Help Give Decatur High Grads the “Tools to Success”
Decatur Metro | November 29, 2010I’m quite excited to announce this morning that Decatur Metro and the Decatur Education Foundation have teamed up in a first-ever “Tools to Success” campaign that looks to provide selected Decatur High School graduates with their own laptop computers to help them achieve their potential at the post-secondary school level.
First a little back-story.
No surprise that this great idea actually came from DM readers and commenters. Back in early October, a number of commenters here openly expressed a desire to use their recently announced $70 tax credit from the city to somehow help Decatur’s student population. From that back-and-forth on DM, I initiated a conversation with the Decatur Education Foundation’s Executive Director Gail Rothman, who offered up some excellent suggestions of how we could team up to target a specific unmet need among our city’s student population.
From the start, the DEF’s laptop initiative jumped out at us both as the perfect collaborative opportunity.
The campaign’s goal is to give out as many laptops as can be purchased to DHS graduates coming from low-income households with plans for college or other post-secondary school. Students will be selected by the “Tools to Success” committee – which will include reps from DEF, CSD and the community – after completing an application that asks how a laptop would help them achieve their goals. I have agreed to be on-hand to represent the program when the laptops are given out at the annual DHS Scholarship Dinner.
But what fun is a campaign without a challenge, right? So here it is. In this inaugural year, we are challenging the Decatur community to purchase 5 laptops. And DM will get things rolling by purchasing the first laptop in its entirety.
Now of course you don’t have to purchase an ENTIRE laptop to help out. Any amount given to this cause will be greatly appreciated. (But if you’re still looking to donate that tax credit, just remember it was around $70.) According to the DEF, the laptops will cost in the $400-$500 range, so are goal is to collect between $1,600 – $2,000 to purchase the other four laptops.
To donate to the laptop cause, all you have to do is click on over to the Decatur Education Foundation’s “Donate Page”, fill in the amount you wish to give, select “General Fund” for your gift designation, and then make sure you write “laptops” in the “Additional Comments” field at the very bottom of the page. If you’d rather mail a check, you’re welcome to send it – made out to the Decatur Education Foundation – to 315 W. Ponce de Leon Avenue Suite 770 Dec 30030. Obviously indicate “laptops” on your check.)
The DEF will keep us updated as to our progress and I’ll certainly pass along the word here as the campaign continues, giving regular updates regarding how close we are to meeting – or exceeding! – our goal of purchasing five laptops.
Let the challenge begin!
If you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the comments section or contact the Decatur Education Foundation’s Director Gail Rothman at gail@decatureducationfoundation.org
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I’ve got a better idea…help them find jobs instead.
Thanks for the “better idea” Burble. Can’t wait to hear more about your “Help DHS Grads Find Jobs” initiative!
You can count on my support once you’ve got it up and running.
No good deed goes unpunished, DM.
http://soundfxnow.com/soundfx/DebbieDownerHorn2.mp3
But you need a laptop these days to find a job or apply to college! Most employment and practically all college applications are now on-line. Not to mention something on which to spiff up your resume and check email communication with potential employers and colleges. And it’s essential to have a laptop once in college–a requirement at many. Finding a jobs is hard right now for adults with a long resume, experience, and lots of contacts, never mind new graduates of high school.
Using the old story of “Give a person a fish and then they eat once, teach them to fish and they can eat forever…..”, the analogy is that we’d be providing students with a fishing rod.
I have to admit that I’m more attracted to providing funding to CSD for items or programs that potentially benefit the current students. But that’s often more expensive, more than the $70 rebate donations we’re likely to get. An elementary school paraprofessional costs around $20,000 just for a year. I think this campaign is a great fit for Decatur Metro.
Can we keep track of the donations by political party? By Dollar General support or not? By public vs private school family? I’m just kidding but it WOULD be fascinating!
Oh and I would love to know by who they voted for in the last School Board election! Or even better–how much each School Board Member donates!
Just kidding, but it would be interesting!
It says they are “college bound” graduates, so they aren’t looking for full-time employment, right? But the real question is: wil these laptops be locally sourced?
DM- MAJOR PROPS!!! THIS ROCKS!!!
LOVE that you mulled “What if?” into “WHY NOT!” !!! Very generous of you to donate the very first computer too! The gift of anytime computer access is pretty darned life changing! The laptops initiative is THE perfect way to reward the DHS grads’ accomplishments & support their future education needs!
Great idea! Our minds are spinning with fundraising ideas…