Microsoft congratulates the following Unlimited Potential (UP) grant recipients. We are proud to support their work.
Canada
Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada
This project builds on Microsoft Canada's long-standing partnership with Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada to provide meaningful technology access and IT skills development. The project reaches 150,000 children served by Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada in more than 100 clubs throughout the country. This grant will enable Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada to successfully launch IT skills training, curriculum, and skills-development programs in clubs across Canada. This work will integrate the use of technology across all Boys and Girls Club programs in the areas of learning, community service, health and safety, and personal growth. The grant will provide hardware, software, IT skills training, curriculum, and funds for staff and program support.
United States
World Care, Tucson, AZ
World Care was established in 1996 and is headquartered in Tucson, Arizona. The organization's mission is to decrease poverty, illiteracy, disease, and suffering worldwide by raising consciousness in education, health, the environment, and community service. Support from Microsoft will enable World Care to add IT skills training classes in its existing Computer Technology Learning Center; previously the center offered only access and minimal training. World Care aims to serve more than 500 people annually through this enhanced program, offering students refurbished computers upon completion of computer instruction classes. This funding will enable participants to learn computer skills and will provide assistance in their employment search through resume and cover-letter writing classes, career/occupational assessment and testing, and Internet-related job searching.
St. Joseph's Family Center, Gilroy, CA
The mission of St. Joseph's Family Center is to serve the extremely poor and homeless children and families in southern Santa Clara County by providing comprehensive direct-aid services that establish food security, shelter, and opportunities for self-sufficiency. In addition to basic food, the agency provides rental assistance; family-style housing to homeless families; education classes; access to clothing, furniture, and other basic necessities; and case management services.
The grant from Microsoft will support St. Joseph's CTC at the Ochoa Center. The Ochoa Center is a comprehensive housing center owned by the Housing Authority of Santa Clara County that consists of 100 two- and three-bedroom duplexes. During the farming season, approximately 400 migrant farm workers and their children make their home at the center, and during the winter months when farm workers have moved on, the center is open for homeless families. For both migrant farm-worker and homeless families, the goals of the Ochoa Center CTC are to increase IT skills, improve employment and educational outcomes, and decrease isolation by enabling communication with friends and family. Funding from Microsoft will enable the CTC to have Internet access, expanded hours, ESL computer instruction, and more classes. This year, approximately 200 farm-worker adults and children, as well as 125 homeless adults and children, will participate in one or more IT classes.
Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County, San Jose, CA
Catholic Charities has been serving the local community for nearly 50 years, offering more than 30,000 individuals and families each year an integrated, client-centered approach to service delivery that is guided by rigorous outcome evaluation. The organization serves people of all beliefs and cultures, with a focus on frail elderly, newly arrived immigrants and refugees, and at-risk youth. Catholic Charities' 46 programs fall into four general categories: Older Adult Services, Behavioral Health Services, Youth Services, and Economic Development Services.
For Catholic Charities' clients, learning computer skills is an essential step toward acquiring employment and economic self-sufficiency. Learning at the computer lab is offered as part of Catholic Charities Refugee Resettlement Program, which has been recognized by the Department of States as one of the most effective refugee settlement agencies in the country. The one-month computer class provides three hours of training each weekday morning on Microsoft Office applications and Internet use. The curriculum includes training on computer basics, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Internet skills. It has been approved by the California State Board for Post-Secondary Education.
The Microsoft grant will increase the computer instructor's hours from part-time to full-time status, enabling the computer learning lab to have afternoon, evening, and weekend classes. Microsoft funding will also enable the agency to hire a part-time volunteer coordinator to recruit and monitor volunteers working in the computer lab to assist clients with resume development and Internet job searches.
Street Tech, San Pablo, CA
Street Tech was established in 1999 to provide IT training and professional skills to low-income and underserved adults in the San Francisco Bay Area. The organization's mission is to bring technology jobs to the streets. The grant from Microsoft will enhance Street Tech's ability to provide job-related computer training and free computers to members of its local communities. Street Tech has three goals: (1) to offer quality IT job training, (2) to provide refurbished computers to needy individuals and organizations, and (3) to put its graduates to work immediately. Street Tech also receives support from the U.S. Department of Labor, the City of San Pablo, the City of Richmond, the Richmond Chamber of Commerce, the Community Technology Foundation of California, and SBC. Two Microsoft employees currently serve as a mentor and an advisor for Street Tech.
Shih Yu Lang Central YMCA Community Technology Center, San Francisco, CA
Central YMCA, established in 1909, works closely with the City of San Francisco's Department of Children, Youth and Families and the San Francisco Unified School District. Established in 2002, the Central YMCA Community Technology Center provides access to technology for low-income families in the heart of San Francisco's poorest neighborhood, the Tenderloin District. Other contributors to the program include Yahoo and HP. The UP grant will help Central YMCA update the infrastructure of the Community Technology Center and enhance its IT skills training. This year, with support from Microsoft, the Central YMCA Community Technology Center will provide IT instruction to 50 at-risk youth. IT skills training will be included in a comprehensive package of services for at-risk youth, including youth leadership development, educational and academic support, multicultural awareness, and career development.
