Donation of computer hardware benefits thousands of Indiana residents
Published Tuesday, March 22, 2011 7:00 am by Katie Guyer, Marketing Specialist
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (March 22, 2011) – Fifth Gear, an Indianapolis-based provider of outsourced order fulfillment, contact center, ecommerce technology, and marketing services, recently made a series of donations of computer hardware to Net Literacy of Indiana. Net Literacy, founded by middle school student Daniel Kent in 2003, has organized thousands of students who volunteer to provide increased computer access, Internet safety awareness, and digital inclusion throughout Indiana. Since its inception, student volunteers have increased computer access to over 150,000 Indiana residents. During the last three years alone, students have donated over 12,000 computers to Indiana schools, libraries, and other nonprofit organizations. Net Literacy’s Honorary Board includes Indiana Senator Richard Lugar and Lt. Governor Becky Skillman, and their service learning programs have been recognized by two American Presidents. In 2010, the Federal Communications Commission cited three of Net Literacy’s programs in the National Broadband Plan prepared for Congress.
“Fifth Gear is a company that believes in giving back to others,” says Daniel Kent, student president and board member. “During the last two years, their contributions of computers and over 100 monitors will touch more than 1000 residents, since we donate many of our computers to create or expand public computer labs in schools, libraries, and nonprofits. We applaud Fifth Gear for being environmentally friendly and socially responsible.” Kent explains, “When someone throws a computer out, it harms our environment because the monitors have toxins that pollute our landfills. At the request of the Lt. Governor’s office and working with the Indiana Association of United Ways, we are mid-way through a three year initiative that will provide thousands of computers to help nonprofits in more than 80 counties throughout the State of Indiana. We will use the computers and monitors donated by Fifth Gear to help meet the technology needs of residents in rural counties.” Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels recently proclaimed an “Indiana Net Literacy and Digital Literacy Day,” recognizing this state-wide initiative.
“Net Literacy has earned an excellent reputation for their efforts,” says Fifth Gear Chief Information Officer Don Dillard. “We are proud to help them empower others who can truly benefit from access to the computer hardware we’re able to donate.”
“We are grateful that Fifth Gear reached out and asked us if they could help our digital inclusion efforts,” said Kent. “Fifth Gear has given these computers and monitors a ‘second life’.”
About Net Literacy
Learn more about Net Literacy by visiting www.netliteracy.org.
About Fifth Gear
Fifth Gear (www.inFifthGear.com) provides outsourced order fulfillment, contact center services, ecommerce technology and marketing services to specialty retailers and manufacturers of consumer products. The Company serves as a single source partner to its clients, providing access to the industry expertise, infrastructure and technology they require to drive revenue growth. Fifth Gear is privately-held and headquartered in Indianapolis, IN. The Company serves over 100 ecommerce and catalog retailers today and continues to expand its portfolio of unique offerings for its multichannel retail clients.