Rent-to-own News - High Touch donation improves YMCA efficiency

Imagine, you just piled the kids in the car. They’re hungry and a bit cranky. It’s definitely time for a nap, but you dare not say it out loud. As you go over the list of chores waiting for you at home – dinner, dishes, laundry, kids’ baths – you head to the Y to sign the kids up for their school’s YMCA latchkey programs and soccer leagues.

It’s August and you know the Y is busy enrolling families for back-to-school activities, so you’ve mentally prepared yourself for a long wait. But when you walk in the front doors, you heave a sigh of relief. Where’s the long line?
 
Thanks to a donation of 94 IBM computers from High Touch Technology, the Greater Wichita YMCA will be able to better serve its more than 235,000 participants this year. Three times faster than the YMCA's outdated systems, the updated computers will allow the Y to make several upgrades for improved customer service. Valued at $10,000, the computers will replace 40% of the YMCA’s equipment that is nearly a decade old.
 
“As a non-profit, it is difficult to keep up with the rapid improvements in technology,” Greater Wichita YMCA Business Manager Bill Schmitz said. “The Y’s focus is on providing quality, affordable programs, so we often sacrifice technology in favor of replacing sports equipment, an air conditioning unit or a pool pump that directly benefit the families that count on Y programs.”
 
High Touch is working with long-time business partner Rent-A-Center to donate the computers, which have been phased out by the rent-to-own company. Delivery of the computers started June 25 and will continue in phases throughout July. According to Colborn, the YMCA donation wasn’t the first computer donation, and won’t be the last.

“We understand how much of an investment updated technology can be,” said Kevin Colborn, High Touch director of managed services. “Anticipating heavy use, High Touch invested in doubling the memory to ensure the computers are a step up from what the YMCA is currently using.”
 
“At High Touch, we are committed to enriching our community and supporting the Y’s mission to serve youth and families is one of many ways we give back. With the higher speed of the equipment and the Y’s planned upgrades, program directors will be able to spend more time improving Y programs and interacting with thousands of families to further the mission,” said Uzma Powell, High Touch director of marketing.
 
Powell said the computer donations were spawned in January when High Touch saw a desperate need for upgraded technology at Breakthrough and Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland. The YMCA was next on the list, and more donations are to come.

“For much of our staff, this will be like getting Christmas in July,” Schmitz said. “We can’t thank High Touch and Rent-A-Center enough. Our goal is to have the computers in use by September, so parents will have an easier time enrolling their kids for fall sports, swim lessons, before and after school child care and other programs.”

High Touch, Inc. is a Wichita, Kan.-based and employee-owned company that provides technology solutions to small and mid-size businesses.  With Microsoft and SonicWALL certified gold partnerships, High Touch serves business clients with hardware and software services, web site and Internet services, and network security solutions.  High Touch has customers in 50 states and the District of Columbia as well as six countries worldwide.  For more High Touch information, visit www.hightouchinc.com .
 
The Greater Wichita YMCA is a non-profit organization that serves more than 235,000 local kids and adults through child care, camping, urban outreach programs and healthy lifestyles activities. Nearly two out of three local kids participate in YMCA activities and more than 53,000 participants receive free and assisted programs. Within the YMCA’s financial capabilities, no person is refused program or membership privileges because of inability to pay.
 
Rent-A-Center, Inc., headquartered in Plano, Texas, currently operates 3,000 company-owned stores nationwide and in Canada and Puerto Rico.

The stores generally offer high-quality, durable goods such as major consumer electronics, appliances, computers, furniture and accessories under flexible rental-purchase agreements that generally allow the customer to obtain ownership of the merchandise at the conclusion of an agreed upon rental period.  The company employs more than 18,900 coworkers.

In Kansas, Rent-A-Center operates 34 rent-to-own stores, including five in Wichita. FAC Financial Services, the company’s short-term lending business, operates 13 locations in the state.