Community School of Music and Arts (CSMA), Mountain View, CA
CSMA, founded in 1968, is the largest nonprofit arts-education organization in Silicon Valley. It serves 25,000 people each year with music and art classes and lessons, arts-in-the-schools programs, concerts and exhibits, and community outreach activities. The center is a 25,000-square-foot facility with state-of-the-art music studios, art classrooms, a ceramics studio, a faculty resource center, a gallery, and a concert hall with Silicon Valley's first-ever Center for Music and Arts Education.
Microsoft funding will support CSMA's newly opened digital arts lab at Finn Center, its first permanent home. This lab will give underserved students—regardless of their prior computer experience—hands-on access to cutting-edge technology. With support from Microsoft and the program's other funders, the organization will expand the hours of the lab from 9.5 to 49 hours per week to serve hundreds of low-income youth, teens, and adults; upgrade hardware to accommodate the growth in new, high-powered software to better serve its students; and fully equip an adjacent studio with computers and software to provide students and all members of the community with access to digital arts technology.
San Jose Grail Development Corporation (SJGDC)
San Jose Grail Development Corporation was established in 1995 to develop 35 units of affordable housing, a child-development center, and the Grail Community Resource Center. Programs now include ESL classes, a women's program, some early literacy programs, financial and legal workshops, access to a health library, and case management services to help link families to services. SJGDC partners with more than 20 organizations and governmental agencies. The Mayfair Community, which is served by Grail, has been designated as a child poverty zone by Santa Clara County because of the disproportionately high number of children under five living in poverty. Funding from Microsoft will support the East Side Technology Access Program, which facilitates educational, social, and economic growth and promotes new opportunities in technology for residents of East San Jose. Three lab locations in the community will provide basic computer and Internet skills training and intermediate Microsoft Office classes.
TransAccess, San Jose, CA
TransAccess was founded in 1980 to prepare individuals with severe disabilities for careers as computer programmers. TransAccess has since modified its core services and now offers computer access technology assessments and training in the Computer Access Technology Lab (C.A.T.) in the Mobile Access Technology Training Centers (M.A.T.). Additionally, TransAccess offers school-to-career, internship, and job-placement programs. TransAccess targets individuals in a seven-county region in the San Francisco Bay Area, providing on-site and mobile services to people of all ages. Support from Microsoft will help expand basic computer literacy training to participants by 63 percent and will increase overall services provided in all other technology training areas.
Community Solutions for Children, Families, and Individuals, Morgan Hill, CA
Community Solutions was started in 1972 as a teen drop-in center with a staff of five and a small budget. Today, Community Solutions provides comprehensive human services to individuals dealing with issues of mental illness, substance abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault, teen parenting, juvenile delinquency, family dysfunction, and homelessness. Last year, more than 14,000 persons were served by Community Solutions, most of them with low or very low incomes, with the majority being Latino. Two Youth Centers serve more than 500 low-income children and youth. The El Toro Youth Center draws from a densely populated housing area that has the highest concentration of low-income Hispanic families.
The Lilly Gardens Youth Center is located in an apartment complex with one of the highest crime rates and incidences of gang activity. Support from Microsoft will train 25 parents and 25 teens (ages 15 and older) in a series of four modules of 10 computer classes each. The classes will cover computer literacy; understanding the use of Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint; basic hardware; troubleshooting; and program and driver installation. The classes will be focused on acquiring job readiness skills, including job applications, resume writing, and interview skills. An additional 50 students (ages 7 to 18) will receive more generalized computer technology training.
Neighborhood House Association, San Diego, CA
Neighborhood House Association is a multipurpose human-services agency addressing quality of life issues for more than 300,000 low-income people throughout San Diego County. Neighborhood House Association will use the UP grant to cover instruction costs for its 41st Street Family Service Center Community Computer Lab. Courses offered include Intro to Computers, Internet Basics, E-mail Basics, Desktop Publishing, and Microsoft Office 2003 Professional. Other Neighborhood House Association partners include the City of San Diego, HP, SBC, Wells Fargo, and San Diego Future's Foundation.
