Boys and Girls Clubs Accept $30,000 Donation for Digital Literacy Programs

(KNSI) – The Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Minnesota celebrated a donation from AT&T on Tuesday of $30,000 for its digital literacy programs and 200 backpacks filled to the brim with school supplies at its Southside location.

The gift was warmly accepted by Vice President of Operations Geri Bechtold. She says the Teen Tech Center can inspire lifelong learning, which is especially important in fast-changing industries with cutting-edge products. A guiding principle, according to Bechtold, is “to support them in what they want to do as they progress in their education, because what we know today isn’t going to be what’s going to be the jobs in the future, necessarily, so making sure that they can stay competitive.”

Best Buy was the seed that led to the center in the first place, so it is no stranger to corporate support. It also lends a cool factor to the space. Bechtold talks about why it was an instant hit with kids in the area. “So, it’s not necessarily just computers, it’s all of the technology pieces that are out there, nowadays, and robotics is one of the things that our kids are really interested in, and what robots can all do.”

Some other eye-catching activities at the center include creating music using audio mixers, much like a professional DJ. Graphic design, such as button making or t-shirt production, is another fun aspect of the center.

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