Alpine Bank

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT As COVID-19 required widespread school closures and distance learning for Colorado students in 2020, a digital divide became a chasm. An estimated 54,000 young people across the state lacked an appropriate device or internet access to participate in online learning. In response to this critical need for computers to enable student learning, Alpine Bank joined with the nonprot PCs for People (PCFP) to help close the gap. PCFP refurbishes and reuses computers, loading them with new software and making each available to people in need at a steeply reduced cost. Alpine saw an opportunity to safely repurpose 400 of its computers, which were obsolete by bank standards. The bank's Information Technology team worked with PCFP sta to assure a rigorous process for secure data destruction, hardware sanitization and refurbishment of the computers. No landll for these devices. Next, Alpine Bank Durango Senior Vice President Beth Drum teamed up with PCFP to reach out to the Durango and La Plata communities for two successful August events. "We recognized that providing a computer does not overcome all the obstacles to online learning, however this grassroots initiative provides real solutions to bridge the technology gap and serves as a catalyst to ensure kids have the resources required for academic success," she said. "We are so proud of the way community groups, businesses, schools, PCs for People and Alpine Bank all came together to help," said Alpine Bank Durango President Eric Eicher. "We hope our success can be replicated across the state to meet this critical need." Driven to do more to connect students with online learning, Alpine employees also donated 20 personal computers to PCFP to refurbish and reuse—and keep out of Colorado landlls. Alpine sees these green community successes as the beginning of a growing partnership with PCFP, which can make a profound dierence. SUPPORTING STUDENTS & REUSING A RESOURCE Find out how you or your business can donate a computer and learn more about PCFP: www.pcsforpeople.org/denverco

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