mcfs annual report
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Minnesota Computers for SchoolsTRANSCRIPT
2011Minnesota Computers for Schools
2011 Annual Report
“All students deserve equal access to the technology necessary to develop the skills, knowledge and confidence required for success in school, the community and the workforce.” –Tamara Gillard, Executive Director, Minnesota Computers for Schools
Minnesota Computers for Schools (MCFS) refurbishes and customizes computers donated from businesses and places them in schools and educational nonprofit organizations throughout the state for a nominal fee, providing students with increased access to technology.
Minnesota Computers for Schools provides technology access for lifelong learning.
Mission
About MCFs
LiFeCyCLe oF donAted equipMentLifecycle of Donated Equipment
COMPUTERS DONATED
DATA SCRUBBED
REFURBISHED BY INMATES
EQUIPMENT CUSTOMIZED AND PLACED IN SCHOOLS
UNUSED PARTS
RECYCLED
Tamara Gillardexecutive director
Steven Bartholetboard Chair
A Letter from the executive director & board Chair
Technology. Access. Impact.
Today, the price of not having access to technology is much higher than it was just five years ago. Today, not having access is a reason some students struggle in school and can’t find work – leaving them feeling defeated and left behind.
Teachers understand the importance of providing their students with access to technology in the classroom, which is why 2011 was our busiest year since the organization’s founding in 1997. In 2011, MCFS placed 3,707 computers in schools and educational nonprofit organizations across the state – our highest number yet.
This is good news and bad news – the good news is we’ve provided 295,000 students with increased access to technology. The bad news is that now, more than ever, schools need access to affordable technology. The demand is high and we need your help. We have a long list of schools waiting for computers and the only thing preventing MCFS from supporting the success of more students throughout Minnesota is the supply of donated computers.
The work we do would not be possible without our generous donors, contributors and supporters. Because of your dedication to our mission to provide technology access for lifelong learning, we are able to transform the lives of thousands of students each year. We look forward to continuing our work together in the years to come to help close the gap between those who have access to technology and those who do not.
There are a lot of exciting things on the horizon at MCFS so be sure to stay in touch throughout the year – you can sign up for our e-newsletter or follow us on Facebook or LinkedIn.
Sincerely,
We want to do our best to protect the environment, that’s why we have a no landfill policy. This year, we’re taking it even further. We’re in the process of obtaining our R2 CERTIfICATIon – A lEADInG STAnDARD foR ThE ElECTRonICS RECyClInG InDuSTRy.
R2 requires e-recyclers to assure that all focus materials (those that are part of the toxic material stream) are managed safely and responsibly and prohibits e-recyclers from exporting toxic materials to countries that have enacted laws making their import illegal.
MCFS has always followed these regulations and in a few months, we’ll have the certification to prove it.
CoMing up: R2 CeRtiFiCAtion
RECyClInG by ThE nuMbERS ToTaL WeIghT: 312,947 LBS.
hIgh gRade BoaRdS
WIReS
STReTCh WRap-BaLed
CoLoRed pLaSTIC-BaLed
WhITe pLaSTIC-BaLed
MeTaL-BaLed
Cd & FLoppy dRIveS
haRd dRIveS
ShRedded haRd dRIveS
aLuMInuM
#2 CoppeR
FanS
ToneR CaRT.
poWeR adapToRS TRanSFoRMeRSKeyBoaRd CIRCuIT BoaRdS LapTop BaTTeRIeS
LoW gRade BoaRdS CRT’S
2011 equipMent donoRs
acorn Media
aeCoM
all Saints Catholic Church
archdiocese of Saint paul & Minneapolis
atwater Cosmos grove City public Schools
augsburg College
avalon Charter School
Bender-Kelner Wills Trusts & estates
Blue Cross/Blue Shield
Blue Sky Charter School
Central public Schools
Christ Lutheran School
City academy
City of Blaine
City of Bloomington
City of ham Lake
City of Shoreview
City of Woodbury
CLaM Corporaton
Comfrey public School
Community of peace academy
Consolidated Lumber
education Minnesota
edvisions
eSp IT professionals
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Fertile-Beltrami public Schools
First Impressions
First State Bank
Forest Lake ISd 831
Frost Byte, Inc.
general dynamics Information Systems
girl Scouts
great River energy
greatbatch
hennepin County
herman-norcross Community School district
high Tech Kids - InSCITe
holstein Law group
holy Trinity high School
Immunization action Coalition
James Kroesch & associates
Jason davis & associates
Jordan area Community Council
Land o’Lakes
Lerner publishing
Macro group
MediMedia
MedToX Scientific, Inc.
