Boeing

Boeing has donated 3,000 computers from its St. Louis operations to the St. Louis City Public Schools -- the largest such computer donation in the history of the school district.

Superintendent Cleveland Hammonds, Jr., who made the announcement today during a press conference at Fanning Middle Community Education Center, said, "We sincerely appreciate this donation. Our children will benefit greatly from this helping hand Boeing is extending."

The computers will be used to teach basic skills such as word processing and presentation development, and will help students to become competent in the use of various types of software. They'll also be used to enhance teacher instruction, and to teach some students vocational computer repair skills.

Boeing and the St. Louis Public Schools are working together to install the computers in city schools. Boeing will also assist the district in providing any necessary teacher training on the donated computers.

"This is a partnership we could not afford to pass up," said Jerry Daniels, president and chief executive officer of Boeing Military Aircraft and Missile Systems. "It is critical to the future of our young people that they have access to computer technology in our schools."

The Boeing donation had its roots last fall, when several local business leaders taking part in a "Principal for the Day" event in the St. Louis Public Schools district identified a need for more computers for students. The business leaders contacted Boeing, which was in the process of a major computer upgrade program.

City of St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay called for businesses to donate computers to schools in his inaugural address last April.

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