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Thursday, Mar 28, 2024

Program Helps Companies Donate Old Computers

By LINDA COBURN Contributing Reporter Many businesses are faced with a dilemma after upgrading their computer equipment what to do with the old stuff? College of the Canyons has an answer that will help companies “go green” and also be good citizens, all without spending a dime. Donate your old equipment to COC they’ll take monitors, hard drives, servers, routers, printers and even multi-function machines and the computer networking department will turn them into usable equipment that is then donated either to local non-profits or international charities. “We have refurbished more than 500 computers to date,” said Professor Lee Hilliard, chair of the department. On Aug. 23, forty of those computers were presented to low-income Santa Clarita Valley residents whose children are at least B-average students and who can prove they are in the country legally. The Santa Clarita Valley Service Center has partnered with COC and the Santa Clarita-Newhall Optimist Club in what they call the Computer Gateway Project. “It’s Santa Clarita’s answer to the digital divide,” said Gloria “Lupe” Lopez, director of the L.A. County-operated center. “This is the first initial giveaway.” These computers were loaded with fully-licensed copies of the Microsoft Windows XP operating system as well as Microsoft Office at the low, low, low price of just $10, the cost of which was donated by the Optimists. “If the family can offset the $10, we have them donate that to the Optimist club so they can purchase even more software,” said Lopez. In addition, COC is offering a free non-credit course to train the people who receive the computers. Professor Hilliard said that most of the computers they have gotten so far, “are from businesses where our students are employed.” They’re ready to take more. As this article was being written, a 40-foot shipping container was being loaded with COC-refurbished computers bound for Ecuador. “We’re also working with another local organization called Mending Kids International, which is located in Newhall, that is responsible for bringing third-world kids with serious medical problems to the U.S. for treatment,” said Hilliard. “Now every kid that comes to the states for treatment is going back home with a computer.” Hilliard explained, “This allows the organization to stay in touch with the kids when they go back.” Companies shouldn’t worry about sensitive data that may escape a cursory wipe of the hard drive getting into the wrong hands. “We do erasures of the hard drive they call it sanitizing we have the software to do that that meets federal regulations,” said Hilliard. If you’re one of the many businesses that has a room full of unused, outdated or even broken computer equipment, just send an e-mail to Hilliard [email protected], or Professor Samuel Bola & #324;os, Samuel.Bolanos @canyons.edu with contact information and they will be in touch with you about logistics. Volunteer Fair SAGE Publications of Thousand Oaks held a Volunteer Fair at its headquarters on Aug. 22 where more than 350 employees were given the opportunity to visit booths set-up by 24 local non-profit organizations. The groups invited to participate represented a cross-section of causes dedicated to improving communities in Ventura and Los Angeles counties, where most SAGE employees reside. SFV Community Mental Health Center Gala The San Fernando Valley Community Mental Health Center will be hosting a special gala awards dinner on Sept. 16, honoring individuals in the community who have supported mental health causes. For a donation of $100, you can enjoy dinner, live music and a silent auction that evening, but they are also selling raffle tickets for the opportunity to win a brand new, 2008 Mazda Miata convertible (or $20,000 in cash). A maximum of 750 raffle tickets will be available, and the $100 donation is tax-deductible. The raffle tickets can be purchased on-line, so you don’t need to leave the comfort of your home. Visit www.centerevents.org for more information on the gala and the raffle. Mile Of Quarters Event The Boys & Girls Club of the West Valley will be creating a “Mile of Quarters” Saturday September, 29 at the Westfield Topanga Mall. Set to start at 10 a.m., the event will feature quarters being laid out for an entire mile through the Canyon section of the Westfield Mall. Many sponsorship opportunities remain available, starting a $3.25 for one foot of quarters. If the goal of the entire mile long stretch is met, the event could raise as much as $17,160 to support the Club’s initiatives to support the needy youth of the San Fernando Valley. “The Boys and Girls Club of the West Valley is exactly the kind of organization we want to support; it not only improves our community today, but lays the groundwork for a better community tomorrow,” remarked Vince Liuzzi, senior vice president and regional president of Wells Fargo Bank, a key corporate sponsor of the event. Communicating Literacy Cooper Communications, Inc. of Woodland Hills commemorated its 25th anniversary by making a donation of $25 each to 25 deserving members of the Boys & Girls Club of the West Valley so they could purchase books. Operation Splash The swimming pool at Northridge Park, currently under reconstruction, will be getting a water slide courtesy of Kaiser Permanente as part of a $1.2 million grant it has made to the City of L.A. Recreation and Parks Aquatic Division. Citywide, 31 pools will benefit from the grant which Kaiser has termed Operation Splash. In addition to Northridge, Recreation and Parks aquatic facilities in North Hollywood, Sylmar, Pacoima, Panorama City, Sun Valley and Canoga Park will also receive funding through the grant.

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