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Bank of America Donates 550 Laptop Computers to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Staff and Students

Bank of America Donates 550 Laptop Computers to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Staff and Students

Published 05-10-00

Submitted by Bank of America Corporation

Bank of America today announced a donation of 550 laptop computers to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) to support staff and students.

The laptop computers donated by Bank of America were initiated through the Charlotte Chamber's Information Technologies Council and its Crayons to Computers program. This initiative serves as a clearinghouse for businesses to provide school supplies and computers to CMS classrooms.

“Bank of America is committed to supporting the communities where we live and do business and we also are convinced that there is no better place for our resources than in education,” said Ed Dolby, President, Bank of America – North and South Carolina Banking Groups. “We are proud to make this donation and hope that this will serve as a catalyst for other businesses to do the same.”

A laptop will be distributed to each CMS principal, members of the CMS Leadership Academy, school psychologists and other staff members. By having unlimited access to the laptops at home and at the office, staff members will be able to share ideas, exchange lesson plans, update records, identify web sites for classroom use and track student progress.

In addition to benefiting school staff members, nearly 200 laptops will support students. One hundred and thirty fifth grade students at Cotswold Elementary will have direct access to use the computers for homework, projects and in some cases, share what they’ve learned about technology with their parents. Sixty laptops will be used in the classroom at Winterfield Elementary.

“Computers have become a valuable learning tool, offering a library’s worth of knowledge at the touch of a key,” said Superintendent Eric Smith. “But knowledge of computers also has become a necessity in a rapidly changing world, and students will need to know how to use that technology to succeed in school and in the working world.”

“Without Bank of America’s donation, many key CMS staff members would still be struggling with 1980s technology,” according to Rick Rozzelle, CMS Chief Information Officer. “As a school system, one of our four stated goals is effective and efficient support of our schools. This donation will enhance our ability to support our schools and better serve our students.”

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District is the twenty-third largest school district in the country. The vision of CMS is to ensure that the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School System becomes the premier urban, integrated school system in the nation in which all students acquire the knowledge, skills and values necessary to live rich and full lives as productive and enlightened members of society. As part of that vision, CMS is committed to exposing students to cutting-edge technology that will prepare them for employment in a highly competitive and global work force.

Bank of America, with $656 billion in assets, is the largest bank in the United States. It has full-service operations in 21 states and the District of Columbia and provides financial products and services to 30 million households and two million businesses, as well as providing international corporate financial services for business transactions in 190 countries. The company's stock (ticker: BAC) is listed on the New York, Pacific and London stock exchanges, and certain shares are listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

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