Blues Donating 1,700 Laptops For Detroit Project

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan is contributing 1,700 refurbished laptop computers to the "Connect Your Community Project" in Detroit.

The lead agency, Focus: HOPE, and two nonprofit partners, Child Care Coordinating Council of Wayne County and Matrix Human Services, are working in three designated Detroit neighborhoods to help low-income households make the broadband Internet connection. Blue Cross is donating the laptops to the newly trained community residents on Monday, Dec. 6, at 10 a.m. at Focus: HOPE's computer center, located at 1400 Oakman Boulevard in Detroit. 

The neighborhoods are located in the Osborn/northeast and central Woodward/Northend communities.

"Connect Your Community" is a multi-city initiative designed to expand broadband Internet training and spur adoption by more than 5,000 Detroit residents and a total of 20,000 across the country, including Ohio, Kentucky, Florida and Mississippi.

Said Bill Toples, BCBSM director of community responsibility: "This project creates education and employment opportunities in neighborhoods that have been disconnected and disenfranchised until now. Blue Cross is committed to strengthening communities and improving the economic health of Detroit. We believe it is our part of our corporate responsibility to look for opportunities to support the city and its residents."

The allocated $3 million in funds for the project are Detroit's share of an $18.7 million federal award to OneCommunity, made possible by the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program award announced in September 2010 by the U.S Department of Commerce.

"Many of the residents of the neighborhoods around our campus cannot access the wealth of resources on the internet because they don't have computers or an affordable internet connection," said William F. Jones, Jr., CEO of Focus: HOPE.  "We are extremely grateful to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan for stepping forward with a donation of laptop computers which will be distributed to graduates of our computer training classes. The laptops are a major step forward in our effort to get our community connected to resources that most of us take for granted."

To date, more than 150 students have completed the Detroit - Computer Fundamentals program.  One student describes her experience as one that "restores my pride and belief, knowing there are jewels like this in my neighborhood."

Other partners and supporters of the effort include the Community Telecommunications Network, Henry Ford Health System, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and Wayne State University.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, a nonprofit organization, provides and administers health benefits to nearly 4.5 million members residing in Michigan in addition to members of Michigan-headquartered groups who reside outside the state. BCBSM also offers dental, vision and hearing plans. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network are nonprofit corporations and independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For more company information, visit bcbsm.com.

Focus: HOPE is a nationally recognized civil and human rights organization founded in 1968 after the 1967 Detroit riots. Throughout the years, Focus: HOPE developed numerous programs in its efforts to overcome racism, poverty and injustice. It offers a food program, which assists 42,000 seniors, mothers and children each month; career training programs in machining, engineering, information technology, health care, and weatherization; a child care center, and extensive community development programs through its new HOPE Village Initiative. Through Focus: HOPE, thousands of individuals – especially women and ethnic minorities – have become financially independent. www.focushope.edu.