Cape & Islands News

Masonic Angels place five IFAW computers at D-Y

Donations help schools use their funding more effectively

The Laptops for KidZ project of the Masonic Angel Foundation has placed the last of the nine computers donated by Yarmouth-based International Fund for Animal Welfare. This article is part of an exclusive CapeCodToday.com series that follows each of “IFAW 9” computers. This story concerns the five desktops IFAW donated along with four laptops.

Laptops for KidZ was introduced to IFAW through a partnership with Cape and Islands United Way.

Established in March 2010, Laptops for KidZ (LFK) places computers with local schools to be sent home with children who would not otherwise have computer access outside school hours. LFK has placed 236 computers since April 2010. Machines are provided to schools absolutely free of charge, with local Masonic Angel Fund chapters underwriting the very low cost to refurbish and license the machines.

While LFK’s primary mission involves placing laptops with individual students, they do accept donations of higher-end desktop computers which can be used for specialized tasks. In August IFAW donated five excellent Dell Optiplex GX260 desktops complete with LCD monitors, keyboards and mice. Since LFK makes every effort to place a donated computer in the town from which it was donated, the five IFAW desktops were placed at various locations within the Dennis-Yarmouth Regional School District. The desktops will be used for classroom instruction.

In a recent letter to the Masonic Angel Foundation, DY Director of Technology Chris Machado told the Masons, “Thanks to your generosity, we are able to use our funding more effectively to support technology in our schools.”

“IFAW’s computers are always excellent,” said LFK project director Mario Meré of Yarmouth Port, “Their hardware is always powerful, well-maintained and looks like it’s brand new.” Once LFK receives the machines, volunteers wipe/overwrite the hard drives and load a new Windows “citizenship license” which is made available to LFK by Microsoft at a drastically discounted price. LFK computers are configured with OpenOffice, Adobe Reader and Avast! anti-virus software. Laptops also receive the Amazon Kindle reader PC software, the Barnes & Noble Nook application for Windows and Adobe Digital Editions. The three reading apps allow students to borrow library books to be read on their computer as well as to access Amazon’s and BN’s large library of free e-books.

LFK accepts functional notebook computers. "Functional" means that it will power up. Machines should have at least a Pentium 4 processor and must bear a valid Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7 certificate of authenticity. LFK generally does not accept donations of desktops or any Apple product whatsoever. Donations to the 501(c)(3) Masonic Angel Foundation, Inc. are tax deductible.

For more information about the Laptops for KidZ program visit www.laptopsforkidZ.org.

Read more about the IFAW 9 here:

• IFAW donates nine computers to Laptops for KidZ
• Masons place second of nine computers donated by IFAW at the Cape Cod Lighthouse Charter School
• Masons place third of nine computers donated by IFAW at the Cape Cod Lighthouse Charter School
• Masons place fourth of nine computers donated by IFAW at Mattacheese Middle School