NEWSLETTERS - Computers for Kidz program launches tomorrow

"Computers for Kidz" program launches in St. Louis tomorrow

An educational partnership forged between the rent-to-own industry and St. Louis Congressman William Lacy Clay is helping to bring the digital world to American schoolchildren by delivering 20 computers to four area charter schools in the St. Louis area.

The "Computers for Kidz" Program will officially kickoff  with a press conference at 1 p.m. at Imagine Middle High School College Prep in St. Louis Friday, March 7.

The initial donation of five Compaq Presario notebook computers will be presented to the school at that event.

The "Computers for Kidz" Program is a collaborative effort of the Missouri Rental Dealers Association, Dan Cole of National Rent-To-Own, Rent-n-Roll of St. Louis, Rent-A-Center, Aaron's and the Association of Progressive Rental Organizations (APRO). It is a unique program designed to increase the accessibility of current technology in today's classrooms.

"Congressman Clay is tremendously thankful to the organizations for supporting education, particularly in urban areas," said Clay's spokesman Steve Engelhardt. "The congressman is always supportive of initiatives that will help close the digital divide."

Rep. Clay will speak at the event after a brief introduction by Shepard C. Pittman, director of Imagine Middle High School College Prep. APRO President Larry Carrico and Missouri Rental Dealers Association President John Cleek Jr. are also slated to speak.

The remaining 15 computers will be divided between the following charter schools: The CAN Academies of St. Louis, the Confluence Academies Walnut Park and the Construction Career Academy.

Donors will deliver five computers to each school.

In conjunction with the 20 computers donated, there will also be an essay writing contest that will be launched for the students at each of the four schools. The essay topic, “What Does Black History Mean in St. Louis” is the question asked by Rep. William Lacy Clay to the students from each school.

The Principals of each school will judge the essays and award the winners. Winners will be announced at the end of the school year and each will win his or her own computer as a part of the total rent-to-own industry donation totaling 24 computers for the schools and the contest.

The school computer donations program was created in 2007 by the New York State Rental Dealers Association, which donated 15 computers to New York City charter schools under the leadership of NYSRDA President Dave Edwards.

The program and schools were coordinated through Congressman Ed Townes and his office working closely with the NYSRDA and APRO.

"Computers for Kidz" is the natural evolution of APRO, rent-to-own state associations and its generous members contributing to the future of our children through education in the form of computer donations to schools and college scholarships.

The Louisiana rent-to-own trade association through LRDA President Jeff White would like to be the next computer donation program helping out schools in New Orleans.

For more information, please contact Richard May, APRO Public Affairs Director, by phone 512/225-1051 or by e-mail.