Gifford Youth Activity Center, Vero Beach, FL
The Gifford community is an unincorporated pocket of poverty surrounded by the affluence of nearby Vero Beach, Florida. It is populated primarily by seasonal farm workers and others in minimum-wage, low-skill jobs. A grass-roots organization, the Progressive Civic League (PCL), was created in 1962 to improve these conditions. Responding to an increased need for positive services for youth, PCL began providing services to school-age youth in Gifford in 1997, with a focus on academic achievement, educational enrichment, and positive recreational activities. In 2002, PCL developed the Gifford Youth Activity Center. The Microsoft Computer Lab at the Youth Activity Center will be an expansion of the existing computer lab program. The lab currently offers children and youth 45-minute sessions on education software in reading and math in three sessions per day, serving a total of 60 children. The expansion will include classes on word processing, spreadsheets, and Internet research for both children and adults.
MacDonald Training Center, Inc., Tampa, FL
MacDonald Training Center began in 1953 and was chartered in 1955. For the past 50 years, the center has provided quality services to people with disabilities. Their mission is to "empower people with disabilities to lead the lives they choose" by providing training opportunities and promoting individual choices. The computer lab provides technology access to people with disabilities so they can improve their lives through training, vocation, and career skills. The MacDonald Training Center Lab uses adaptive hardware and assistive devices such as touch screens and open architecture for use of switches and toggles. The powerful combination of specialized hardware and the financial and product contributions from Microsoft will enhance the availability of resources and classes for Tampa-area individuals with developmental or physical disabilities. The center's partners include the State of Florida, United Way of Tampa Bay, Tampa Workforce Development Board, Business Advisory Council, and the Tampa Urban League.
Second Chances of Statesboro, Statesboro, GA
Second Chances of Statesboro was incorporated in 1999 to assist disadvantaged women with life-controlling problems in changing their lives forever. Originally a live-in center, Second Chances has evolved to include a live-in center, transitional living, and a technology learning center. Second Chances' technology learning center provides a 150-hour training class in Microsoft Office products. The first class was open only to women living at Second Chances and was very successful—so successful that Second Chances decided to extend the computer course to women in the community who needed training. This training is provided free of charge to all women who attend. With the grant from Microsoft, Second Chances will expand its program to serve more women.
Lawndale Christian Development Corporation (LCDC), Chicago, IL
The Lawndale Christian Development Corporation was established in 1987 to bring holistic revitalization to the lives and environments of North Lawndale residents through economic empowerment, housing improvements, educational enrichment, and community advocacy. The Lawndale Legacies Technology Center is a state-of-the-art, 27-station computer facility where youth and adults increase their computer literacy and academic and professional competitiveness. The center is open five days a week to Lawndale youth, who use the center for homework, Internet research, resume development, media projects, and classes in media arts, such as video and graphic design. Technology training classes in Microsoft Office applications (MOS) are provided for seniors and other adults.
Support from Microsoft will help the center hire a part-time assistant to support the technology center manager and the director of education in the operation of the tech center. The assistant will also serve as an assistant trainer and teacher for classes.
Street Level Youth Media, Chicago, IL
Established in 1995, Street Level Youth Media educates Chicago's inner-city youth in media arts and emerging technologies for use in self expression, communication, and social change. Street Level is a community-based, youth-focused media arts organization. Youth are encouraged to develop critical thinking and IT skills through Web design and arts media technology. Funding from Microsoft will be used to redesign the West Town Innovation Studio lab as well as to purchase mobile equipment. Street Level's partners include Chicago Access Network Television, Chicago Park District, City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, and the IT Resource Center.
Charles River Public Internet Center (CRPIC), Waltham, MA
The Charles River Public Internet Center is an educational organization whose mission is to narrow the dramatic and growing gaps in computer knowledge, access, and literacy by developing, implementing, and managing affordable, sustainable technology education and job training. Microsoft funding will support staffing for after-school technology training programs for local youth through the Computing Core Certification (IC3) After School program. CRPIC's partners include Waltham Public Schools, Boston Job Training Alliance, the City of Waltham, Verizon Foundation, Adobe, Boston Foundation, and the U.S. Department of Labor.
Detroit Youth Foundation (DYF), Detroit, MI
DYF was incorporated in 1999, having successfully evolved from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation's Youth Initiative Partnership, which began in 1987. DYF's mission is to benefit youth by facilitating effective, diverse partnerships. DYF is establishing YouthVille Detroit, a comprehensive, multiservice youth development facility to promote positive development among youth of all ages, with an emphasis on those 11 to 19 years old. The Microsoft grant will support the CTLC planned for YouthVille. Specifically, the Microsoft donation will be used to purchase LCD projectors for learning areas and establish wireless technology infrastructure. YouthVille is scheduled to open in fall 2004.
Osiris Organization, Eden Prairie, MN
Osiris Organization programs provide youth and adults in the Minneapolis area with the opportunity to develop their computer skills and prepare for entry-level employment opportunities, work as peer-to-peer computer instructors for youth in the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Public Parks, and prepare for certification programs and professional development. With the Microsoft Unlimited Potential grant, the Osiris Organization will upgrade 10 lab sites and build out an additional six locations throughout the Minneapolis park system. Microsoft support will also be used to expand the organization's successful peer mentoring program. More youth will be hired and trained as peer-to-peer computer instructors.
