Boys & Girls Clubs of America to Get New Tech Centers
Compaq Reaches Out to New England Neighbors
Compaq Has "Cool Jobs" in New England


Boys & Girls Clubs of America to Get New Tech Centers

In today's Internet-centric world, kids who don't have access to technology are at a serious disadvantage. Without adequate tools and guidance, they have no way to develop the computer literacy skills they will need in the job market of the future.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of America (B&GCA) was keenly aware of this fact when it developed its strategic plan for the new millennium two years ago. One area identified as critical to the organization's ongoing success was the ability to offer programs with generation-changing outcomes. So B&GCA kicked off "Project Connect," a program conceived to set up technology centers in clubs around the country. Compaq is a major corporate sponsor of this program.

Recently, Compaq donated $1.2 million to establish Compaq Tech Centers at 10 nationwide Boys &Girls Clubs, replicating the Houston, Texas, facility that opened in early 1999. Two of the centers will be located in New England, benefiting the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Marlboro, Massachusetts, and Greater Nashua, New Hampshire. The ultimate goal of Project Connect is to incorporate technology into every aspect of club programming, using the technology center as the hub.

According to Compaq CEO Michael Capellas, who spoke at the presentation ceremony in Houston, "Through Project Connect, we join one of the most respected youth organizations in the world to reach children across broad geographies and socioeconomic levels. We believe if you help children harness the power of technology, they can unlock their imagination, stimulate creative and logical thinking, and expand their world of knowledge and communication."

Olympic gold medal figure skating champion and B&GCA spokesperson Tara Lipinski added her support to the project. "As a former student, I know the value of having access to technology," she said. "More importantly, the technological skills Boys &Girls Club members learn will prepare them for a more successful future."

Tech Centers for Fun and Learning

Each club will receive a technology center with a Compaq ProLiant™ server and 12 to 15 PCs with Microsoft® software (operating system, server, desktop publishing, productivity, and reference). Also included are printers, scanners, video and digital cameras, and training. A one-time cash grant will help with setup, furniture, technical support, and the purchase of additional software. The systems will be preloaded with software and network for ease of installation.

In addition to ensuring that staff members are trained to keep the networks running smoothly, Compaq funds will be used to develop a full range of activities and programs for all members, regardless of age, gender, or technical expertise. For example, young people who participate in sports will discover how technology can be used to create posters, flyers, and trading cards.

The staff will also incorporate technology into existing B&GCA programs. In career preparation, for example, teenage members will learn how to use the Web to investigate career possibilities and prepare for job interviews. Club members with a technical bent will be able to participate in technology-specific programs such as designing Web sites, producing music videos, launching an online community service program, initiating a pen pal program via e-mail, and publishing newsletters.

Thank You, Compaq

Compaq, which acquired Digital Equipment Corporation in 1998, has continued Digital's eight-year support of B&GCA. Compaq's initial cash and equipment grant to the organization totaled $600,000. The equipment portion of the grant helped construct a global intranet that allows B&GCA's national headquarters and its five regional service centers to link up with Boys &Girls Clubs nationwide, resulting in faster and more efficient dissemination of information and resources.

Compaq's help is very welcome, considering B&GCA's aggressive goal of establishing 100 technology centers across the country over the next decade. "Boys &Girls Clubs of America's partnership with Compaq supports our mission to provide clubs with the technology skills critical for the new millennium," said Roxanne Spillett, B&GCA president. "Compaq's gift will help us begin to bridge the gap of access to technology and reach more young people and communities in need."

The Boys & Girls Clubs of America is a national network of more than 2,300 neighborhood-based facilities annually serving some 3 million young people, primarily from disadvantaged circumstances. Clubs provide character development programs on a daily basis for children 6 to 18 years old, conducted by a full-time professional staff. Key programs emphasize character and leadership development, educational enhancement, career preparation, health and life skills, the arts and sports, and fitness and recreation.

Compaq Reaches Out to New England Neighbors

Residents of Stow and Littleton, Massachusetts, recently benefited from Compaq's dedication to community well-being. In Littleton, where Compaq employs approximately 1,600 people, the Junior-Senior High School received a new Compaq Presario™ 5690 computer to assist the special education department with their computer-assisted reading program, and the Stow Fire Department received a $4,000 donation to purchase a defibrillator.

Littleton special educator Pamela Farrill wanted to enhance reading speed and comprehension for learning disabled students, but needed hardware that could operate an innovative software program that scans, recognizes, and displays different documents, highlights the text, and reads it aloud.

The greatest gift we can give these special students is the opportunity to learn with dignity and pride," Farrill said. "The ease with which they can use this powerful computer makes the learning experience both rewarding and engaging."

In Stow, Compaq's gift added a second defibrillator to the town, which will allow continuous access to the voice-prompted device that talks the user through the process. Before Compaq made the donation, Stow was without a defibrillator unit whenever the ambulance was out of town.

"Compaq has always supported us," Deputy Fire Chief Joe Bosselait said. "They're very receptive and helpful to the community efforts."

Compaq Has "Cool Jobs" in New England

Compaq is actively recruiting for approximately 150 technical positions in New England, according to UNIX Human Resources Manager Leigh Bodington. There are positions at every level, from graduating college students to seasoned technical professionals. Nearly 300 people participated in the Compaq Career Expo at the Sheraton Tara in Nashua, New Hampshire, in February. Compaq is using newspaper ads, Internet banners and splash pages, radio spots, and mobile billboards (ads mounted on specially equipped trucks that are driven around New England) to spread the word that the company is hiring. A special e-mail address, cooljobs@compaq.com, has been established where potential employees can submit resumes.