Intermountain Healthcare donates computers to Denver Public Schools students
Intermountain Healthcare recognizes the value of collaborating with and giving back to community organizations to further our mission. Intermountain’s IT department recently donated more than 170 Chromebooks, Chromeboxes, and Jamboards to the Village at Contemporary Learning Academy, the oldest pathway school in Denver Public Schools (DPS) that has served students and their families for the past 35 years. The value of the donation was around $139,000. What is more important than the dollar amount of the gift is its long-term impact on young people.
The Village is a resource center that provides basic needs support to Denver Public School’s high school students, former students, and their families with the highest need. At the Village, their clients have access to an onsite grocery store, clothing closet, a workforce coordinator to assist with planning for and applying to college, and mental health support services. The Village aims to be a one-stop shop for students finishing high school and transitioning into adulthood.
“The Google equipment was used to support the legacy SCL Health Google Workspace environment and during the merger with Intermountain Healthcare, we consolidated the organization to Microsoft for collaboration tools,” said Steven Michaels, Intermountain Healthcare Vice President, Technology Services. “This meant that we had Chromebooks, Chromeboxes and Jamboards that would no longer be needed by Intermountain.”
Technology leader Tracy Shell suggested the equipment be donated to a local school, and The Village at Contemporary Learning Center was the perfect fit. “The Village’s mission is to focus on underserved and at-risk students in the community,” said Michaels. “It is an amazing organization that is changing lives. Who they are as an organization is closely tied to who we are and what our core values are at Intermountain.”
“We are so grateful for this donation of technology,” said Hanna Pelican, Manager of the Village at Contemporary Learning Academy. “Although many DPS students have access to Chromebooks during their time in school, they must give them back as soon as they graduate, which means they no longer have that technology available as they transition into college or their career. This gift from Intermountain Healthcare allows us to provide those students with the means to continue their school or work after graduation.”