Alliant secures donations to support over 450 residents in need as part of the Illinois Computer Equity Network

06/29/2021 • Alliant News • Press Releases

A computer donation event held last week at Alliant Credit Union corporate headquarters near O’Hare International Airport collected over four tons of computers and internet connection equipment to help Illinois families currently lacking digital access in their homes. The event was held by a local banking organization, Alliant Credit Union, as part of an ongoing initiative being headed up by the Illinois Office of Broadband in coordination with the non-profit organization PCs for People. These donated computers will be refurbished by PCs for People and then distributed to low-income households in need.

Alliant Credit Union coordinated the event in Chicago to provide computers to under-resourced communities, and to bridge the digital divide in our state. Alliant Credit Union’s first collection event saw over 4 tons – or 13 pallets - of donations resulting in over 450 individuals who will benefit from this six-hour event.

"As a national, digital credit union, Alliant feels we have a particular mission to create a more digitally equitable world. It's through great partners like PCs for People that our employees, our members and the local community can take a hands-on approach and make very meaningful and impactful change,” said Alliant CEO Dennis Devine. “We are proud of this first in a series of steps we’ll take to significantly improve digital equality for families and communities."

“Digital inclusion efforts are essential especially during the pandemic, where it is increasingly hard to access education, healthcare or employment opportunities with access to a computer and the internet impacting thousands of homes,” said Matt Schmit, director of the Illinois Office of Broadband. “We will continue to advance Governor Pritzker’s call to action for the Connect Illinois Computer Equity Network, bringing together communities and organizations like Alliant and PCs for People to help meet our goals for closing the digital divide for once and for all in our state."

The Connect Illinois Computer Equity Network was created by Gov. Pritzker to help close the digital divide exacerbated by the pandemic, and in response to the more than 1.1 million families currently without access to a home computer. Through a collaboration with PCs for People launched this past winter, the Connect Illinois Computer Equity Network has already collected and distributed over 2,000 devices to help families statewide.

The State and its broadband partners continue to urge corporate entities like Alliant Credit Union to support families in need by donating used computer equipment that can be refurbished. Every piece of donated equipment goes through a certified data sanitization process conducted by PCs for People.

Find out more about Alliant's digital divide initiative