Compuer Labs for Kids - South Central Los Angeles Project!

I've blogged about this exiciting new project earlier. 

It's a horse of a different color.  The newest program involves only a small number of young people and volunteers, but is taking place over a period of several weeks, so the children will receive intensive instruction.  Each child who completes the program will receive his or her own laptop computer.

Shira Evans, the founder of Computer Labs for Kids (she played competitive OTB chess in Wyoming when I first met her, back in 2001 or so, but nowadays she restricts herself to online play, mostly blitz) is exploring new territory with this newly-designed program. 

Let's face it - fund-raising has been an issue from day one.  I suspect, although she would never admit it, that Shira has been mostly footing the bill for her prior programs in India, Israel, Portugal, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Dallas, out of her own earnings.  Now, in this world-wide time of financial hardship for average people, funding has come to the forefront.  Rich people don't give to organizations like Shira's - it's too small, not on the radar, not apt to get publicity for the donor, etc. etc.  It's average peole who hear about her programs through word-of-mouth who volunteer and dig deep to give. And average people are hurting financially.

Lo and behold, seemingly out of the blue a sorority that somehow hears about Shira's Foundation work decides to hold a fundraiser and donates the money to her cause!  Unbeknownst to Shira, this happened while Shira heard about and made contact with a group in Los Angeles who were interested in putting on a program. The money the sorority raised is just enough to put on this new program in south-central Los Angeles. I love it when a plan comes together :)

Shira has started a blog about her Foundation's work and the first project featured is the latest venture in Los Angeles.  She has promised to update it with weekly reports during the program's progress - I will ride her unmercifully to make sure she does!  I can be such a beyatch when I need to be, ahem.