2011Minnesota Computers for Schools

2011 Annual Report

“All students deserve equal access to the technology necessary to develop the skills, knowledge and confidence required for success in school, the community and the workforce.” –Tamara Gillard, Executive Director, Minnesota Computers for Schools

Minnesota Computers for Schools (MCFS) refurbishes and customizes computers donated from businesses and places them in schools and educational nonprofit organizations throughout the state for a nominal fee, providing students with increased access to technology.

Minnesota Computers for Schools provides technology access for lifelong learning.

Mission

About MCFs

LiFeCyCLe oF donAted equipMentLifecycle of Donated Equipment

COMPUTERS DONATED

DATA SCRUBBED

REFURBISHED BY INMATES

EQUIPMENT CUSTOMIZED AND PLACED IN SCHOOLS

UNUSED PARTS

RECYCLED

Tamara Gillardexecutive director

Steven Bartholetboard Chair

A Letter from the executive director & board Chair

Technology. Access. Impact.

Today, the price of not having access to technology is much higher than it was just five years ago. Today, not having access is a reason some students struggle in school and can’t find work – leaving them feeling defeated and left behind.

Teachers understand the importance of providing their students with access to technology in the classroom, which is why 2011 was our busiest year since the organization’s founding in 1997. In 2011, MCFS placed 3,707 computers in schools and educational nonprofit organizations across the state – our highest number yet.

This is good news and bad news – the good news is we’ve provided 295,000 students with increased access to technology. The bad news is that now, more than ever, schools need access to affordable technology. The demand is high and we need your help. We have a long list of schools waiting for computers and the only thing preventing MCFS from supporting the success of more students throughout Minnesota is the supply of donated computers.

The work we do would not be possible without our generous donors, contributors and supporters. Because of your dedication to our mission to provide technology access for lifelong learning, we are able to transform the lives of thousands of students each year. We look forward to continuing our work together in the years to come to help close the gap between those who have access to technology and those who do not.

There are a lot of exciting things on the horizon at MCFS so be sure to stay in touch throughout the year – you can sign up for our e-newsletter or follow us on Facebook or LinkedIn.

Sincerely,

We want to do our best to protect the environment, that’s why we have a no landfill policy. This year, we’re taking it even further. We’re in the process of obtaining our R2 CERTIfICATIon – A lEADInG STAnDARD foR ThE ElECTRonICS RECyClInG InDuSTRy.

R2 requires e-recyclers to assure that all focus materials (those that are part of the toxic material stream) are managed safely and responsibly and prohibits e-recyclers from exporting toxic materials to countries that have enacted laws making their import illegal.

MCFS has always followed these regulations and in a few months, we’ll have the certification to prove it.

CoMing up: R2 CeRtiFiCAtion

RECyClInG by ThE nuMbERS ToTaL WeIghT: 312,947 LBS.

hIgh gRade BoaRdS

WIReS

STReTCh WRap-BaLed

CoLoRed pLaSTIC-BaLed

WhITe pLaSTIC-BaLed

MeTaL-BaLed

Cd & FLoppy dRIveS

haRd dRIveS

ShRedded haRd dRIveS

aLuMInuM

#2 CoppeR

FanS

ToneR CaRT.

poWeR adapToRS TRanSFoRMeRSKeyBoaRd CIRCuIT BoaRdS LapTop BaTTeRIeS

LoW gRade BoaRdS CRT’S

2011 equipMent donoRs

acorn Media

aeCoM

all Saints Catholic Church

archdiocese of Saint paul & Minneapolis

atwater Cosmos grove City public Schools

augsburg College

avalon Charter School

Bender-Kelner Wills Trusts & estates

Blue Cross/Blue Shield

Blue Sky Charter School

Central public Schools

Christ Lutheran School

City academy

City of Blaine

City of Bloomington

City of ham Lake

City of Shoreview

City of Woodbury

CLaM Corporaton

Comfrey public School

Community of peace academy

Consolidated Lumber

education Minnesota

edvisions

eSp IT professionals

Federal Bureau of Investigation

Fertile-Beltrami public Schools

First Impressions

First State Bank

Forest Lake ISd 831

Frost Byte, Inc.

general dynamics Information Systems

girl Scouts

great River energy

greatbatch

hennepin County

herman-norcross Community School district

high Tech Kids - InSCITe

holstein Law group

holy Trinity high School

Immunization action Coalition

James Kroesch & associates

Jason davis & associates

Jordan area Community Council

Land o’Lakes

Lerner publishing

Macro group

MediMedia

MedToX Scientific, Inc.

