$2 Million Collaboration Provides 1,000 Computers to Students From San Francisco to East San Jose

SANTA CLARA, Calif., September 24, 1996 -- This week thousands of Bay Area students will benefit from a gift of 1,000 Pentium® processor-based computers, thanks to a collaboration among Detwiler Foundation, the State Department of Corrections, Intel Corporation, Pacific Bell, Microsoft and Komag. Students and teachers in more than 40 schools from Bayview/Hunter’s Point to San Francisco to East San Jose are installing the systems for access to technology in their classrooms. This project is part of the Detwiler Foundation’s overall goal to improve the ratio of students to computers to 8:1 from 16:1, a ratio that presently places California 50th in the nation.

Schools Host Gayle Wilson and Corporate Executives

On Sept. 25 students will demonstrate how the systems will prepare them for the future. They will will be joined by Gayle Wilson, first lady of California, at Wilcox High School in Santa Clara at 10 a.m. and at Visitacion Valley Middle School in San Francisco at 1 p.m. Gordon Moore, chairman of Intel, will be present in Santa Clara; Phil Quigley, chairman of Pacific Telesis, will be present in San Francisco.

Recipients

The systems have been donated to schools in San Francisco Unified School District, East San Jose, Santa Clara Unified School District, and a few nonprofit organizations for educational purposes, including the Tech Museum of Innovation and the San Jose Public Library.

“It’s amazing. The old systems would still be booting up when these new high-powered systems are all ready to go,” said Charles Mosher, Computer Aided Design teacher at Wilcox High School, a recipient of 33 systems. “My students will be learning how to visualize and communicate with graphics. This donation is just great.”

“Pacific Bell’s investment in the San Francisco Unified School District is an opportunity for the business community and the public schools to work together to put technology into the hands of students with the least access,” said Waldemar Rojas, superintendent of schools in San Francisco. “This partnership will result in all of our youngsters being prepared for the 21st Century and ensures that no child will be left behind.”

Working Together for Students

The donation is a result of a collaboration that began six months ago. Pacific Bell approached the Detwiler Foundation about upgrading unused computer systems that it wished to donate to schools. The Detwiler Foundation is a non-profit organization which facilitates the donation, repair and placement of computer equipment to schools in California. Typically, companies donate used equipment to Detwiler, Detwiler coordinates upgrades utilizing a web of community colleges and correctional facilities, then arranges the donations to schools. In this case, Detwiler coordinated assembly services provided by inmates in a model electronics training program at Solano State Prison. To create the upgraded systems:

Pacific Bell donated unused upgradeable computer systems and $460,000.
Intel donated 1,000 133-MHz Pentium processors, 1,000 motherboards and tech support.
Microsoft donated 1,000 copies of Windows ‘95 software.
California Department of Corrections upgraded the computers at Solano Prison, Vacaville.
Komag donated cash to complete upgrades for some of the systems.
Detwiler Foundation Computers for Schools provided coordination of the entire project.

“This donation is part of Intel’s continuing support of K-12 education in the communities where we live and work,” said Stephen L. Smith, vice president of Intel’s Microprocessor Products Group. “We are very pleased to be working with community leaders such as Pacific Bell and Detwiler to bring the benefits of technology to California schools.”

“This collaboration is brightening the futures of many young people, developing California’s work force and providing prisoner rehabilitation,” said John Detwiler, executive director of the Detwiler Foundation.

Pacific Bell’s Education First is a $100 million program to help provide every school and library in California with a digital on-ramp to the information superhighway by the year 2000. The program offers free installation and one year of free service of Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), along with technology workshops for teachers and librarians, assistance with applications development and discounts on equipment. To date, Education First has wired more than 1,800 schools and libraries with high-speed digital lines. Pacific Bell is a subsidiary of Pacific Telesis Group, a diversified communications company based in San Francisco.

Intel, the world’s largest chipmaker, is also a leading manufacturer of personal computer, networking and communications products. Through innovative technologies, Intel is committed to improving the Internet experience for PC consumers. Additional information is available at www.intel.com/pressroom.

The Detwiler Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to making California a leader in school technology. It receives donated computers, refurbishes and upgrades them in vocational training and prisoner rehabilitation programs in 52 locations, and places them in schools. Over 20,000 computers have been donated to schools in California through the program. Businesses and individuals wishing to donate computers are invited to call the Detwiler Foundation at (800) 939-6000. Schools interested in participating in the Matching Program are invited to contact the Detwiler Foundation at (619) 456-9045.

More information

Intel Educational Support Press Kit
Read previous Community related press releases.
Additional information on Intel is available at www.intel.com/pressroom.

Legal Stuff