Gateway Commemorates Alliance With NAFEO To Reduce The Digital Divide In Education.

Gateway, Inc. commemorates the first anniversary of its alliance with the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Education (NAFEO) at the organization’s 26th annual conference. Since the inception of this alliance, Gateway has granted more than $275,000 in scholarships to many of NAFEO’s 118 Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Sue Parks, senior vice president of Gateway Business will join NAFEO President and CEO Dr. Henry Ponder to present scholarship checks to schools that participated in the program during the fourth quarter of 2000.

“Reducing the Digital Divide in education is one of Gateway’s primary goals and our alliance with NAFEO has made that vision a reality for thousands of students,” said Sue Parks. “We’re proud to partner with NAFEO to provide student scholarships and make technology more accessible to Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Together, we’ve placed 10,000 computers in the hands of students at NAFEO institutions.”

NAFEO endorsed Gateway as the recommended PC provider to its members in February, 2000. Since that time, Gateway has continued to provide a variety of technology solutions and educational opportunities to NAFEO members including discounted PCs, scholarships, and recruiting and internship programs.

“We commend Gateway for its role in being a part of the solution in reducing the Digital Divide,” said Dr. Henry Ponder, NAFEO.

According to Ulis C. Williams, president and superintendent of Compton Community College, the institution’s NAFEO membership enabled its purchase of 792 computers and a range of services to support its students.

“Gateway’s computers have leading edge technology that give our students the tools they need to be competitive in their fields,” said Ulis C. Williams. “We also benefited from Gateway’s rebate program, earning valuable scholarship dollars with every purchase. With Gateway’s help, we have taken actions to lessen the deficiencies in technologically disadvantaged communities. Through its partnership with NAFEO, Gateway provides Historically Black Colleges and Universities with technology solutions that address the Digital Divide.”

In addition to its alliance with NAFEO, Gateway addresses the Digital Divide in education through the Gateway Foundation. The company’s Teach America!(SM) program provides training grants to equip K-12 teachers with the skills they need to realize the benefits of technology in the classroom. The Waitt Foundation led by Ted Waitt, Gateway’s CEO and founder also supports PowerUP, a multimillion-dollar initiative dedicated to helping America’s young people acquire the skills, experiences and resources they need for a successful future.