Softchoice and Lenovo POWER UP Seven Deserving Schools with Technology Grants

The POWER UP program focuses on schools that serve a high ratio of students from low-income neighborhoods, providing grants to purchase and integrate technology into classroom learning. (Photo: Business Wire)

TORONTO--()--Softchoice, a leading North American provider of IT solutions and managed services, together with program sponsors Lenovo and Softchoice Cares, are thrilled to award POWER UP grants for $10,000 in classroom technology to seven deserving public schools.

To reduce the funding challenges faced by public elementary and middle schools across North America, the POWER UP program focuses on schools that serve a high ratio of students from low-income neighborhoods. By providing grants to purchase and integrate more technology into classroom learning, Softchoice and Lenovo want to level the playing field and ensure all students have equal access to the technology tools they need to build a brighter future.

“Technology has a tremendous impact on young students’ engagement in classroom learning, and access to technology at an early age sets students on a successful path in our 21st-century economy,” said David MacDonald, Softchoice’s President and CEO. “I was inspired to see so many passionate principals and teachers come forward and apply for a POWER UP grant. These educators are fiercely motivated to provide new opportunities for their students, so they may unleash their potential through the power of technology.”

Softchoice and Lenovo are delighted to announce the following schools will be awarded up to $10,000 each to support the integration of a technology initiative that enhances educational opportunities for their students:

  • Harper-Archer Middle School, Atlanta
  • Nathaniel Hawthorne Elementary School, Dallas
  • Eagleton Elementary School, Denver
  • Ascot Avenue Elementary School, Los Angeles
  • Riverview Elementary School, Montreal
  • Leschi Elementary School, Seattle
  • St. Stephen Catholic School, Toronto

POWER UP builds on a tradition of community investment by Softchoice and its employee-driven corporate giving program, Softchoice Cares. Since inception, this initiative has donated more than $1.5 million to local and global charitable organizations to enhance education opportunities through technology. This philanthropic spirit is central to Softchoice’s award-winning corporate culture and inspires the POWER UP program. Softchoice’s share of the POWER UP grant funds were raised and donated by its employees through Softchoice Cares endeavors.

The 2016 POWER UP program was open to publicly-funded schools serving students from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8 in seven U.S. and Canadian jurisdictions. The 2016 grant recipients were selected based on their thoughtful applications, which described a compelling need for technology and articulated a strong implementation plan to drive positive learning outcomes, measure success, and sustain the use of technology through strong internal leadership and support.

Applications were evaluated and winners were selected by members of the employee-led Softchoice Cares board and POWER UP ambassadors from Softchoice and Lenovo.

“We are proud to join forces with Softchoice and break the cycle of poverty for students in these communities,” said Craig Taylor, Lenovo’s POWER UP ambassador. “Through POWER UP, we have a chance to aid the most vulnerable students who are being left behind. My hope is that these students feel engaged and empowered to succeed in the classroom, and that the use of this new technology helps them to achieve their goals.”

About Softchoice

As a leading North American provider of IT solutions and managed services, Softchoice combines the efficiency and reliability of a national IT supplier with the personal touch and technical expertise of a local solutions provider. Softchoice’s holistic approach to technology includes solution design, implementation, asset management and cloud services, as well as access to one of the most comprehensive and cost-effective technology distribution networks in North America. We believe technology is a powerful tool for creating positive change and a better world for everyone. Our employee-driven philanthropic program, Softchoice Cares, focusses on helping to "bridge the digital divide” and provide equal access to education and knowledge through technology in communities across North America and around the world. Softchoice’s share of the POWER UP grant funds were raised through its employee-driven corporate giving program, Softchoice Cares. Since inception, Softchoice employees have donated more than $1.5 million to local and global charitable organizations to enhance education opportunities through technology.

About Lenovo

Lenovo is a $46 billion global Fortune 500 company and a leader in providing innovative consumer, commercial, and enterprise technology. Lenovo’s portfolio of high-quality, secure products and services covers PCs (including the legendary Think and multimode YOGA brands), workstations, servers, storage, and a family of mobile products like smartphones (including the Moto brand), tablets and apps. For more information, see www.lenovo.com. Since 2005, Lenovo employees in North America have pledged over $4 million through their charitable initiative, Lenovo Employees Care, and have donated $9.6 million in U.S. philanthropy and community outreach focused on disadvantaged youth, education, and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).

Contacts

Media Contact
Joel Hoidas, 416-588-9002 ext. 222590
Communications Manager, Softchoice
joel.hoidas [at] softchoice.com

Release Summary

Softchoice, together with program sponsors Lenovo and Softchoice Cares, are thrilled to award POWER UP grants for $10,000 in classroom technology to seven deserving schools.

Contacts

Media Contact
Joel Hoidas, 416-588-9002 ext. 222590
Communications Manager, Softchoice
joel.hoidas [at] softchoice.com