First round of computers—donated by New Belgium Brewing—is helping FRCC students improve their lives.
The Rotary Club of Fort Collins (Breakfast) has just launched a new initiative called “Laptops for College,” which provides gently used laptop computers for college students in need.
“Students entering colleges and universities must have a computer to participate in the digital world of a college education,” points out Derek Godfrey with the Rotary Club. “For many low-income families or students on their own, access to a laptop is out of reach.”
That’s why the club has started soliciting donations of used laptops from area businesses. Local Rotarians made their first delivery of 10 computers to students at Front Range Community College’s Larimer Campus this month.
The initial round of Dell business-grade laptops was donated by New Belgium Brewing in Fort Collins. “At New Belgium, we put community wellbeing at the center of everything we do,” said CEO Steve Fechheimer. “We value the opportunity to support local students in achieving educational empowerment.”
Working with FRCC, the Rotary Club has organized a distribution process to get the laptops into the hands of financially qualified students—and college staff helps identify the students most in need.
Changing Lives
“This is such a boon for our students who come from low-income backgrounds,” said Aparna Palmer, PhD, acting vice president of FRCC’s Larimer Campus. “Having a computer is essential nowadays for education and this donation is helping some very deserving students succeed in college.”
“I have seen what a difference it makes for students to have the resources they need be successful in college,” she added. “Because this new Rotary program is connecting us with New Belgium and other donors, these local students will not have to choose between being able to support themselves and getting an education. This is a huge step toward helping our students achieve their dreams.”
Just the Beginning
“We’re in the process of building this program so that we can reach more students,” said Godfrey. “We’re so grateful to New Belgium for being our first business partner to step up.”
The Rotary Club has reached out to other local businesses—and several have expressed interest in participating. “We expect to have more laptops for FRCC students in the near future,” Godfrey added. “And we’d love to expand to include other schools as soon as we have more computers.”
How You Can Help
If your business has gently used laptops (with a power supply), all you have to do is make a phone call or shoot the Rotary Club an email to get started. Laptops are eligible if they:
- Are five years old or younger,
- Are in working condition,
- Have a power supply
- Are Internet-capable
- Rotary will accept Macs and PCs with gratitude, as well as any accompanying accessories you may have—such as extra chargers, newer batteries, laptop cases/bags, etc.
The Rotary team asks companies that donate computers to have their IT personnel wipe all data from the machines by performing a factory hard reset and removing all files. A Rotary Club member will pick up and deliver the laptops to one of the participating educational institutions.
Questions About Donating?
Please contact the Fort Collins Rotary Club’s program manager: Derek Godfrey—949-939-9026 or dgodfrey62@yahoo.com.
Want to Request a Laptop?
Please contact the student life director at FRCC’s Larimer Campus: Mary Branton-Housley—(970) 204-8121 or mary.branton-housley@frontrange.edu.
About Rotary
The Rotary Club of Fort Collins Breakfast is one of four Rotary Clubs in Fort Collins. Rotary brings together a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges. Rotary connects 1.4 million members of more than 46,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas.
Their work improves lives at both the local and international levels, from helping those in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world. For more information, visit www.Rotary.org.
About Front Range Community College
Front Range Community College offers 200 degrees and certificates in a wide variety of programs from locations in Boulder County, Larimer County and Westminster—as well as online. FRCC is a member of the Colorado Community College System.
About the Colorado Community College System
The Colorado Community College System (CCCS) is the state’s largest system of higher education, serving 138,000 students annually at 13 colleges and 39 locations across Colorado. Our open access mission ensures all Coloradans who aspire to enrich their lives have access to quality higher education opportunities.