Working in collaboration with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, Osiris Organization serves 15,000 youth and 5,000 adults annually. Training offered includes introductory, intermediate, and advanced computer networking; Web design; PC troubleshooting; graphic applications; and Microsoft Office Suite applications. The organization's partners include Minnesota Association for Nonprofits, CTEC, and the City of Minneapolis.
Centro Guadalupano, Minneapolis, MN
Centro Guadalupano is the outreach site at Holy Rosary/Santo Rosario Church. Its mission is to help immigrants and those who are economically disadvantaged by providing educational programs and human services. Centro Guadalupano serves the East Phillips neighborhood of Minneapolis, a community that has experienced a large influx of immigrants over the past decade. The technology center is critical to Centro Guadalupano's ESL and Seniors-On-Line education programs. The computer center helps bridge the digital divide and assists new immigrants and refugees in adapting to and thriving in their new culture. Funding from Microsoft will enable the organization to train more individuals by hiring additional training staff. Centro Guadalupano's partners include Minnesota Association for NonProfits, American Red Cross, and the Minnesota Literacy Council.
St. Patrick Center, St. Louis, MO
St. Patrick Center was established in 1983 to work with other local agencies to provide 'one-stop' services (housing, food, mental health, daycare, and employment assistance). St Patrick's mission is to provide dignity and opportunities for self-sufficiency to persons who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
The grant from Microsoft will support St. Patrick's Job Experience Training (JET). JET's primary course is Automated Offices Systems, an eight-week course in Microsoft applications including Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint. Upon successful completion of the course, graduates participate in a four-week paid internship. JET also provides homeless and at-risk adults and youth with advanced computer and customer-service training and college certification coursework, which enables them to earn sustainable wages. The program aims to not merely prevent or end homelessness, but to create opportunities for career growth. St. Patrick's partners include the Department of Labor, HUD, the City of St. Louis, and various community organizations and educational institutions. A Microsoft employee serves on the St. Patrick Center board.
Friendship Helping Ministries, Charlotte, NC
Friendship Helping Ministries was incorporated in 1999 and works to help individuals and families achieve their potential as spiritual, physical, social, psychological, and vocational beings through friendship and mentorship relationships. Friendship Helping Ministries has implemented a computer research lab (open to the public) with 30 Internet-ready workstations for youth and adult computer-literacy classes. These programs have unique curriculum objectives that focus on computer literacy and skills, writing skills, civil-living objectives, and encouraging individual positive social, psychological, and vocational change. The donation from Microsoft will assist in the development of the lab.
Ada Jenkins Center, North Mecklenburg, NC
The Ada Jenkins Center was established in 1998. Its mission is to improve the quality of life for North Carolina residents in North Mecklenburg and South Iredell counties through the integrated delivery of health, human, and education services. Expansion of the Ada Jenkins Computer Bridges for Tomorrow program will enable the organization to provide lifelong learning for fragile, underserved communities by providing traditional and technological literacy. The program primarily serves African American, Hispanic, Latino, and Caucasian populations. A Microsoft employee currently volunteers for the center. The organization's funders and service partners include Wachovia Corporation, United Way, Ingersoll Rand Corporation, and the local Boys and Girls Clubs.
WinstonNet, Winston-Salem, NC
Established in 2001, WinstonNet promotes, encourages, and advances the development of "mobile environments" to help people have continual computer access. With computers in local schools, businesses, community centers, and libraries, WinstonNet provides computers, networks, and training in Forsyth County, NC. Classes cover basic computer and job-skills training for youth and adults. The UP grant will be used to help support WinstonNet's current facilities and to provide additional instructor training. WinstonNet currently has 28 centers and aims to increase to 50 centers. Other WinstonNet partners are Wachovia Bank, Wake Forest University, Krispy Kreme, and the Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce.
Grand Forks Homes LaGrave Learning Center, Grand Forks, ND
In 1971, eight Grand Forks churches formed Grand Forks Homes Inc. as a nonprofit to provide housing services to local low-income households. The LaGrave Learning Center opened to provide educational tools for the families. The center is managed by the Grand Forks Housing Authority. Its vision is to use education as a tool to break the cycle of poverty. The center plans to use Microsoft's UP grant to enhance its TechForce program, which seeks to enhance the employability of participants by providing access to IT equipment and education. This project delivers education and hands-on training using three primary methods: formal classes, one-on-one instruction, and self-directed learning and practice. With the support from Microsoft, the center expects to provide training to 120 to 150 individuals in a 12-month period. Grand Forks Homes LaGrave Learning Center also receives support from US West, United Way, U.S. Bank, and the Beaumont Foundation.