Midwest Special Services
Minnesota department of health
Minnesota department of Labor and Industry
Mn department of Corrections
national guard
new heights Charter School
ortonville public School district
pace analytical
prometric
Rice Memorial hospital
Salem Lutheran Church/School
South Washington School district
St. Casimir’s School
St. Charles Bormeo School
St. Mary’s Jr./Sr. high School
St. paul City Schools
St. paul youth Services
St. peter public Schools
Steve Bartholet
Swan River Charter School
TeCh CoRpS
Thomson Reuters
Three Rivers park district
TnT Computers
Transfiguration Catholic School
u.S. Customs and Border protection
u.S. department of Labor
united States Secret Service
uSda/ITS
voyageurs expeditionary high School
White Bear glass
Willard network Technologies, LLC
bRidging the divide:
76%
4
93%
65
62%
200
of students completed the recycling program
students went to college to continue their technology education after completing the GAP program
of students completed the refurbishing program
computers were placed in GAP classrooms
of students completed both programs
computers were recycled by students
bRInGInG TEChnolo
bRInGInG TEChnoloGy ACCESS AnD Job SkIllS To DISADvAnTAGED youTh
as society becomes more and more dependent on technology, so do companies. Today, it’s nearly impossible to gain employment without knowing basic computer skills – whether you’re a mechanic, a business executive or a chef – technology skills are a must.
unfortunately, the high cost of technology deepens the economic divide between today’s youth. as a result of the expense associated with technology, disadvantaged youth typically don’t have the computer skills that are crucial to success in school and the workforce.
In 2010, MCFS piloted a program at guadalupe alternative program School (gap) in St. paul, Minnesota – a school that provides education to underserved youth who have not been successful in traditional education settings. The program aims to provide gap students with the technology skills necessary to secure stable employment in the technology field.
The curriculum, which uses the same Microsoft® certified training program MCFS has successfully implemented at the Stillwater Correctional Facility, teaches students basic computer skills and computer recycling and refurbishing – skills that are becoming increasingly important in today’s economy and can lead to a job after graduation.
Together, with support from local businesses including Bigelow Foundation, St. paul Foundation, donaldson Foundation, Wells Fargo Foundation and otto Bremer Foundation, MCFS and gap provide computer skills to a group of students who don’t typically have access to technology and often get left behind.
‘‘‘‘“We’re living in a society that uses technology daily. If you don’t know how you use it, you’re going to be left behind.” - kate Medd, IC3
2011 by the nuMbeRs
114 schools served; 15 new school customers and 3 new school districts
3,707 computers placed in schools; 295,000 students were given increased access to computers
14 children with special needs and 2 special education departments were provided technology
More than 3,700 computer units were refurbished instead of being destroyed
312,947 pounds of computer waste was recycled and not put into landfills
112 inmates at Stillwater Correctional Facility learned transferable, on-the-job technology skills
21 students received computer recycling and refurbishing skills through the MCFS workforce training project at guadalupe alternative program School
3M Foundation, Inc.
alan Keller
Fred C. & Katherine B. andersen Foundation
archie d. & Bertha h. Walker Foundation
Barbara Westgard
F.R. Bigelow Foundation
Bonnie vagasky
Cheryl Moeller
dave Scheffler
donaldson Foundation
douglas Swenson
ecolab Foundation
elmer L. & eleanor J. andersen Foundation
First evangelical Lutheran Schools
goodrich Sensors and Integrated Systems
James afdahl
Kim Sebesta
Land o’Lakes growing green Team
Medtronic Foundation
Minnesota high Tech association
Michael Linnemann
Michelle Smith
otto Bremer Foundation
The pentair Foundation
The Saint paul Foundation
Steve Willems
Tracy Morgan
The Travelers Foundation
uline
Walmart #1861
h.e. & helen R. Warren Foundation
Wells Fargo Foundation
2011 ContRibutoRs
Revenue
product Sales $627,714.73
Cash Contributions $252,609.92
Interest $1,228.11
Scrap $84,498.27
ToTAl $966,051.03
eXpenSeS
Staff $531,435.32
Components $135,680.41
Inmate Wages $29,386.82
Transportation $22,022.23
Marketing & Travel $28,029.26
Rent $10,000.00
ToTAl $756,554.04
The MCFS audited financials and IRS Form 990 for 2011 are available upon request. To request these financial records, please contact MCFS at 651.779.2816
gordon parks high School (gphS), an alternative Learning Center in St. paul, Minnesota, serves students who are disengaged from school. Many of the students, who tend to be from low-income families, don’t have access to reliable technology outside of school – making it difficult for them to complete schoolwork and apply for jobs.
gphS wanted to send a strong message of support to students and their parents. To do this, paul Creager, Curriculum and Media arts Coordinator, implemented a program to reward students for positive behavior by giving those who maintained 80% attendance during a nine-week period a chance to win a laptop.
For many of these students, this was the first computer they had ever owned and they had big plans for using them – applying for college, completing schoolwork and finding employment.
80%Thanks to our invaluable partners 3M Foundation, Microsoft, and The Travelers Foundation, MCFS donated 20 laptops to be awarded to students who maintained 80% attendance or higher for nine weeks.
booSTInG ATTEnDAnCE AnD
Students who earned a laptop inspired their peers to strive for excellence – In ThE fAll of 2011, ThE nuMbER of STuDEnTS who quAlIfIED foR A lAPToP DoublED from the previous semester and more students are showing up on a regular basis because they also want to earn a laptop.
