2541
Computers
Adopted
-
July 4, 2010

Here’s an example: When we started, it took Tech For All eight years to reach the one thousand mark in the number of computers we cleaned up and gave away. But guess how long it has taken us to reach TWO THOUSAND? Only 24 months! That’s a real tribute to our exceptional army of volunteers who have learned not only to RECYCLE used computers, but also how to UPGRADE them! You see, as technology has developed and expanded in recent years, it’s important that we give young people and competent adults computers that can do the work according to today’s standards. That means upgrading better used computers with enough memory and other capabilities that make them really useful…and that costs money.

Now were lucky enough to have a couple of suppliers who give us a break on equipment we have to buy. But we have to spend our own money – from $50 to $100 on each computer – to bring it up to enough “fire power” to get the job done. By making that relatively small investment, we end up with a machine that can be valued at $500 to $700. Good enough to do excellent school work. Smart enough to be a career builder.

Trouble is, some funding sources are drying up right now. Certain grants are no longer available. Some benefactors are taking a breather. We need to scramble to collect the money to upgrade. So if you are able to help us with “upgrading money”, we would be much obliged!

Good things are happening though. We are reaching out to other parts of the state! The Spanish Peaks Library Project gave us an opportunity to meet some fine folks in Walsenburg, and we delivered 20 refurbished computers, ready for the people to use until their library can afford to buy the equipment they want. It took many volunteer hours, and the aforementioned additional hardware like RAM memory and hard drives, but we got the job done.

We continue to be grateful to Tom and David Gamel for their generous donation in providing a home for us. This office space has been a godsend that has helped us grow and put into place new efficiencies. We’ve even added a 12-station computer lab so that we can make training available in a class setting.

This is just a thumbnail of the many things happening at Tech For All. And we’re anxious to tell you about the rest. So…….

Enclosed is your invitation to our 5th Annual Independence Day Party. We want you here! Your coming will encourage our hard-working volunteers and enlighten your understanding of what we’re about in this, our tenth year of Tech For All. We thank you for your encouragement and support, and we want you to know it’s much appreciated!

Hope to see you on the 5th,
Rose Keating - Director

Awards & Accolades
February 28, 2008 ...
Tech for All was the
First Edition Sponsor of the Denver Public Library's Rare & Not-So-Rare Book Auction
Rose Keating, Tech for All founder, is a 2007 recipient of the Minoru Yasui Community Volunteer Award.
7 Everyday Hero --Look for information about Tech for All & Rose
View the Rocky Mountain News article of August 8, 2007
Denver "Spirit of Cooperation" Award

A 2008 BROCHURE UPDATE ON OUR STORY.....
It’s difficult now to imagine a world without computers. For most of us, our lives revolve around them…for essential work tasks, for staying in touch with friends and family, for searching out information. All businesses and giant corporations rely on computer networks, and – let’s face it – you don’t get a meaningful job without a broad range of computer skills. Yes, a world without computers is unthinkable, and yet many disadvantaged people are cut off from the opportunity to learn about, utilize and benefit from this amazing technology that is now so commonplace.

In 1999, Rose Keating couldn’t stop thinking about the unthinkable! Here she sat with a kitchen table full of used computer parts that nobody wanted, while outside, school kids walked by who, left to their family circumstances, didn’t have a prayer of owning their own computers. Three young boys in particular caught her attention.

It was no trick for Rose to assemble three computers. Here was a professional computer programmer with years of specialized training – one of the few women in the country to know the technical end of computers inside and out. She approached the boys, asked if they would each like a free computer, and told them to bring their parents to give their consent. The next day, the fathers of these three boys came to Rose’s house, all dressed up, hair slicked back, shoes spitpolished, to find out if this could really be true.

It was. And Tech For All was born.

Tech For All is a 501-c3 Not For Profit Foundation. At this writing, well over 1800 computers have been rebuilt and placed with qualified families.

Individuals and businesses continue to donate used equipment as they upgrade their own hardware. A staff of trained volunteers collects, catalogs, cleans and assembles components. Financial donations provide for needed parts and other associated costs.
Meanwhile, Rose Keating shares her considerable expertise as a docent at Denver Public Libraries, holding popular classes for training Seniors in the use of computers and giving presentations about technology.

Tech For All is very proud of its partnership with Goddard Elementary
School in Littleton. All students at Goddard now have home computers that are coordinated with the school computer system. Children can do work at home and print it at school. Goddard reports that this has resulted in a substantial improvement in grades.

Rose Keating is a 2007 recipient of the Minoru Yasui Award and is a Channel 7 Everyday Hero.

This is how Tech For All was born. As businesses and individuals bought new computers, their old computers landed on my doorstep. The choice was to pay someone to get rid of them - or to refurbish them and make them perfectly good for children to do homework, retired folks to email their friends, and other adults to learn computer skills.

The Tech For All Foundation has now given away over 1340 rebuilt computers, and the number is steadily rising. So where are you on your Journey? Are you ready to donate computers from your office? Want to join our Tech For All volunteers in making a used computer ready for some little boy or girl? Would you like to tell your service organization about Tech For All, and get them involved?

It is sobering to realize that the Library is historically the one place where the common man had access to a world of information. And now, because of the Library, the Tech For All Foundation became a reality, and strives to open a new frontier of information to every individual at no cost. Let your uncommon spirit lead you to Tech For All, and travel this road with us.

Rose Keating
DPL Docent
Director - Tech For All

Perhaps it takes someone who knows computers like the back of her hand-someone who was one of the only women in the country in the technical end of computers back in the "dark ages". She knew from her experience that she wanted to make sure that people in all walks of life would not be left behind. Hence TECH FOR ALL .

Teaching classes through the Denver Public Library on computer savvy and skills, and dealing with almost 3000 people, she began to think about making her dream become a reality. She began taking in older computers that people and businesses were discarding, and rebuilding them using her own money. It took from $10 to $125, and up to 12 hours of work per machine. She knew children, mostly junior high school age, who did not have a computer. Their families did not have the means to give their young children the opportunity to learn computer skills that would help them compete at school and later, at a job.

Rose gave the rebuilt computers to these families…only 7 in 1999---greater numbers in the new millennium, and in the last 18 months a total of 176 families received computers. As this project became bigger, Rose knew she had to have a formalized way of doing this important work. Large companies were interested in giving her equipment that was being replaced, but had to have the legitimacy of a non-profit foundation in order to receive a tax write-off for the donation. Then we needed a home. Through an amazing set of circumstances Tom and David Gamel found room for TECH FOR ALL in their building at Artcraft Signs.

In 2005 we experienced amazing growth / changes and we were able to give away 271 computers passing that psychological barrier of 500 units given away. This was achieved because of the volunteers stepping up and making it happen. 2006 has been exciting with a real leap in numbers, passing 750, and true commitment in our volunteers.

This brings us to today---to TECH FOR ALL and to a wonderful "recycling" opportunity that deserves your enthusiastic encouragement and support. Working together we can make a difference in someone's life.