Midwest Special Services

Minnesota department of health

Minnesota department of Labor and Industry

Mn department of Corrections

national guard

new heights Charter School

ortonville public School district

pace analytical

prometric

Rice Memorial hospital

Salem Lutheran Church/School

South Washington School district

St. Casimir’s School

St. Charles Bormeo School

St. Mary’s Jr./Sr. high School

St. paul City Schools

St. paul youth Services

St. peter public Schools

Steve Bartholet

Swan River Charter School

TeCh CoRpS

Thomson Reuters

Three Rivers park district

TnT Computers

Transfiguration Catholic School

u.S. Customs and Border protection

u.S. department of Labor

united States Secret Service

uSda/ITS

voyageurs expeditionary high School

White Bear glass

Willard network Technologies, LLC

bRidging the divide:

76%

4

93%

65

62%

200

of students completed the recycling program

students went to college to continue their technology education after completing the GAP program

of students completed the refurbishing program

computers were placed in GAP classrooms

of students completed both programs

computers were recycled by students

bRInGInG TEChnolo

bRInGInG TEChnoloGy ACCESS AnD Job SkIllS To DISADvAnTAGED youTh

as society becomes more and more dependent on technology, so do companies. Today, it’s nearly impossible to gain employment without knowing basic computer skills – whether you’re a mechanic, a business executive or a chef – technology skills are a must.

unfortunately, the high cost of technology deepens the economic divide between today’s youth. as a result of the expense associated with technology, disadvantaged youth typically don’t have the computer skills that are crucial to success in school and the workforce.

In 2010, MCFS piloted a program at guadalupe alternative program School (gap) in St. paul, Minnesota – a school that provides education to underserved youth who have not been successful in traditional education settings. The program aims to provide gap students with the technology skills necessary to secure stable employment in the technology field.

The curriculum, which uses the same Microsoft® certified training program MCFS has successfully implemented at the Stillwater Correctional Facility, teaches students basic computer skills and computer recycling and refurbishing – skills that are becoming increasingly important in today’s economy and can lead to a job after graduation.

Together, with support from local businesses including Bigelow Foundation, St. paul Foundation, donaldson Foundation, Wells Fargo Foundation and otto Bremer Foundation, MCFS and gap provide computer skills to a group of students who don’t typically have access to technology and often get left behind.

‘‘‘‘“We’re living in a society that uses technology daily. If you don’t know how you use it, you’re going to be left behind.” - kate Medd, IC3

2011 by the nuMbeRs

114 schools served; 15 new school customers and 3 new school districts

3,707 computers placed in schools; 295,000 students were given increased access to computers

14 children with special needs and 2 special education departments were provided technology

More than 3,700 computer units were refurbished instead of being destroyed

312,947 pounds of computer waste was recycled and not put into landfills

112 inmates at Stillwater Correctional Facility learned transferable, on-the-job technology skills

21 students received computer recycling and refurbishing skills through the MCFS workforce training project at guadalupe alternative program School

3M Foundation, Inc.

alan Keller

Fred C. & Katherine B. andersen Foundation

archie d. & Bertha h. Walker Foundation

Barbara Westgard

F.R. Bigelow Foundation

Bonnie vagasky

Cheryl Moeller

dave Scheffler

donaldson Foundation

douglas Swenson

ecolab Foundation

elmer L. & eleanor J. andersen Foundation

First evangelical Lutheran Schools

goodrich Sensors and Integrated Systems

James afdahl

Kim Sebesta

Land o’Lakes growing green Team

Medtronic Foundation

Minnesota high Tech association

Michael Linnemann

Michelle Smith

otto Bremer Foundation

The pentair Foundation

The Saint paul Foundation

Steve Willems

Tracy Morgan

The Travelers Foundation

uline

Walmart #1861

h.e. & helen R. Warren Foundation

Wells Fargo Foundation

2011 ContRibutoRs

Revenue

product Sales $627,714.73

Cash Contributions $252,609.92

Interest $1,228.11

Scrap $84,498.27

ToTAl $966,051.03

eXpenSeS

Staff $531,435.32

Components $135,680.41

Inmate Wages $29,386.82

Transportation $22,022.23

Marketing & Travel $28,029.26

Rent $10,000.00

ToTAl $756,554.04

The MCFS audited financials and IRS Form 990 for 2011 are available upon request. To request these financial records, please contact MCFS at 651.779.2816

gordon parks high School (gphS), an alternative Learning Center in St. paul, Minnesota, serves students who are disengaged from school. Many of the students, who tend to be from low-income families, don’t have access to reliable technology outside of school – making it difficult for them to complete schoolwork and apply for jobs.

gphS wanted to send a strong message of support to students and their parents. To do this, paul Creager, Curriculum and Media arts Coordinator, implemented a program to reward students for positive behavior by giving those who maintained 80% attendance during a nine-week period a chance to win a laptop.

For many of these students, this was the first computer they had ever owned and they had big plans for using them – applying for college, completing schoolwork and finding employment.

80%Thanks to our invaluable partners 3M Foundation, Microsoft, and The Travelers Foundation, MCFS donated 20 laptops to be awarded to students who maintained 80% attendance or higher for nine weeks.

booSTInG ATTEnDAnCE AnD

Students who earned a laptop inspired their peers to strive for excellence – In ThE fAll of 2011, ThE nuMbER of STuDEnTS who quAlIfIED foR A lAPToP DoublED from the previous semester and more students are showing up on a regular basis because they also want to earn a laptop.

‘‘‘‘“Now I’m starting to come to school every day so I can graduate and

my grades are getting better,” said one student who won a laptop. When asked how she was going to use the laptop, her answer was simple, “For college.”

