From Mayor Bill Finch:
Donation campaign seeks 2,800 iPads–1 for each after-school and summer program student
Do you have a used iPad collecting dust in your home because you recently upgraded to the New iPad? If so, the City of Bridgeport’s Lighthouse After School and Summer Program hopes you’ll consider donating your gently used iPad to students in the after school and summer program. The goal is one iPad per student for a total of 2,800 iPads. Donations can be made online via ipadappeal.org.
“I strongly encourage corporate and individual donations and urge all residents to spread the word about this great program by sharing the information through social network sites like Facebook and Twitter,” said Mayor Bill Finch. “You can help make a difference in a young person’s life by helping close the digital divide, providing a wealth of information in the palms of our students’ hands with an iPad.
This appeal would not have been possible without the generous support of Noah Brier and his company Percolate, a New York-based firm that helps brands create content at a social scale.
Tammy Papa, Director of the Lighthouse Program said, “On behalf of Mayor Finch and our Lighthouse students, I want to thank Noah, and his company for his assistance in the creation of the website, which will help publicize this appeal. Their ongoing support of our efforts in helping Bridgeport youth succeed is greatly appreciated.”
The donation process is simple. Go online to ipadappeal.org and follow the five easy steps listed on the website.
About the Lighthouse Program
The Lighthouse Program is a partnership between the City of Bridgeport, the Bridgeport Board of Education, and local not-for-profit community. It offers Bridgeport students educational, recreational and cultural activities after school and during the summer. Studies conducted over the past several years by prominent universities throughout the country have shown that students participating in the Lighthouse Program are making promising academic and social gains. Students and parents overwhelmingly support the program and daytime teachers as well as principals report fewer discipline issues for participating students.
I purchased an iPad for my 10 year old. My daughter is autistic and attends CES in Trumbull and the Bridgeport BOE covers the cost for all Bridgeport students attending CES. CES had made request for iPads needed by CES students from Bridgeport and their request have gone pretty much denied. There aren’t grants available either. The appointed board seems to be on the same road as the elected board on this matter.
To Tammy Papa:
I recently read an article about iPads that have been left on airplanes by passengers who haven’t claimed them. It said they have hundreds of iPads that have not been claimed. You may be interested in doing some research and contacting the airlines in regards to any unclaimed iPads. Tell them I left all of them behind after smoking Lennie Greenmaldi’s stuff and it’s unlikely I’ll remember where I left them.
Here’s the article:
online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303459004577362194012634000.html
Lennie,
Programs that help kids develop academically, socially, physically, etc. are important. The news article reports studies of the Lighthouse program have been done and are positive. Can you provide direction to where any of this material is posted or located? In these times where school reform is active in Bridgeport it is good to look at what is working effectively and efficiently as well as what needs more help. Time will tell.