UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of New York donated 12 computers to
Utica Safe Schools to establish a computer lab at its “Underground Café”
teen center at 500 Plant Street, Utica. The lab celebrated a grand
opening ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday, Nov. 3.
Shane Kimball, Dimonique Hunt and other teens try out laptop computers in the newly opened computer lab at Utica Safe Schools' "Underground Cafe" teen center. UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of New York donated 12 computers to establish the computer lab as part of its national Community Computer effort. UnitedHealthcare has helped establish eight community computer labs this year in New York State with deliveries of more than 24 refurbished computers (Photo: Michael Okoniewski).
The donation will help establish a computer lab offering high-speed
Internet access to students participating in “Teen Zone” program, which
helps transform the experiences and perceptions of teens in Utica by
creating venues for leadership, civic engagement and create expression.
The computers will enable the students to do their school work and give
them online access to health information, area teen-safe programs and
other community resources.
“Computers are an integral part of our 21st century economy, so it’s
essential that our children learn how best to integrate the technology
into their learning. The Internet, when used responsibly, can unlock
children’s curiosity and teach them more about their world than they
could ever learn in a single textbook,” said New York State Sen. Joseph
Griffo. “I thank UnitedHealthcare for recognizing the importance of
connecting students to computers and bringing opportunity to those who
previously lacked access to this evolving technology.”
“With these donations, Utica Safe Schools is able to expand its
Underground Café to provide young people access to computers and the
Internet, which they may not have had elsewhere,” said Anne Lansing,
executive director of Safe Schools Healthy Students Partnership, Inc.
In 2014, UnitedHealthcare helped establish computer labs at eight
community locations statewide including Boys & Girls Club of Massena,
Jefferson County Children’s Home SoZo Teen Center, EmPowering Port
Jervis and Wilson Commencement Park in Rochester. Since beginning the
Community Computers program in 2012, UnitedHealthcare has donated 74
computers to local community organizations in New York.
“The Community Computers program was designed to increase computer and
Internet access in neighborhoods where access to these tools may be
limited,” said Pat Celli, president of UnitedHealthcare Community Plan
of New York. “We are grateful for the opportunity to support Utica Safe
Schools and providing teens access to technology in ways that are
healthier for them.”
Community Computers extends the usable life of computers by putting them
in the hands of people who otherwise could not afford them.
UnitedHealthcare has donated more than 2,000 computers in 15 states
since the program began in 2012. For more information about Community
Computers and to apply for computers, visit http://www.uhccommunityplan.com/community-partners/ny.html.
About Utica Safe Schools
The
mission of Utica Safe Schools is to keep kids in school by reducing
barriers to learning while supporting their social and emotional
well-being. The agency works with school districts throughout Oneida
County to identify and support students who may be at risk of not
graduating high school, being placed outside the home and/or school due
to behavioral or other issues, dropping out of school or having a
difficult time in school due to family issues or problems at school as a
result of being bullied or afraid. We use research and evidence based
programs that show strong positive outcomes in grades, attendance and
behavior. Visit our website for further information at www.usshealthystudents.org.
About UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare
is dedicated to helping people nationwide live healthier lives by
simplifying the health care experience, meeting consumer health and
wellness needs, and sustaining trusted relationships with care
providers. The company offers the full spectrum of health benefit
programs for individuals, employers, military service members, retirees
and their families, and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and
contracts directly with more than 800,000 physicians and care
professionals, and 6,000 hospitals and other care facilities nationwide.
Globally, UnitedHealthcare serves 45 million people in health benefits
and is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a
diversified Fortune 50 health and well-being company. For more
information, visit UnitedHealthcare at www.uhc.com
or follow @myUHC on Twitter.
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