San Gabriel Valley and is located on 125 E. Chestnut Ave, Monrovia, 91016.
Priceless Computer is located on 6913 Rosemead Blvd # B, San Gabriel, CA 91775. They can be reached at (626) 237-2020.
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