YWCA of Fargo-Moorhead, Fargo, ND
Established in 1906, the YWCA of Fargo-Moorhead provides services and programs for women of all ages to empower them socially, economically, politically, spiritually, and physically. Support from Microsoft will enable the YWCA to increase the number of women and children who learn basic IT skills in the Educational and Employment Readiness and TechGYRLS programs. The Microsoft Fargo office has a rich history of support to the YWCA, including previous contributions and volunteer support. A Microsoft employee currently serves on the organization's board. YWCA funders also include the United Way of Cass Clay, U.S. Bank, West Acres Development, City of Fargo, HUD, and Target.
Rockingham Community Action Inc. Head Start, Salem, NH
Rockingham Community Action was established in 1965, with the mission of preventing, reducing, and eventually eliminating poverty. Programs include fuel assistance, emergency food pantries, rental and utility assistance, WIC nutrition, weatherization, work-force development, adult education, child-care services, and Head Start. Funding from Microsoft will be used to purchase hardware upgrades for the Head Start programs, which serve students during the day and parents after hours. The low-income Head Start families will participate in classes to improve their technology skills.
Explora Science Center and Children's Museum, Albuquerque, NM
Explora Science Center and Children's Museum was established in 1995 as a result of the merger of two organizations, the Explora Science Center and Albuquerque Children's Museum. Explora's mission is to create opportunities for inspirational discovery and the joy of lifelong learning through interactive experiences in science, technology, and art. With the grant from Microsoft, Explora will establish a mobile community technology center. The project will be called ExploraNet.
Explora will develop the curriculum and provide the staff, Internet connections, classroom, and publicity to develop and sustain this project. Goals established for ExploraNet include providing vital computer technology and IT skills training to visitors and members of our community, improving science and technology literacy, increasing access to educational opportunities for typically underserved populations, and creating a learning environment that will encourage youth to choose careers in science and technology. ExploraNet will be the only facility in Albuquerque's metro area offering low-cost computer and IT-related education services.
Asociación Tepeyac de New York, NY
Asociación Tepeyac was founded in 1997 to serve and defend the rights of the more than half a million Mexican immigrants residing in New York City. The organization has grown to provide Latino immigrants and the general community with educational services for ESL and GED, computer skills, financial and business skills, communication and media skills, and an after-school program. Additionally, Asociación Tepeyac provides mental health counseling, immigration services, labor counseling, a soccer school and league, and support services for those affected by September 11th. The purpose of the Computer School Program is to build computer skills among new immigrants from Mexico and other South and Central American countries. The program offers five classes: Computer Principles, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Internet and Design. Approximately 400 people are on Asociación's waiting list for computer classes.
Support from Microsoft will help open and staff three new classrooms and will also provide a projector for each classroom. Other partners include the Robin Hood Foundation, NY Cares, Citigroup, FOMENTO, Fordham University, the Office of the Attorney General, Bronx Community College, Business Outreach Center, Latino Commission on AIDS, NY Archdiocese, Mexican Consulate, and NYPD.
Little Sisters of the Assumption Family Health Services (LSA), Inc., New York, NY
Founded in 1958, Family Health Services is a nonprofit, community-based organization working with the people of East Harlem to address the physical, emotional, educational, and spiritual dimensions of family health. Its programs are designed to empower those who are most vulnerable and who have little access to basic necessities. LSA's multiple services include a Certified Home Health Agency, a Social Work Program, an Early Childhood Program, Advocacy (focusing on problems of housing, welfare, employment, immigration, and food), and a Family Life Program. Their clients are primarily Hispanic families living in poverty with the lowest median household income in Manhattan.
Critical to the Family Life Program, LSA's computer training program provides parents the help they need to prepare for better jobs and assist their children with homework assignments. The basic courses offered are Introduction to Computers, Keyboarding/Typing, Using E-mail and the Internet, Microsoft Word, Parent Guide for Children's Use, Using Antivirus Protection, Writing a Resume, Buying a Computer, and Choosing an ISP. Once families are proficient in basic computer skills, LSA gives them a free refurbished computer. LSA is also supported by NPowerNY, the Robin Hood Foundation, and the United Way.
The Stony Brook Foundation—Totley's Internet Café
Stony Brook Foundation will work with Totley's Internet Café on the Stony Brook University campus to create a community technology center to work with families from Hempstead High School and Hempstead's Alverta B. Gray Schulz Middle School. Both have been identified as "in need of improvement." The center will be a free facility open for after-school tutoring, mentoring, and technology skills training for parents and children. Stony Brook University will recruit its students and faculty to provide mentoring and training. Funding from Microsoft will support the program and stipends for Stony Brook student mentors.
