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HomeOffice 365Wanna Be a Part of #Techforgood? Donate to Boy's & Girl's Club!

Wanna Be a Part of #Techforgood? Donate to Boy’s & Girl’s Club!

Hello! If we haven’t met my name is Sam Valme. I’m a Partner Manager for AvePoint NA based out of Arlington, VA. The past few months have forced many companies to take a hard look at their core values. At AvePoint, our values are Passion, Agility, and Teamwork. We strive to live these ideals every day at work. In light of recent events, we began wondering how we could make a larger impact in the communities where we work. With a global pandemic and social injustice running rampant, we were determined to find a way to make a difference as a company.

It is my absolute pleasure to announce that after many internal discussions we finally decided on a path forward. With support from our Senior Leadership Team, Microsoft, VFI, and our partners at SageSE, AvePoint will facilitate a Nationwide Technology Drive in the U.S. to the benefit of underserved communities whose students have been affected by COVID-19. This campaign will run until August 31st, 2020.

COVID-19 has been devastating financially for families across the U.S., especially in lower-income communities who work as essential staff for organizations. This is further compounded by the costs of education and the technology required to access it. Our mission is to support these families by providing essential technology to students going to school this fall. We want to help the next generation strive for a better education without the financial burden unreliable technology can bring.

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This drive will have two phases:

Phase 1 – Device Collection

The Technology Drive will include donations of gently used laptops, tablets, and cell phones. Our Partners SageSE will be handing the collection and refurbishing of all devices. If you have a device to donate, please complete the Device Donation Form. We’ll follow up with everyone that completed the form to coordinate device pickup.

All operating systems and models are accepted. While the device can be any age, less than 8 years old is preferred. As a Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher, SageSE will ensure all devices go through a thorough sanitation and data erasure process. You can find additional info on their process HERE.

Phase 2 – Device Distribution

Once the devices have been prepped AvePoint will work with SageSE, VFI, and Microsoft to identify local non-profits to ensure distribution of all applicable devices goes directly to the hands of those who need them. As machines are distributed, we’ll be sending regular communications to ensure there’s transparency on all donations.

DONATE YOUR DEVICE HERE

For any questions on logistics, please contact Operations@avepoint.com!

We ask that you also invite friends and family on social media to participate in the drive. You can find some simple text to raise awareness below:

“AvePoint is facilitating a Nationwide Technology Drive in the U.S. to the benefit of underserved communities whose families have been affected by COVID-19. They’re partnering with Microsoft, VFI and SageSE to collect gently used laptops, tablets, and cell phones. If you have a device that could help a family in need, please go HERE. They have offices around the country where you can drop off your devices OR a pre-labeled box can be sent to your home for device collection!”

Be sure to include the graphic below in your post!

avepoint

Regardless of whether you choose to give, share this note with your friends, or simply internalize this message, I want to personally thank you for your time. I’m honored to work at an organization that will give a platform to employees when ideas like this are brought to the table. It shouldn’t be lost on us how lucky we are to work with the forward-thinking team that we have.

I encourage anyone who has an idea for how they could improve the world to raise their hand and take initiative. For anyone who doesn’t think their idea is big enough to make an impact, I’d like to share this short story I was told as a kid about a young boy trying to make a difference:

One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean. Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?” The youth replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up, and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.” “Son,” the man said, “don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish? You can’t make a difference!”

After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said, “I made a difference for that one.”


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Sam Valme
Sam Valme
Sam Valme is Senior Director of Partner Experience at AvePoint, working out of our Arlington, Virginia office.

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