Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Connect Ohio Awards Computer to Columbus Participant of Free Statewide Internet Training Program


Contact: Amanda Murphy
614-214-6755 or amurphy@connectohio.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 27, 2011

Twelve Ohioans were randomly selected to receive a new laptop computer following completion of the free computer-training program

COLUMBUS – On Wednesday, July 27, Connect Ohio presented Mr. Summit of Columbus with a new laptop computer during a short media event at the Columbus Metropolitan Library’s Karl Road branch. Summit was selected as a winner in a random drawing following his participation in the Every Citizen Online (ECO) program, a free statewide basic computer and Internet training program.

Mr. Summit says he often frequented the library to use their computers and Internet access before taking the ECO training.

“I really liked the training,” said Summit. “We now have a computer and Internet at home.”

“As soon as I heard the winner’s name, I remembered Mr. Summit from class,” said Stephen Kennedy, librarian and ECO instructor. “It’s great to see the knowledge all of the students gain from class one to class three, including Mr. Summit.”

Connect Ohio, a nonprofit public-private partnership, is distributing a total of 12 new laptop computers to Ohio adults who completed the Every Citizen Online free basic computer-training program between April 5 and June 20, 2011. Program participants completed an online survey following the training and were entered into the random drawing giveaway.

“We’ve had over 700 adults take the Every Citizen Online training through the Columbus Metropolitan Library thus far,” said Steve Hipes, Columbus Metropolitan Library team leader and ECO program manager. “The program’s been going really well.”

Connect Ohio has partnered with more than 200 libraries, community colleges, education and career centers across the state to offer the Every Citizen Online training. More than 8,000 adults have already taken advantage of the 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.

For more information on Columbus Metropolitan Library’s Every Citizen Online training classes, call 614-645-2275. Classes are currently offered at the following branches:

• Main branch

• Gahanna

• Hilltop

• Karl Road

• Linden

• Northern Lights

• Reynoldsburg

Other Franklin County training locations include:
• Columbus State Community College
Main facility and Center for Workforce Development
Registration: 614-287-5858

• Grandview Heights Public Library
Registration: 614-287-5858

• Ohio State University Learning Center
Godman Guild and Columbus Urban League
Registration: 614-292-7196

Additional 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.

# # #

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

Labels: , ,