Youth and Community Foundation of Spencer-Van Etten, Inc. (YCFSVE), Spencer, NY
The Youth and Community Foundation was established in 2000 to help the Spencer-Van Etten community learn, dream, and create. The organization promotes enthusiasm for learning, encourages high aspirations, and supports innovation, creativity, and vitality in the youth and broader community. The support from Microsoft will help the foundation coordinate with local schools to open computer labs in the schools. These labs will be available after school hours for youth and adult computer classes, including introductory computing classes and self-paced exploration modules. Spencer-Van Etten is a poor rural community with no significant industry. As a result, many people, particularly senior citizens, do not have access to a computer or high-speed Internet access. YCFSVE helps bridge the digital divide in the community, links school and community, and provides intergenerational learning activities. A former Microsoft employee is the founder of this organization.
Center for Family Life, New York, NY
Established in 1978, the Center for Family Life is a neighborhood-based social-service center offering support to children, youth, and families in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. Center for Family Life's mission is to provide a wide range of preventive services necessary to support and nurture the family and to ensure the well-being of the community's children. The center also focuses on fostering the economic and leadership capacity of the community to advance the quality of life for its residents.
The Unlimited Potential funding will be used to support a full-time computer/technology trainer at the adult employment program; support free, open-access training; and provide staff supervision to each learner to guarantee that training time is tailored to participants' needs and interests. Center for Family Life also receives funding from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the Freddie Mac Foundation, New York City Department of Youth Services and Community Development, the New York State Department of Education, and the Robin Hood Foundation.
Oregon Council for Hispanic Advancement (OCHA), Portland, OR
OCHA is a private nonprofit organization established in 1983 to provide culturally specific services to at-risk Latino youth and their families. OCHA's success with its clients and their families is directly linked to the bilingual, bicultural staff that delivers critical services to the organization's clientele. The organization's mission is to empower Latino and Latina youth to achieve a higher level of educational success and better employment opportunities through education programs. The purpose of OCHA'a community technology learning center (CTLC) is to mitigate the digital divide that exists between the Hispanic community and the larger United States population. OCHA's CTLC provides basic technology-skills training to disadvantaged Latino and Latina youth. Students become computer literate by learning basic computer operations and Microsoft software applications, particularly Word and Excel. Other funders for OCHA are Verizon, Intel, WAMU, Oregon Community Foundation, and AT&T. A Microsoft employee serves on OCHA's board.
Illinois Valley Family Coalition, Cave Junction, OR
The mission of the Illinois Valley Family Coalition is to improve outcomes for Illinois Valley residents in the areas of physical and emotional health, social and learning development, safety and stability, and employment. The purpose and goal of this computer center is to create a viable technology center equipped with modern equipment and to launch new computer trainings to assist more members of our community. The grant from Microsoft will provide for new equipment, allowing the coalition to expand its current training services. The residents of the Illinois Valley are the target audience for this project. Illinois Valley is designated by the USDA as an enterprise-zone priority area because of its low median household income and high unemployment rate.
Farmworker Housing Development Corporation, Woodburn, OR
Farmworker Housing Development Corporation was established in 1990 to develop affordable housing within urban growth boundaries and to develop other community and economic development programs that benefit farmworkers. These programs serve more than 500 people annually. The corporation's computer lab at the Cipriano Ferrel Education Center opened in October 2003. The UP grant will fund instructor and technical-support staff. Other contributors include the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Meyer Memorial Trust, Oregon Community Foundation, and the City of Woodburn.
Mt. Airy USA, Philadelphia, PA
Mt. Airy USA was founded in 1980 to preserve, empower, and advance a vibrant community through responsive community development. The Mt. Airy Community Computer Center (MACCC) began operations in 1999 to bridge the digital divide for low-income children by providing convenient, affordable access to computers and the Internet, partnering with area schools to enrich education and collaborating with neighborhood organizations to enhance and expand technology-related training available to the community. One program the Microsoft grant will support is MACCC's Workplace Readiness program for low-income high school students. MACCC currently serves 150 students annually. With the support from Microsoft, MACCC will increase its service capacity by 100 percent. Mt. Airy USA also partners with NPowerPA, William Penn Foundation, and LaSalle Nonprofit Management Development Corporation.
Project H.O.M.E., Philadelphia, PA
Since 1989, Project H.O.M.E. has helped more than 6,800 adults and children break the cycle of homelessness and poverty. The mission of Project H.O.M.E. is to empower people to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty, to address structural causes of poverty, and to enable local residents to attain their full potential as individuals and as members of the broader society. Programs administered by Project H.O.M.E. include transitional housing units, homeownership counseling, GED and basic literacy classes, after-school tutoring, and on-site health services. Other Project H.O.M.E. partners are Comcast Foundation, University of Pennsylvania, HUD, and the Pew Charitable Trusts.
