One Laptop per Child Launches One-to-One Project in Charlotte, NC

Knight Foundation Sponsors Second OLPC Project in the US

MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--One Laptop per Child Association (OLPC) announced today the delivery of 2000 of its iconic green and white laptops to children in seven schools in Charlotte, NC. The project is a collaborative effort between OLPC and Project L.I.F.T. (LIFT). LIFT is a non-profit consortium of community organizations dedicated to improving the education of students in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school system. OLPC and LIFT are both supported by Knight Foundation, who brought together and funded the one-to-one project in Charlotte.

“We are very pleased to partner again with Knight Foundation to expand OLPC into another city in the US”

Charlotte marks the second project in recent years for OLPC in the US. The first project, also funded by Knight Foundation, was in Miami for 500 children in a single school. Based on the successful results from the first year of that project, Knight approached OLPC to undertake the larger, multi-school program in Charlotte. The project in Miami is now in its second year.

"We are very pleased to partner again with Knight Foundation to expand OLPC into another city in the US,” said Rodrigo Arboleda, Chairman and CEO of OLPC. "Joining with like-minded people devoted to children's education, such as Project LIFT, only increases the benefits the children receive and accelerates their learning,” said Arboleda.

Susan Patterson, Knight Foundation program director in Charlotte, said, “Access to the Internet and digital skills are vital for success in today’s connected world, we hope these devices can give the students in Project LIFT a jump start to learning and living digitally.”

About One Laptop per Child

One Laptop per Child (OLPC) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide every child in the world access to new channels of learning, sharing and self-expression. In partnership with the public and private sectors and non-governmental organizations and supported by comprehensive implementation and pedagogical services, OLPC seeks to provide each child with a rugged, low-cost, low-power connected laptop that empowers individual learning and growth. www.laptop.org

About the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation

Knight Foundation supports transformational ideas that promote quality journalism, advance media innovation, engage communities and foster the arts. We believe that democracy thrives when people and communities are informed and engaged. www.knightfoundation.org

About Project L.I.F.T.

Project L.I.F.T. is an innovative, community initiative working to improve outcomes and eliminate education disparities for minority and low-income students. www.projectliftcharlotte.org