Comcast Helps Keep Ohio County Students Connected With Chromebooks

WHEELING -- Low income youths in Ohio County Schools may soon get their own Chromebooks to keep and later take to college thanks to Comcast.

Comcast on Friday announced the donation of 1,200 computers to Ohio County Schools -- 850 of which are to be directed to individual students in the school district, explained Bob Grove, vice president of communication for the Comcast Keystone Region.

Among the remaining computers, 250 are designated for North Wheeling Community Center, and 100 for Youth Services Systems in East Wheeling.

Both the community center and YSS also will receive financial donations of $15,000 each to address the issue of "digital equity" in the community.

Comcast is celebrating in 2021 the 10-year anniversary of its Internet Essentials program with Project UP, Comcast's $1 billion commitment to reach 50 million people over the next 10 years with the tools, resources, and skills needed to succeed in a digital world.

The company has pledged to donate $15 million to low-income students and households across the country to not only help close the "homework gap," but also put them on a path toward future professional success. The amount includes an estimated 25,000 free laptops that will be donated to students, seniors, veterans, and adults.

Ohio County Schools was selected as a partner in the effort, according to Grove.

"This is a way for us to make sure throughout the community -- the great work the schools are doing -- that we can complement that and help them," he said. "These computers are destined for low income families, and low income students who aren't connected to the Internet today.

"We want them to be connected and be successful. We want them to be able to participate in the digital economy going forward."

Students need to be able to access the internet and access all the learning that is available to them, Grove said.

Comcast has partnered with groups such as the North Wheeling Community Center and YSS to establish "lift zones" — broadband hubs where students can go to access broadband internet when they do not have that at home.

Now the focus is on providing devices and getting Internet into the home, he said.

Ohio County Schools Assistant Superintendent Rick Jones said the school district was informed in late summer of the donation.

"We have a lot of kids who are really going to see a value in getting these laptops," he said.

Jones said the details of who gets the computers and how they will be distributed are still being determined.

Presently, students in Ohio County Schools already receive a Chromebook from the school district for their personal use, but the devices are not theirs to keep.

Those receiving Chromebooks from Comcast will be able to take those with them to college.

Rev. Darrell Cummings of the North Wheeling Community Youth Center said the center has a long-standing relationship with Comcast.

"Comcast's generous contribution of $15,000 and 250 laptops will go far in helping us address digital equity in the tri-state area, as we will be working through sister organizations such as Bethlehem Apostolic Temple in Wheeling, Shiloh Apostolic Faith Assembly in Weirton, Greater Love Ministries in Belmont County and the Ohio Valley Pastors Tri-State Association — as well as other schools and organizations," Cummings said.

Tammy Kruse, president of YSS, said the $15,000 donation will allow the agency to "make a positive difference in the lives of the most vulnerable children and adults in our community, helping us to prevent homelessness and provide tangible as well as emotional and mental health support through our many programs."

"The laptops will give the youth we serve the technology they need to succeed in school," she said.