BANK OF AMERICA

Bank of America is donating 10,000 Chromebooks to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools students as well as 10,000 volunteer hours of tutoring and mentoring.

More Charlotte-Mecklenburg's public school students are getting the gift of internet connectivity.

Bank of America is donating 10,000 Chromebooks for students and their families to use ahead of the start of the 2021-22 academic. Bank of America is also pledging 10,000 volunteer hours of tutoring and mentoring.

As society becomes more connected, the devices will help close the digital divide, which tends to impact low-income families, especially Blacks and Latinos. Distribution of the first 300 devices begins on July 29 at West Charlotte High School in partnership with Novant Health, Eliminate the Digital Divide, the city of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County and CMS. More than 90% of students receiving devices are racially diverse.

“Access to the internet isn’t a luxury,” said Kieth Cockrell, president of Bank of America Charlotte. “It is truly a requirement, it’s a necessity now. And so that generated this real call to action that we need to get these devices and access to the internet into students hands. It was just a call to action that we rally people around to say that the school year starts August 24.”

The Chromebooks will support students and their families by connecting them to educational tools, job opportunities, online training and other resources.

“We decided to exhibit some leadership here at Bank of America,” Cockrell said, “and we knew the number of families and students that didn’t have access to the internet, because they had to borrow equipment from CMS. The real heroes are the caseworkers, because they’re the ones who really know these families.”

The Chromebooks are fully functional and the students get to keep them permanently. Priority will be given to students from 69 schools, including five Title I high schools and their feeder elementary and middle schools. Distributions are also scheduled for Aug. 14 and Aug. 20 at sites to be determined.

“Access to technology is a crucial step in our commitment to equity and is necessary for success in the 21st century,” CMS Superintendent Earnest Winston said. “These Chromebooks will allow our students to readily engage in their education and open new opportunities for them and their families.”

Bank of America and Novant Health are also partnering to provide coronavirus vaccinations at a distribution event, and the hospital company will also schedule appointments for back-to-school immunizations.

“By offering on-site COVID-19 vaccinations and scheduling appointments for back-to-school immunizations,” said Dr. Jerome Williams, Novant Health’s senior vice president of consumer engagement, we can ensure students' health needs are taken care of so they can have a safe and healthy school year.”

Cockrell hopes other corporations and nonprofits will join similar efforts to erase digital gaps in Charlotte.

“Coming up with a private-public coalition is [essential],” Cockrell said, “working with other corporate partners, elected officials and school systems collectively. The design of this came about because we want to have some discussions and galvanize ourselves around a common objective and that was 2020 was a tough academic year for the obvious reason. We’re all hopeful and planning to be back in the classroom.”

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