Columbus School in Glendale Receives $20,000 Donation for Computer Lab upgrades Thanks to GTECH; Assemblymember Mike Gatto Attends Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Sept. 17, 2013 – GTECH, along with students and administration celebrated the installation of the new GTECH After School Advantage computer lab today at the Columbus Elementary School in Glendale with an official ribbon cutting ceremony. This charitable giving program was implemented in 1999 to assist in the education of at-risk youth in jurisdictions worldwide where GTECH does business. GTECH is the online lottery technology provider for the California Lottery.

“GTECH is providing youth with access to a broad range of opportunities and a bright future through the latest technology with this donation for new computers,” said GTECH California Account Development Manager Denise Kimes.  “It is GTECH’s priority to promote academic success by providing the essential tools for at-risk youth to succeed in the classroom.”

GTECH representatives joined California State Assemblymember Mike Gatto, Glendale Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Richard Sheehan, Glendale USD Board member Nayiri Nahabedian and Columbus Elementary Principal Elena Heimerl at the event. Assemblymember Gatto was the guest speaker for the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

"I thank GTECH for stepping in to supply these children with the tools for learning in the 21st Century," said Assemblyman Gatto. “The new computers and updated facility will provide the children with the necessary technology to immediately help them excel in the classroom while preparing them for the job market of tomorrow.”

As part of the donation, Columbus Elementary School was able to purchase and upgrade their computer lab with brand new Dell computer equipment. This new state-of-the-art computer lab will help provide some of Glendale’s youth with computer skills, homework assistance, and a fun way to continue learning during after school hours.

“We want our students to be capable and competitive in the 21st Century,” said Columbus School Principal Elena Heimerl. “This computer lab will play an incredibly important role in providing our students with technological access to the information available to them beyond the classroom.  Our goal is to prepare our students for their future, and this lab will help us do just that.”

The mission of Columbus Elementary School is to foster life-long learners who create a variety of individual and collaborative products, which reflect originality, organization, quality and the use of technology.

Today’s event marks the 215th GTECH After School Advantage computer lab donation for the global giving program since it was first implemented in 1999. In addition to the California Lottery, GTECH is the lottery technology provider to more than 20 lotteries in the U.S. and dozens of jurisdictions outside the U.S.    

About GTECH’s After School Advantage

The After School Advantage Program allows GTECH to apply its technological expertise, as a leading lottery operator and provider of technology and services to Lotteries worldwide, to assist in the education of our urban youth. For each After School Advantage Program, GTECH donates, on average, $15,000 in new computers, printers, software, furniture, and volunteer hours to qualifying public schools and non-profit agencies in jurisdictions where GTECH conducts business worldwide.  Since the launch of the After School Advantage Program on April 14, 1999, GTECH has installed 215 computer centers in the District of Columbia, Canada, Colombia, Chile, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago, Rhode Island, Texas, Oregon, Georgia, California, Kentucky, Ohio, Arizona, New Jersey, Michigan, Kansas, Wisconsin, New York, Colorado, Missouri, Louisiana, Illinois, New Mexico, Virginia, Idaho, Florida, Tennessee, Nevada, and Washington.  For more information about GTECH’s After School Advantage Program, please visit www.gtechlottery.com.