Project H.O.M.E. has developed the Honickman Learning Center and Comcast Technology Labs, a 38,000-square-foot learning center in North Central Philadelphia that offers comprehensive technology programs for at-risk youth and their families. The poverty rate in this community is more than double the city's average. Microsoft support will help increase staffing, making it possible for the organization to serve more families.
Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Memphis, TN
Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired offers employment training, assistance, and opportunities for persons with visual impairments, regardless of race, gender, age, or socioeconomic status. This nonprofit provides viable skills and training to individuals who otherwise would not receive them. Its mission is to provide technical skills training to create social and economic opportunities that can change people's lives and transform communities. Microsoft's contribution will enable Clovernook to increase the number served in their computer center by 50 percent, from 42 to 65. Funding support for Clovernook also comes from the states of Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Missouri and the Greater Memphis Foundation.
Fort Bend County Women's Center, Sugarland, TX
The purpose of the Fort Bend County Women's Center Technology Application Program (TAP) is to provide free computer training and distance learning to low-income adults who are survivors of domestic violence and live in disadvantaged neighborhoods. This program will enable the center's clients to obtain the training, confidence, and self-esteem necessary to find employment and higher-income positions. The Fort Bend County Women's Center has two Learning Resource Centers: one at the shelter and one at its Aftercare facility. TAP will use the Microsoft Unlimited Potential funds to expand its job-readiness and training program to include training in computer skills through distance learning.
A distance-learning program will enable clients who have challenges with transportation to remotely complete a six-week training curriculum. Fifty-one clients will be served through these classes. The clients will be taught basic computer skills and will also be offered professional development classes. In addition to board participation from the District Attorney's and Mayor's offices, local support for the Women's Center comes from the Houston Endowment, Texas Department of Human Services, Emergency Food and Shelter Program, and HUD.
Capital Area Training Foundation (CATF), Austin, TX
Established in 1994, CATF is the education and work-force development affiliate of the Greater Austin Chamber. CATF's technology training center provides free computer training and access to low-income and unemployed adults while increasing the IT capacity of under-resourced Regan and Travis High Schools, which are located in disadvantaged neighborhoods. CATF will use the Microsoft Unlimited Potential funds to run its 24 computer classes. Clients are taught basic computer skills while advancing into Microsoft Office applications and higher-level topics. Several CATF courses are offered in Spanish. Other CATF partners are the U.S. Department of Education, the City of Austin, Intel, and University of Texas at Austin.
Dallas Life Foundation (DLF), Dallas, TX
DLF has been in service since 1954. The foundation's purpose and mission are (1) identify the needs of the homeless and poor in the Dallas metro area, (2) make available the necessary resources to meet the needs of as many homeless as possible, (3) assist the homeless in returning to self-sufficiency. The purpose of this project is to enrich and expand DLF's capacity to provide computer literacy and software skills training. Open to both homeless residents and the public, the center currently provides adult education and employment programs in English as a second language, detection and correction of learning problems, adult literacy, improvement of academic skills, GED readiness, and career employment skills. Microsoft support will help upgrade the current computing environment and expand training capacity. Two Microsoft employee volunteers provide instruction for the training classes.
John C. Ford Program, Dallas, TX
The John C. Ford Program's mission is to enhance the knowledge and economic self-sufficiency of low- to moderate-income people. Organized in 1994 and named after U.S. Judge John C. Ford, the Ford Program collaborates with others for the development and implementation of innovative after-school training programs at CTLCs. The goal is to develop computer proficiencies as well as science, math, cognitive reasoning, communication, and business skills for youth, parents, teachers, and school administrators in economically disadvantaged communities. Support from Microsoft will assist in the training of technology instructors and enable the development of a software program for the Young Scientists & Engineers Tele-Academy, increasing the technology, math, and science skills of low-income youth. Several Microsoft employees volunteer for John C. Ford and participate on the board.
St. Philip's School and Community Center, Dallas, TX
St. Philip's School and Community Center exists to transform the lives of South Dallas children and families with a commitment to educational excellence and community. St. Philip's Community Center provides social and recreational services to low-income and moderate-income youth, adults, and seniors. Programs include a technology training program run with the assistance of Goodwill Industries. The donation from Microsoft will be used to hire contractual staff to teach the courses and assist with computer maintenance issues, enabling the center to continue and potentially expand available technology courses. Additional support for the center comes from IBM, Texas A&M, and the Dallas Black Data Processors Association.
