InspirEDU Receives Technology Donation from IHG Hotels & Resorts to Support Education and Digital Career Readiness Efforts
InspirEDU, an Atlanta-based education nonprofit, has received an in-kind technology donation of more than 150 laptops and iPhones from IHG Hotels & Resorts, which will provide marginalized students with access to home learning opportunities. Through this effort, InspirEDU will refurbish the devices, as well as provide digital training and help desk support to those students and families that receive the distributed devices at Du Bois Integrity Academy in metro Atlanta.
As Covid-19 has upended education, it has highlighted the urgent need for home learning centers for marginalized populations in Greater Atlanta. As schools have shifted to distance learning, more than 20% of students in Greater Atlanta cannot keep up with their education because they have no device and no internet access. IHG’s donated devices, which are refurbished by InspirEDU’s IT team, will provide home learning technology to metro Atlanta students who are not currently able to participate in distance learning.
Richard Hicks, CEO of InspirEDU, said: “In these uncertain times, schools have reached out to us with urgent pleas for devices and InpsirEDU’s commitment to our community requires that we answer the call so that no child is left behind. We are grateful to corporate supporters like IHG Hotels & Resorts for donating technology devices so we can provide digital tools and essential training to both students and caregivers in order to create a successful learning environment at home.”
IHG Hotels & Resorts is a global hotel company with a presence in more than 100 countries and a diverse portfolio of well-known hotels brands such as Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts and InterContinental Hotels & Resorts. The company is committed to making a positive contribution to the many communities in which its brands operate, and is expressly committed to supporting the Atlanta community, home to IHG’s Americas headquarters for decades.
Randy Lummus, Vice President, Corporate Applications – Technology Services, IHG said, “Hospitality is fundamentally about connecting people and caring for our communities, and we take particular pride in supporting the important efforts of those working to make a difference in our hometown. Through this donation, we’re happy to provide access to critically-needed technology devices and to support InspirEDU’s work to advance education equity for all students.”
Craig Cason, Executive Director, Du Bois Integrity Academy said, “IHG’s donated laptops that InspirEDU outfitted with Microsoft software will be an incredible help to our students. Currently, we are 100% in distance learning; thus, being able to make sure each child has their own laptop to engage with teachers and complete assignments helps tremendously with students staying academically on par.”
Along with the refurbished computers that are preloaded with software, students and their families receive immediate support to master using the devices. InspirEDU’s Family Learning Workshops provide training in technology use and online resources that will continue to develop skills necessary for both classroom and workplace success.