Schools Corral Unwanted Computer Equipment To Help Schools Trade Up For State-Of-The-Art Technology

REDMOND, Wash., June 5, 1997 — Parents, educators, community members and businesses in four U.S. cities recently filled more than 16 semi-trucks with outdated computer equipment to raise $200,000 for new hardware, software and teacher training in their schools. At the Great Computer Round Up on Saturday, May 31, school districts in Houston, Schaumburg, Ill., Seattle and Santa Clara, Calif., earned $50,000 each from community hardware contributions and donations from Microsoft Corporation and Compaq Computer Corporation.

“The terrific turn-out for this event shows that these communities recognize that students need access to current technology. They deserve a huge round of applause for their support,”
said Kathryn Yates, director of K-12 programs for Microsoft.
“The Great Computer Round Up helped these schools explore a creative way to raise awareness and funds for technology.”

Microsoft and Compaq sponsored The Great Computer Round Up to increase public awareness of the importance of providing K-12 students with access to up-to-date technology and help schools raise the funds to purchase the most current computer equipment for their classrooms. According to a study by IDC/LINK, Framingham, Mass., in conjunction with QED, Denver, Colo., the current student-to-computer ratio in the U.S. is one computer for every 10 students; however, more than half of those computers are out-of-date.

“Sixty percent of the jobs in the year 2000 will require information technology skills, and providing those skills is a key goal for education,”
said Sue Collins, director of education, Compaq Computer Corporation.
“Programs designed like the Great Computer Round Up support this goal because the financial resources are provided directly to schools. In turn, this allows educators to make appropriate decisions about what technology investments to make to best meet their own students’ needs.”

Individuals, businesses and schools brought more than 5,000 pieces of unwanted computer equipment to a donation location in each city and received a receipt for tax purposes and a t-shirt. School districts received credit towards the purchase of Microsoft® Windows®
-based hardware, software, teacher training, Internet access and other services needed to stay up-to-date with rapidly changing technology. Outdated equipment collected during the events will be recycled and donated to non-profit organizations, sold for scrap or refurbished for resale to other non-school organizations.

Each school district will put the money to good use. Houston Independent School District is purchasing new computers. In Santa Clara and San Mateo, Smart Valley Inc., a non-profit organization committed to creating an electronic community based on an advanced information infrastructure, is training teachers in more than 400 schools. Seattle Public Schools is buying PCs and networking schools. Schaumburg School District #54 is adding a network Pentium-based PC to 28 schools.

“The Great Computer Round Up was a terrific community event for our school,”
said Mary Moffitt, director of learning technologies for Schaumburg District #54.
“It was a chance to celebrate with our community the progress our district has made in integrating technology and a wonderful opportunity to raise funds to continue to enhance our program.”

The Great Computer Round-Up is part of Microsoft’s continuing initiative to help build a global
“Connected Learning Community”
in which all students, educators and parents have access to technology and the tools and skills to use information effectively today and for a lifetime. Microsoft is committed to providing the high-quality software and services needed to make the best use of technology in education.

Compaq Computer Corporation (NYSE: CPQ), a Fortune 100 company, is the fifth largest computing company in the world and the largest global supplier of personal computers, delivering useful innovation through products that connect people with people and people with information.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software for

personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use; each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.

Microsoft and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Other product and/or company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

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Jamie Roth, Marcy Monyek and Associates, (312) 263-2135/[email protected]

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