“Since I started coming to this school, I decided that maybe I need my education and I should stay in school.”

EnGAGEMEnT wITh TEChnoloGy

ConnECTInG STuDEnTS wITh

In 2002, Minneapolis public Schools implemented a program called Check and Connect in its high schools to help disengaged students succeed in school. The program focuses on students who are failing classes, getting into trouble and who need extra support in order to graduate.

The Check and Connect mentors at Washburn high School, Mike hastert and Jenna otten, each have a caseload of 40 students who are in danger of not graduating from high school.

Many teachers are requiring students to use computers to type papers, do research and turn in homework via email. unfoRTunATEly, MAny of ThE STuDEnTS InvolvED In ThE ChECk AnD ConnECT PRoGRAM Don’T hAvE ACCESS To CoMPuTERS AT hoME, PRESEnTInG yET AnoThER bARRIER To SuCCESS In SChool. Mike and Jenna turned to MCFS to help provide affordable, high-quality laptops for their students.

MEnToRS AnD TEChnoloGy

Check and Connect not only provides students with a mentor to provide encouragement and guidance throughout the year, but the program gives students access to the technology necessary to develop invaluable skills that will help them succeed in school.

[ [With generous support from The Travelers Foundation, MCFS donated 10 computers to the Check and Connect program at Washburn high School. The students can use the computers while in the Check and Connect room, or they can check them out to use for their schoolwork outside of class.

ada-Borup School district

albert Lea public School district

american Indian oIC

ashby public School

atwater Cosmos grove City public Schools

augsburg Fairview academy

Battle Lake School district

Benson public School

Benton Stearns education district

Bluffview Montessori School

BoLd public Schools

Breckenridge public School

Central public Schools

Chandler Christian School

Chisago Lakes School district

Christ Community Lutheran School

Christ Lutheran School

Circle of nations School

Comfrey public School

Community of peace academy

Community School of excellence

Crosslake Community School

Crown of Life Lutheran School

Cyber village academy

discovery Charter School

dugsi academy

east grand Forks area Special education Coop

excell academy for higher Learning

First ev. Lutheran School

Foley public School district

Forest Lake ISd 831

garlough elementary School

gordon parks high School

grand Meadow

guadalupe alternative program

harbor City International School

haven School

herman-norcross Community School district

higher ground academy

highview alternative program

holy Cross Catholic School

holy Family Catholic School

holy Trinity high School

humboldt high School

Immanuel Luthern School/gaylord

John Ireland Catholic School

Kaleidoscope Charter School

Lake Superior high School

Lanesboro public Schools

Laporte School district

LeRoy-ostrander public Schools

Lincoln hI - Ivanhoe

Lino Lakes elementary

Lyle School district

Maccray Schools

Main Street School of performing arts

Marquette School

Marshall School

Mary Queen of peace Catholic School

nay ah Shing upper School

new heights Charter School

new London-Spicer School district

norman County east School district

norman County West School district

northwestern College

nova Classical academy

odyssey academy

onamia public Schools

ortonville public School district

paCT Charter School

pierz ISd 484

Queen of peace School

Red Lake Falls public Schools

Roosevelt high School

Rothsay School district

Sacred heart School/Waseca

Salem Lutheran Church/School

Sauk Rapids-Rice public Schools

South Washington School district

Southland School district

St. alphonsus parish School

2011 sChooLs

St. anastasia School

St. anne School

St. Casimir’s School

St. James Lutheran School

St. James School

St. Jerome Catholic School

St. John the Baptist

St. John the Baptist/excelsior

St. John’s School/duluth

St. Joseph’s School/gR

St. Mary’s Catholic School/Madelia

St. paul City School

St. paul School district

St. paul’s Lutheran School/Fairmont

St. peter public Schools

St. peter’s School

St. philip’s School

St. pius X Catholic School

St. Raphael School-Springfield

St. Thomas School

Swan River Charter School

Tatanka academy

The emily o.goodridge-grey acc. Charter School

Transfiguration Catholic School

Trinity First Lutheran School

Trinity Lutheran School/Janesville

urban academy Charter School

volunteers of america phoenix high School

voyageurs expeditionary high School

Wabasso public Schools

Washburn high School

Winona public School district

yinghua academy

BoaRd oF dIReCToRS

Steven BartholetChair

eric vercauterenVice Chair

doug SwensonTreasurer

Mary MehsikomerSecretary

dIReCToRS

dave Scheffler

Steve dess

Mike Linnemann

Karen Black

gregg dorazio

Steven Willems

MCFS STaFF

Tamara gillardExecutive Director neal LewisDirector of operations and Customer Services

Brian BeaupreProduction & Tech Support Manager/webmaster

Jim ChristiansenSales and Marketing

Chris dopkinsbusiness Manager

Tom TiemanProduction Manager

Jim ThirstenInventory Manger dave KanipesIntake Manager

970 Pickett St. North Bayport, MN 55003 651-779-2816 | www.mncfs.org

our paper is recycled, containing post-consumer waste.