Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - February 17, 2003
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
Alt Contact:  Mark Sanders, Beaumont Foundation of America, 1-800-469-0661

Gov. Gary Locke Announces Nearly $2 Million in Grants Available for Free Computers for Washington Schools, Citizens

OLYMPIA – Feb. 17, 2003 – Gov. Gary Locke today announced that Washington is eligible for $1.6 million in grants during the next year to provide free computers to Washington schools, citizens and organizations.

The grants will be administered by the Beaumont Foundation of America, which was created out of the settlement of a nationwide class-action lawsuit involving alleged faulty equipment in Toshiba computers. The case was settled for $2.1 billion and the agreement required that any unclaimed funds go into a foundation to be used to help close the digital divide in all 50 states.

“Technology is key in our classrooms and in our workplaces,” Locke said. “It provides a vital gateway to the educational opportunities that our citizens need to compete for satisfying well-paid jobs. This money will help give more Washington citizens more opportunities.”

The core purpose of the $350 million foundation is to grant state-of-the-art, Internet-enabled, wireless computer hardware to Americans who do not have access to the vast educational resources that can be made available through the Internet. Grants from the foundation will be available across America throughout the next four years.

The foundation has three distinct grant programs:
· Education grants of technology equipment for schools;
· Community grants of technology equipment to community-based organizations;
· Individual grants of technology equipment.

“I’d like to see to it that there is not a child in this country who is denied access to a computer, nor is there a child in this country who has access to a computer but does not have a teacher who can teach him or her how to use it,” said Wayne Reaud, chairman of the board of the Beaumont Foundation of America.

The foundation is accepting grant applications through March 31, 2003. For more information, contact the Beaumont Foundation of America at 1-866-505-COMP.

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Related Links:
- Governor's Office
- Beaumont Foundation of America

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