KRAMDEN INSTITUTE INC

Kramden Institute is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing the technology tools and training necessary for students, families, and communities to bridge the digital divide.

We harness the resources of the local community to collect computers that are no longer in use. We bring together thousands of volunteers to refurbish computers. We pull from the expertise of our staff and volunteers to develop educational programs that will enable all of the students and families we serve to achieve digital literacy. We partner with schools and municipalities across North Carolina to reach those most in need.

We have 15 years of experience refurbishing and awarding computers to hardworking students. Our volunteers, approximately 1,500 a year, bring a broad range experience to our operations. Over the past decade, we have partnered with educators, community organizations, and businesses across the state to collect donated hardware and to identify students for our programs. Our newsletter reaches thousands of individuals, families, and companies, raising awareness of issues surrounding access to technology and digital literacy skills.

Since our founding in 2003, Kramden has awarded more than 41,000 computers to students who did not have access to one before. We have reached students in 83 of North Carolina's 100 counties and have hosted more than 11,000 volunteers. We held over 125 events in 2019, including volunteer days, recycling drives, and award days, and recycled 320,000 pounds of e-waste. In September 2014, we launched our Digital Literacy and Education programs, taking our expertise to the community in the form of free computer basics classes and afterschool programs for students on a variety of computer-related STEM topics.