iFOSTER EXPANDS COMPUTER, TABLET, CELLULAR SERVICE AND BROADBAND ACCESS TO THE

NATION’S FOSTER CARE COMMUNITY

 Truckee, CA – May 8, 2012 — iFoster announced plans to enhance its delivery of 75,000 low-cost computers and laptops and 4,500 affordable broadband connections to the nation’s foster care community by providing computer training, discounted cellular service and tablets in the coming months via its technology program –  Get Connected!

Through grants and other in-kind support and services, iFoster will significantly help the nation’s most vulnerable children and youth get connected.  As access to technology becomes increasingly critical to academic success, more and more of our children are in need of computers and laptops.  Studies show that more than 50 percent of children and youth in our country’s foster care system do not have regular access to computers or the Internet, making keeping up at school that much harder.  Get Connected! provides these vulnerable children with low-cost computers, discounted cellular plans and computer training courses – computing tablets and discounted broadband Internet access will soon be available. 

“Our goal is to provide life changing resources to help our country’s most vulnerable children and youth overcome barriers and become successful, independent adults,’’ said Serita Cox, iFoster’s Executive Director.  “So far, our Get Connected program has helped more than 2,500 students and young adults succeed in school and prepare for employment.  With iFoster members currently raising over 1 million children across 50 states, we have a lot of work ahead of us.  We encourage everyone to join iFoster and help our children and youth bridge the digital divide.” 

iFoster’s approach to technology for our nation’s children is a holistic one.  In addition to addressing the tools and computing devices needed to succeed in school and gain employment, iFoster also provides on-line courses that assist new users in working with computers.  With iFoster, our vulnerable children, youth and their families have a choice in technology.  They can make informed decisions and choose from among 14 different brand name laptops and desktops that are best suited to their needs and budgets.

iFoster is a leading non-profit organization dedicated to providing life-changing resources that aid vulnerable children and youth in bridging the digital divide.  Former high-tech executives and husband and wife duo, Reid and Serita Cox, founded the organization in 2010.  They have been using the engagement power of technology to help caregivers fill services gaps, while assisting vulnerable youth in succeeding in school and securing job opportunities.

iFoster programs are free and can be found at www.ifoster.org to members of the foster, adoptive and kinship communities; youth who have emancipated out of the system; the organizations that support them; and students eligible for free and reduced lunch.  In addition to its technology programs, iFoster also offers over 100,000 independent discount opportunities at retailers nationwide, saving the average family nearly $4,500 a year. The iFoster community directly supports more than 1 million vulnerable children nationwide and is growing by over 100,000 supported children each month.

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