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Connected Tennessee’s Computers 4 Kids Program Awards 350 Computers to the Boys & Girls Clubs of East Tennessee


American Recovery & Reinvestment Act-funded program will impact the lives of nearly 60,000 youth across the state over the next three years


Knoxville, TN. (June 6, 2011) – Today, Connected Tennessee’s Computers 4 Kids "Preparing Tennessee's Next Generation for Success" program awarded the Boys & Girls Clubs of East Tennessee with 350 brand new computers. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act-funded project deploys computers, academic support programs, and workforce training to two disparate, but especially at-risk, populations: those in the state's foster care system who are "aging out" as they turn 18, and youth who are active in the state’s 76 Boys & Girls Clubs. Over the next three years, the program will impact the lives of nearly 60,000 youth across the state.

Both Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett and City of Knoxville Mayor Daniel T. Brown were in attendance at the event. Mayor Burchett remarked that the impact of the computers throughout East Tennessee would be significant.

“Connected Tennessee's Computers 4 Kids program is giving young people access to a tool and skill set that will serve them not only now, but throughout their entire lives," Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett said. "This is good news for the Boys & Girls Clubs of East Tennessee, but it's even better news for our children and communities."


The “Preparing Tennessee’s Next Generation for Success” project is a result of a $2.3 million American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant awarded to the C4K program in August 2010 by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP). BTOP provides grants to support the deployment of broadband infrastructure, enhance and expand public computer centers, and encourage sustainable adoption of broadband service.


Today’s event was part of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley’s first annual “Summer Safety Day.” Dollywood and the Knoxville Fire Department, among others, were on hand to discuss important safety precautions and tactics for families throughout the summer season.


The Computers 4 Kids program will be holding a series of computer distribution events at Boys & Girls Clubs throughout the state this summer, awarding more than 700 computers to the Clubs overall. To date, C4K has distributed more than 2,500 computers statewide.


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About Connected Tennessee: As a public-private partnership, Connected Tennessee partners with technology-minded businesses, government entities and universities to accelerate technology in the state. For more information about what Connected Tennessee is doing to accelerate technology in Tennessee’s communities, visit www.connectedtennessee.org.

About Computers 4 Kids: Preparing Tennessee’s Next Generation for Success: Connected Tennessee’s Computers 4 Kids project is helping to prepare Tennessee’s most vulnerable youth for success by providing them with connectivity. The program promotes economic, career, and educational development through the provision of computers and broadband Internet, online technology training, career training, and community awareness that highlights the benefits of technology adoption.