Sorenson Computer Center (SCC), Salt Lake, UT
The Sorenson Computer Center was established in 2000 to provide residents in the west-side neighborhoods of Salt Lake City with free use of computers so that they can engage with technology creatively, gain technology literacy, and acquire technical skills in a supportive and informal atmosphere. The Microsoft Unlimited Potential grant will assist Sorenson Computer Center in continuing its technology learning opportunities and will enable the center to expand the types of computer classes offered, based on input from community residents. One of the programs offered at the center is Hear Our Voices: Girls in Technology, a program that provides girls ages 8 to 18 with peer mentoring and a positive learning environment specifically for girls. Sorenson's program and funding partners include the Utah Food Bank, Salt Lake Community College, the Intermountain Health Care Neighborhood Clinic, Fuller Foundation, Salt Lake Weed and Seed, U.S. Department of Education, and the Boston Museum of Science.
Laurie Mitchell Employment Center (LMEC), Alexandria, VA
LMEC was established in 1995 to improve access to employment and independence for people with mental illnesses and other disabilities through peer-directed computer training and employment assistance. LMEC's mission is to help mental-health consumers and other people with disabilities gain confidence and skills to pursue their chosen career path. The Microsoft grant will advance LMEC's current programs by providing support to hire an instructor to coordinate, promote, and teach courses in Microsoft Office applications.
Latin American Youth Center (LAYC), Washington, D.C.
LAYC was established in 1968 to serve at-risk immigrant Latino youth. The center works with more than 5,000 individuals from diverse communities, providing a broad array of support programs. Microsoft funding will support LAYC's Adult Bilingual Computer Literacy Program. Participants in the program are the parents and guardians of youth enrolled in LAYC programs. The targeted population is generally low-income Latino parents whose English is limited. The success of the program will be measured by three sets of tests based on the curriculum stages: basic, intermediate, and advanced computer skills. Microsoft previously provided support to LAYC to launch this program. At the time, the program served 25 parents annually. With the current support from Microsoft, LAYC will expand the program's content and increase enrollment to 125 a year.
The Good Samaritan Foundation, Washington, D.C.
Former NFL superstars Art Monk, Charles Mann, Earnest Byner, and Tim Johnson launched the Good Samaritan Foundation in 1993 to help youth in metropolitan D.C. live up to their potential and become productive, responsible adults and parents. Specifically, Good Samaritan helps prepare youth for higher education and leadership in the community and workplace. With the support from Microsoft, Good Samaritan will expand and enhance the computer training and Web-based classes that are a part of their Student Training and Opportunity Program (STOP).
Community Equity Empowerment Partnership (CEEP), Washington, D.C.
Established in 1994, CEEP offers a variety of services and programs, including computer technology training, broadcast media (video) film production, and job-development training. The partnership's mission is to empower communities one person at a time. The Unlimited Potential grant will expand the partnership's computer training services as part of its out-of-school program in southeast Washington, D.C. Other CEEP partners are Verizon, UPS, D.C. Public Schools, and the Fannie Mae Foundation. For several years, CEEP has been a recipient of significant Microsoft product donations and employee volunteer support.
Capitol Hill Computer Corner (CHCC), Washington, D.C.
CHCC was formed in 2001 to serve the children and other residents of Ward 6 in southeast Washington, D.C. The Computer Corner offers three programs: After School and Summer Technology for children and Community Education for teens and adults. Support from Microsoft will help CHCC extend its offerings to more than 300 additional youth and adults through expansion at new sites and support of current and new staff. Microsoft funding will help CHCC reach populations with D.C.'s lowest standardized test scores and highest dropout rates. Financial and services support for CHCC also comes from the Capitol Area Food Bank, Capitol Hill Community Foundation, Capital One, Commonwealth Foundation, D.C. United, Good Samaritan, NPower of Greater DC, and Verizon Foundation.
YMCA of Metropolitan Washington, Washington, D.C.
Founded in 1852, the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington has over 20 branches and program centers that touch more than 250,000 people each year. Support from Microsoft will focus on the Calomiris Project, one of four centers the YMCA operates in the Washington, D.C., area. The Calomiris Branch will expand and enhance its computer lab from 5 to 20 seats with workstations, and it will continue to advance technology in underserved communities through the YCARE Program. The branch serves more than 100 children in after-school programs that seek to improve academic performance, help participants embrace technology, and maximize the overall potential of the youth in the community, as well as men, women, and families. In addition to supporting the lab expansion, Microsoft funding will support the hiring of a part-time Technology Specialist qualified to teach information technology.
Community Preservation and Development Corporation (CPDC), Washington, D.C.
CPDC has established CTLCs in and around the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area since 1989, partnering in these communities to offer low- to moderate-income residents training in office technology and IT. This training is designed to assist residents in improving their job prospects and income. CPDC's mission is to create vibrant communities through partnership and innovation. Currently operates 15 community development programs in 21 housing complexes in the Washington, D.C., area. These programs have three main areas of focus: Youth Development, Technology Empowerment, and Career and Skill Enhancement (CSE). Support from Microsoft will continue to enable CPDC to provide the core skills of IT training and technology empowerment to communities. CPDC funding and service partners include HUD and Fannie Mae.
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