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GCF Community Foundation®, through its computer-recycling
program, has enabled numerous community service organizations
and educational establishments to pursue their automation projects
using computers donated by the Foundation. With these donations,
the Angier County Head Start program can now offer computer time
to its preschoolers and their parents; more freshmen can get computer
time in college at North Carolina Central University; high school
students can learn to build and repair both servers and computers;
a community arts center can keep better records and box office
information. There is a long list of the recipients who are enjoying
the over 1600 computers donated since 1999.
All
of the computers that were distributed by the GCF Community Foundation®,
without any cost to the recipients, were donated by companies
(NOT INDIVIDUALS) that had upgraded their computer capabilities
and needed a suitable method of disposing of their old computers.
All company computer donations are made through our corporate
office. There are many reasons a company should
consider donating used computers to the GCF Community Foundation®.
Some of the most compelling are:
These
computers employ older technology. Out-of-date computers are quickly
becoming the bane of the cutting-edge corporation's life. Computer
technology is developing so fast that a computer can be outdated
in less than a year. For many businesses, this can be a serious
problem. The Research Triangle area of North Carolina is a high-technological
area, which means that the competitive businesses located here
must constantly update their technology and face the problem of
what to do with their older equipment.
Disposal
of computers and components is becoming more difficult as states
enforce regulations on landfills and hazardous waste. Computer
components contain metals and elements that are harmful to the
environment and putting them in landfills is clearly not the best
solution. Many companies find that disposal is not even an option.
Companies
now are finding themselves forced to pay warehousing costs for
computers they can't use. This is both expensive and completely
non-productive. In fact, experts estimate that most corporations
store old computer equipment for up to three years at a cost of
about $360 per machine, and then pay an additional $218 for its
disposal. (Info World magazine, April 10, 2000.)
The GCF Community Foundation® offers a solution to some of these costly problems. Our Recycling Technology program can be the perfect way to get more use out of slightly outdated computers. WE ARE UNABLE TO ACCEPT COMPUTER DONATIONS FROM INDIVIDUALS. We do accept older computers (Pentium models and above IN GOOD WORKING CONDITION) from companies that are upgrading their systems BUT THOSE DONATIONS MUST BE MADE THROUGH OUR CORPORATE OFFICE -- NOT AT OUR STORES. Call 919-281-9206 if your company has computers to donate. After we receive corporate computer donations we then redistribute them to community service organizations. The computers are used to provide services to people in the community who may not ever have had access to the technology. Some of the recipients of our computers are highlighted in the brochure that can be accessed by the link at the top of this screen. Recipients include the Durham Literacy Council, Envisionary Technology, Virtual Buddies (an on-line communication group for people who are housebound) and many others. The benefits of using computers in this manner are endless. First, there is the huge benefit to the community. Second, there is a massive cost savings to the company with excess computers. And third, there is a tax break for the company that donates the computers. Adding all these components together, there are only winners in the GCF Community Foundation™ program. The
GCF Community Foundation® would like to thank Glaxo Smith
Kline for its initial contribution of 55 computer systems to start
the Recycling Technology program. This strong start was invaluable
to the success of the program. GSK has generously continued to
suppport this program.
A
special thank you goes out to Central Carolina Bank (CCB), which
has, to date, donated more than 1,500 computer systems. These
computers are an incredible resource in the effort to address
the Digital Divide and enable people with disabilities and disadvantaging
conditions to increase their technological experiences.
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