Computer Campaign Gives Equal Access to Online Resources Bright Minds Foundation partners with Wegman’s and Capital One Bank to distribute computers and provide financial education to Howard County students

Columbia, MD--Imagine life without a computer for families with kids in school, jobs to find and demanding lives to navigate.  It’s a daily challenge that makes getting ahead more difficult for surprising numbers of Howard County parents and children.  On April 20 and May 4, 100 refurbished laptops donated by Wegman’s in Columbia will be distributed free of charge by the Bright Minds Foundation to 100 Howard County families of local public middle school and high school students, using funds provided by Capital One Bank.

The Bright Minds Foundation was created as the Howard County Public School Education Foundation in 2006.   Board Chair Brian Hubbard explains "This campaign addresses a fundamental equity issue.  This is exactly why the education foundation was established, to make sure that the playing field is level for all Howard County students.   Many of us take our home computers for granted, but for others in our community they are still a luxury.  We know that students today are seriously academically disadvantaged if they do not have regular access to a computer."

Says Columbia Wegman’s store manager Wendy Webster: “Wegman’s loved the idea of recycling computers the company no longer needs and putting them to such good use.   Plus, this gives us an opportunity to help families understand how to select and prepare healthier foods. 

Foundation Executive Director Pat Sasse collaborates with Howard County Public School System representatives to identify deserving students who do not have home computers.  Applications are then provided to selected Howard County schools, and parents of the eligible students are urged to apply. "One stipulation to receiving the free computer is that the students and a parent  or guardian must attend one of the3-hour workshops being offered for this campaign on April 20 and May 4 at the school system's Applications and Research Lab located on Route 108 just north of Columbia," noted Sasse.

Workshop instruction on how to set up and use the computer is provided by a team led by a Bright Minds Board member and senior executive for a local technology company, GANTECH, Inc.  A representative of the Howard County Public Library System informs the students about the extensive learning resources available from their local library.  Capital One Bank associates volunteer their time to provide recipients and their parents with financial literacy instruction. 

“As the Greater Washington region’s hometown bank, Capital One is proud to partner with organizations like the Bright Minds Foundation to provide financial education to local students and their families,” said Adam Ostrach, Maryland North Market President for Capital One Bank. “We believe that, like reading, writing and arithmetic, financial literacy is a fundamental component of education, and a key building block for future success.”

And, for this campaign, Wegman’s will provide instruction on how to understand nutritional labels, how to include more fruits and vegetables in daily meals, and ways to eat inexpensively and well. To ensure that there are no barriers to families wishing to participate, Bright Minds will also provide transportation to the training site, and language interpreters as needed.

"These computers have been fully refurbished by the Lazarus Foundation, a local community-based non-profit computer refurbisher, and are packaged with a brand new printer, office software, flash drive and computer case", explained Sasse.   "By providing this equipment and training to 100 students and their families, Bright Minds estimates that we easily reach three to four times that number of individuals, counting parents, siblings, cousins, and other members of the extended family and friends."  

Says Sasse:  "We are proud to be a leader in this effort to level the playing field for these students and their families, and we very much appreciate the support we are receiving from our community partners."  "The Foundation welcome new partners and I am very happy to discuss opportunities to collaborate with us in accomplishing our mission of ensuring equity and equality for all Howard County students."

For Information Contact: 

Pat Sasse

Executive Director

Bright Minds Foundation

www.brightmindsfoundation.org

 410.740.0707