Connect Ohio Announces Computer Giveaway for Participants of Free Statewide Internet Training Program

Connect Ohio Announces Computer Giveaway for Participants of Free Statewide Internet Training Program

Contact: Amanda Murphy
614-220-0190 or amurphy@connectohio.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 8, 2011

Twelve Ohioans will be randomly selected to receive a new netbook computer following completion of the free computer-training program

COLUMBUS – Connect Ohio, a nonprofit public-private partnership, will be distributing 12 new netbook computers to Ohio adults who have completed the Every Citizen Online free basic computer-training program. Program participants completing an online survey following the training will be entered into the random drawing giveaway. The entry period is April 5 through June 20. Winners will be contacted and announced in late June.

“Ohio adults have already shown great interest in the Every Citizen Online program and the opportunity for free basic computer and Internet training,” said Tom Fritz, Connect Ohio executive director. “We’re excited about the opportunity to distribute new computers to a dozen of the adults taking advantage of the program to help them get online more easily.”

The Every Citizen Online program offers free basic computer and Internet training to adults in Ohio in an effort to introduce new users to a wide range of communication, education, and healthcare tools available online. Connect Ohio has partnered with more than 200 libraries, community colleges, education and career centers across the state to offer the training.

More than 3,000 adults have already completed the Every Citizen Online training since it launched in late December 2010. The training consists of 2 hours each of Basic Introduction to Computers, An Introduction to the Internet, and Tools and Benefits of using the Internet. Participants are helped to establish an e-mail account and provided with additional training resources to help them continue to learn and use information available online. Connect Ohio plans to train a total of 200,000 Ohioans by program completion in December 2012.

Local training locations can be found by calling 1-855-NOW-I-CAN (669-42260) or by visiting http://connectoh.org/consumer_training/training_facilities.php.

Contest rules and guidelines are listed on Connect Ohio’s website at http://connectoh.org/consumer_training/computer_giveaway.php or you may receive a copy by e-mailing amurphy@connectohio.org.

For more information on the Every Citizen Online program, visit http://connectohio.org/consumer_training.

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Connect Ohio, a division of Connected Nation, is a nonprofit, technology-neutral public-private partnership that works with telecommunications providers, business and community leaders, information technology companies, researchers, public agencies, libraries and universities in an effort to help extend affordable high-speed Internet service to every Ohio household. For more information about what Connect Ohio is doing to accelerate technology in Ohio's communities, visit http://www.connectohio.org.

Related Links: Connect Ohio on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ConnectOhio

Connect Ohio on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ConnectOH

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