‘‘‘‘“Now I’m starting to come to school every day so I can graduate and
my grades are getting better,” said one student who won a laptop. When asked how she was going to use the laptop, her answer was simple, “For college.”
“Since I started coming to this school, I decided that maybe I need my education and I should stay in school.”
EnGAGEMEnT wITh TEChnoloGy
ConnECTInG STuDEnTS wITh
In 2002, Minneapolis public Schools implemented a program called Check and Connect in its high schools to help disengaged students succeed in school. The program focuses on students who are failing classes, getting into trouble and who need extra support in order to graduate.
The Check and Connect mentors at Washburn high School, Mike hastert and Jenna otten, each have a caseload of 40 students who are in danger of not graduating from high school.
Many teachers are requiring students to use computers to type papers, do research and turn in homework via email. unfoRTunATEly, MAny of ThE STuDEnTS InvolvED In ThE ChECk AnD ConnECT PRoGRAM Don’T hAvE ACCESS To CoMPuTERS AT hoME, PRESEnTInG yET AnoThER bARRIER To SuCCESS In SChool. Mike and Jenna turned to MCFS to help provide affordable, high-quality laptops for their students.
MEnToRS AnD TEChnoloGy
Check and Connect not only provides students with a mentor to provide encouragement and guidance throughout the year, but the program gives students access to the technology necessary to develop invaluable skills that will help them succeed in school.
[ [With generous support from The Travelers Foundation, MCFS donated 10 computers to the Check and Connect program at Washburn high School. The students can use the computers while in the Check and Connect room, or they can check them out to use for their schoolwork outside of class.
ada-Borup School district
albert Lea public School district
american Indian oIC
ashby public School
atwater Cosmos grove City public Schools
augsburg Fairview academy
Battle Lake School district
Benson public School
Benton Stearns education district
Bluffview Montessori School
BoLd public Schools
Breckenridge public School
Central public Schools
Chandler Christian School
Chisago Lakes School district
Christ Community Lutheran School
Christ Lutheran School
Circle of nations School
Comfrey public School
Community of peace academy
Community School of excellence
Crosslake Community School
Crown of Life Lutheran School
Cyber village academy
discovery Charter School
dugsi academy
east grand Forks area Special education Coop
excell academy for higher Learning
First ev. Lutheran School
Foley public School district
Forest Lake ISd 831
garlough elementary School
gordon parks high School
grand Meadow
guadalupe alternative program
harbor City International School
haven School
herman-norcross Community School district
higher ground academy
highview alternative program
holy Cross Catholic School
holy Family Catholic School
holy Trinity high School
humboldt high School
Immanuel Luthern School/gaylord
John Ireland Catholic School
Kaleidoscope Charter School
Lake Superior high School
Lanesboro public Schools
Laporte School district
LeRoy-ostrander public Schools
Lincoln hI - Ivanhoe
Lino Lakes elementary
Lyle School district
Maccray Schools
Main Street School of performing arts
Marquette School
Marshall School
Mary Queen of peace Catholic School
nay ah Shing upper School
new heights Charter School
new London-Spicer School district
norman County east School district
norman County West School district
northwestern College
nova Classical academy
odyssey academy
onamia public Schools
ortonville public School district
paCT Charter School
pierz ISd 484
Queen of peace School
Red Lake Falls public Schools
Roosevelt high School
Rothsay School district
Sacred heart School/Waseca
Salem Lutheran Church/School
Sauk Rapids-Rice public Schools
South Washington School district
Southland School district
St. alphonsus parish School
2011 sChooLs
St. anastasia School
St. anne School
St. Casimir’s School
St. James Lutheran School
St. James School
St. Jerome Catholic School
St. John the Baptist
St. John the Baptist/excelsior
St. John’s School/duluth
St. Joseph’s School/gR
St. Mary’s Catholic School/Madelia
St. paul City School
St. paul School district
St. paul’s Lutheran School/Fairmont
St. peter public Schools
St. peter’s School
St. philip’s School
St. pius X Catholic School
St. Raphael School-Springfield
St. Thomas School
Swan River Charter School
Tatanka academy
The emily o.goodridge-grey acc. Charter School
Transfiguration Catholic School
Trinity First Lutheran School
Trinity Lutheran School/Janesville
urban academy Charter School
volunteers of america phoenix high School
voyageurs expeditionary high School
Wabasso public Schools
Washburn high School
Winona public School district
yinghua academy
BoaRd oF dIReCToRS
Steven BartholetChair
eric vercauterenVice Chair
doug SwensonTreasurer
Mary MehsikomerSecretary
dIReCToRS
dave Scheffler
Steve dess
Mike Linnemann
Karen Black
gregg dorazio
Steven Willems
MCFS STaFF
Tamara gillardExecutive Director neal LewisDirector of operations and Customer Services
Brian BeaupreProduction & Tech Support Manager/webmaster
Jim ChristiansenSales and Marketing
Chris dopkinsbusiness Manager
Tom TiemanProduction Manager
Jim ThirstenInventory Manger dave KanipesIntake Manager
970 Pickett St. North Bayport, MN 55003 651-779-2816 | www.mncfs.org
our paper is recycled, containing post-consumer waste.