PLAYERS COALITION AWARDS $126,000 TO COMP-U-DOPT TO ADDRESS DIGITAL INCLUSION IN LOS ANGELES WITH SUPPORT FROM ELECTRONIC ARTS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 09, 2022
(LOS ANGELES, CA) — Players Coalition, a nonprofit founded by NFL players Anquan Boldin and Malcolm Jenkins, dedicated to making an impact on social justice and racial equality, awarded a $126,000 education grant to Comp-U-Dopt, an organization aimed at providing technology to impacted students in the public school system.
In partnership with Players Coalition, Comp-U-Dopt and Electronic Arts will support over 325 families from South Los Angeles, providing students with free computers, digital literacy education and two years of tech support. The families being served are 98% low income (living at 200% of the poverty line or below) with 81% living in poverty (100% of the poverty line or less). This investment aims to combat these staggering statistics and work towards closing the digital divide.
$76,000 of the grant will provide computers to 275+ qualifying youth, and the remaining $50,000 will provide an additional 50 middle school students with a semester of technology education programming as well as a free computer.
Comp-U-Dopt is hosting two pop-up computer distributions this week in Los Angeles to donate the computers in-person, directly to the students most in-need.
“We live in a world driven by technology. To ensure all students are set up for success, it is vital that they all have access to computers for in class and remote schooling. Players Coalition is honored to continue to support Comp-U-Dopt’s work to facilitate growth in technical and digital literacy skills and support the future of our youth and their communities.” — Kelvin Beachum, Players Coalition Task Force Member and Arizona Cardinal
The grant will ultimately improve the quality of education for these students and prepare them for a better future.
“The Covid-19 pandemic did not create the digital divide, but it did show us where our systems desperately need to improve. At Comp-U-Dopt, we believe access to devices provides more than just an opportunity for e-learning, it helps the success and future of the whole family. The ultimate benefit of technology access is the facilitation of connection.” — Megan Steckly , Chief Executive Officer at Comp-U-Dopt
Players Coalition, Comp-U-Dopt and Electronic Arts will continue collaborating this year to bridge the technology and resource gap in underinvested communities and schools around the country.
About Players Coalition
Players Coalition is an independent 501(c)(3) (charity) and 501(c)(4) (advocacy) organization, working with professional athletes, coaches and owners across leagues to improve social justice and racial equality in our country. Founded in 2017 by NFL players Anquan Boldin and Malcolm Jenkins, Players Coalition continues to grow exponentially with representation from more than 1,500 athlete advocates across 12 professional leagues.
About Comp-U-Dopt
Comp-U-Dopt is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2007 with a mission to provide technology access and education to underserved youth. To date, it has distributed over 41,000 devices to students in need, delivered over 120,000 hours of technology education to over 43,000 students, and diverted 450+ tons of computer hardware from landfills. Comp-U-Dopt has programs in California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Washington D.C.. Learn more at www.compudopt.org.
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