What Orgs We Serve Say
We open this section of our site by taking excerpts from the 21 "Supporting Letters and Documents" listed on our older site's About Us index:
POSTED MOST RECENTLY:
Women's Community Revitalization Project
The majority of the children in our homes attend a school in the Philadelphia School District. At six of our housing developments we have homework clubs. While working with children in these clubs, it became evident that several students do not have computers in their homes. This makes it difficult for them to complete homework assignments. Additionally, some of the learning activities we provide for our children are most effective when they have a computer and internet access to follow up on tasks assigned as well as learn more about the topic at hand.
Therefore, we are requesting free computers for these students. It will aid us tremendously in our efforts to support the children in completing their education. (August 2007)
Spring Garden Community Development Corporation
As you know, many of our neighborhood children live below the poverty level. Their families hardly have enough for bare necessities, much less for a computer to help with their children's school work. However, more and more, in order to succeed in school, children must have access to a computer and the Internet. Although there are computers at the local library, there are often waiting lists for access; the time for using the terminals is limited; and the families cannot afford the cost of printing copies. It is also not a good idea to have the children walking the dark streets at night seeking computer access, when they should be safe at home with their families. While the children can use two computers and the Internet in our offices after school, there are literally scores of children seeking to use the 2 computers; and we also close at 5:00 PM. We feel it is necessary, therefore, to start getting computers into each home that has school age children.
We would therefore like to participate in your classes for free computers for neighborhood young people. (November 2006)
School District of Philadelphia, Central East Regional Office
Because of the NTR project students and families have been given the opportunity to bridge the technological divide by providing them with training, internet access and computers.
Thank you for the support you have given thirty-six Edison High School students and families. I was thrilled to learn that these families now have internet access and computers at home. (May 2005)
School District of Philadelphia GEAR-UP Program for Robotics Education
These resources will add greatly to the impact that our program will have on the lives of the children and families we serve. Furthermore, computers will help both the young people and their families to increase their technology and programming skills. (October 2002)
POSTED PREVIOUSLY:
Mantua Haverford Community Center
Your efforts made all the difference in the success of helping our youth achieve their technology goals. ... The children who received the computers have furthered their web design skills and completed projects for the University of Pennsylvania and other small businesses and non-profits. Thanks to your efforts and participation we made a difference in helping others who need it most. ... These computers that are donated have been a blessing to the children and homes that received them. (August 2007)
Resources for Children's Health
Resources for Children's Health's (RCH) Health Intervention Program (HIP) wishes to thank you for the extensive concern and care you have shown the families of our program. The two families who have accessed your computers are eternally grateful for your service. They also deeply appreciate the no-cost three-year repair program you provide. More importantly, they are all very impressed and thankful for the computer set up you provide that offers each client specific programs targeting their personal learning needs.
As an agency serving families with special needs children, we look forward to working with you and using you as a resource for many disabled children and their financially strapped families that we serve throughout the year. (May 2007)
Grover Washington Jr Middle School Girl Power Program
You will never fully understand the impact the free computers will have on the young ladies who received the computers from Nonprofit Technology Resources. Prior to going to the workshop of June 8th, several of the young ladies expressed that no-one in their family had ever owned a computer. After the workshop, all the ladies expressed delight at having their own computers and several of the families have called to say thank you. This has been an invaluable experience for these ladies and their families and I thank you whole-heartedly. Enclosed you will find cards from several of the ladies who received the computers. (June 2006)
Horizon House Education Plus
Education Plus serves students who are diagnosed with a mental illness and are going to college as part of their recovery plan. Most of them are living on an extremely tight budget. They are trying to finance college while in most cases living on Social Security disability payments or other limited sources of income. Yet the ability to use a computer is an expected part of a college education. Professors e-mail assignments and require papers to be completed on a computer, and academic research is now largely done online. Our students are doing quite well in college, and in fact have a higher grade point average than non-disabled students. ... But lack of a computer can seriously interfere with their college progress. ...
You are truly making a difference in keeping the technological divide from widening. (March 2006)
Liberty Resources
Liberty Resources is proud to lend its support to Nonprofit Technology Resources. ...
For the past five years, LRI has offered technology training [to people with disabilities] through Liberty Resources Academy. Individuals receiving machines through NTR will be able to take advantage of the Academy's offerings to further their computer knowledge after their initial introduction to the computer through NTR. (January 2006)
City of Philadelphia Older Adult Centers
We appreciated your effort with the "Senior Technology Awareness Program". The seniors who attended the Temple sessions and those held at our Center greatly appreciated them.
We welcome the opportunity to be a part of the N.T.R. venture and are extremely enthusiastic about the benefits this program will provide to our members. (Undated)
From another letter: So often, the senior population is ignored or forgotten by the masses. The interest you have shown for this group of people is refreshing. (January 2006)
From another letter: By acquiring computer skills the senior population will be able to receive important information and keep in touch with family and friends minimizing elder isolation.
I am happy that our senior center is part of this project and I reiterate my commitment to the program. (January 2006)
Julia R. Masterman School
Last year's workshop provided twelve of our students with free computers and Internet service as well as instruction in the use and maintenance of the computers. Students from this group have [said] how much these computers have helped with their studies and the college application process. ... Our teachers have [said] that the addition of these computers greatly enhanced the students' performance. (Sept 2005)
Roman Catholic High School
I am very supportive of the mission of your organization in providing technology to support and enhance the educational opportunities of students confronted by serious financial challenges. I look forward to working with you in being able to offer these generous opportunities to students at Roman Catholic High School. (February 2004)
St. Hubert Catholic High School for Girls
As much as a parent wishes it were otherwise, many cannot do more than pay tuition or, perhaps, just a portion of it. Purchasing a computer for the student or for the family may be out of the question for them at this time.
Within hours of the announcement that students could apply for the gift of a computer, twenty-eight students came to put their names on the list. (November 2004)
St. Veronica School
Thank you for your recent e-mail of NTR's Electronic Kit-Building Program. Without a doubt, our students would benefit greatly from participation in a hands-on opportunity to learn more about today's technology. We would love to invite you for the up-coming year as an after-school program for our upper grade students. We have plenty of table space in our cafeteria, and no end of enthusiasm for technology. Count on our continued support of your many programs for low-income students, and our commitment toward helping our students to benefit from them. (May 2004)
Methodist Services for Children and Families
NTR was able to provide computers and instruction for ten students who had had regular attendance at our Stetson (Middle School) Technology Club last year. This prospect of their own computer spurred the students' attendance and participation throughout the year. It was a most fitting reward.
I was especially pleased that you included the students' parents in the culminating event. All of them were pleased to be able to accompany their students to an event that signaled the youth's accomplishment. They were also grateful for the instruction. (November 2002)
Inn Dwelling at St Vincent de Paul Church
... our heartfelt and profound thanks for all you did to bridge the technological divide with ten of our children. When the families met their children with computer and monitor in hand they were so pleased.
The computer will give our children an opportunity to participate in an on-line writing program. It will also enable them to access the on-line information so necessary to academic achievement.
There are no words to properly thank you for the great gift you offered our children. We wish you every success in your efforts to help poor children to access technology. (September 2004)
Youthbuild/Impact Services Corp
Our Youthbuild program is composed of youth from very low-income families. They do not have computers of their own. This would also add to our end of the term festivities. (Undated)
African American Female Entrepreneurs Alliance
As an incentive, we have offered free computers to the girls who complete a business plan. Through our Partnership with NTR we have been able to provide more than 100 girls with refurbished computers, since our program began. In recent years, NTR has added free internet service, which is a critical need for our economically disadvantaged students. Computers with internet access allow our students to do research for homework and various business and career fields; create marketing materials; and increase their technological awareness and proficiency. ...
We look forward to continuing our existing partnership with NTR. (Undated)