Apple, Ellen, and Michelle Obama Team Up to Donate Macs and iPads to Washington D.C. Elementary School

[MacRumors]

Apple, talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, and former first lady Michelle Obama have teamed up to donate Macs and iPads to Randle Highlands Elementary School in Washington, D.C., a school with a high percentage of low-income students.

Apple's donation includes iMacs for the school, a MacBook Air for each teacher, and an iPad for each student. The school is also receiving a $100,000 cash donation and a new basketball court from Ellen.

"Every child deserves the opportunity to create something that can change the world," said Apple CEO Tim Cook.

The donation was part of day one of Ellen's "Greatest Night of Giveaways," which will continue to air on NBC for the next two nights.

Article Link: Apple, Ellen, and Michelle Obama Team Up to Donate Macs and iPads to Washington D.C. Elementary School

 

[CarlJ]

This is a nice thing they're doing.

Waiting to see if the complaining crowd somehow finds a way to paint this as a bad thing. And sad that I've come to expect that here.

 

[chucker23n1]

Sounds good, but public schools shouldn't rely on private donations. It's a band-aid, not a fix.

 

[gixxerfool]

Negative comments in 3...2...1...

 

[H3LL5P4WN]

If this donation had occurred to my highschool, which was part of the "High-tech Magnet" program in my district, it would have been world shattering. Despite the fancy program name, we were learning on 386s through early Pentium Is, our Macs ranged from Classic IIs to G3s (which were reserved for the graphic design classes).

Kudos to everyone involved... maybe make it happen to more schools. Though it's a shame that it's individual celebrities and corporations have to step up to fill the gaps left by our ruinous education system.

 

[ipponrg]

This is a nice thing they're doing.

Waiting to see if the complaining crowd somehow finds a way to paint this as a bad thing. And sad that I've come to expect that here.

Stop complaining about complainers! It sounds like you should stop visiting this forum section

It is nice that they are doing this. There should be more of this, and it doesn’t necessarily have to be with Apple products

 

[Agit21]

Waiting to see if the complaining crowd somehow finds a way to paint this as a bad thing. And sad that I've come to expect that here.

Do you have to post a comment like this on every charity article?

 

[pika2000]

They can afford it because they’re charging USD $1000 for the base 64GB iPhone 11 (non pro) in emerging markets. #notbitter

 

[guzhogi]

This is a nice thing they're doing.

Waiting to see if the complaining crowd somehow finds a way to paint this as a bad thing. And sad that I've come to expect that here.

Sounds good, but public schools shouldn't rely on private donations. It's a band-aid, not a fix.

I work in IT for a public school district. In 5 minutes of light thought, I see 3 issues with this: do they have the wireless & internet infrastructure to support this influx of technology?

Second, what's the replacement cycle for the Macs & iPads? Is there room in the school's/district's budget to replace them when they get old? Or will the students & staff have to use the iPads until the iPads die, and hope that some celebrity/company will buy them new ones?

Also, who provides the training, IT management, etc.?

Like I said, this is 5 minutes of light thought. Who knows what other problems will arise?
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Do you have to post a comment like this on every charity article?

I don't; I think that's it's a nice gesture. However, they only talk about the student/community facing aspect about it. I have to wonder if the behind-the-scenes infrastructure is supported, and how sustainable this is.

 

[now i see it]

donating the world's most expensive computing gadgets to kids whose parents would never buy them

 

[CarlJ]

Stop complaining about complainers!

Stop complaining about people complaining about the complainers.

 

[Vjosullivan]

donating the world's most expensive computing gadgets to kids whose parents would never buy them

The donation is to the school not the kids and you have no idea what their parents would or wouldn't for their kids.

 

[citysnaps]

I work in IT for a public school district. In 5 minutes of light thought, I see 3 issues with this: do they have the wireless & internet infrastructure to support this influx of technology?

Second, what's the replacement cycle for the Macs & iPads? Is there room in the school's/district's budget to replace them when they get old? Or will the students & staff have to use the iPads until the iPads die, and hope that some celebrity/company will buy them new ones?

Also, who provides the training, IT management, etc.?

Like I said, this is 5 minutes of light thought. Who knows what other problems will arise?
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I don't; I think that's it's a nice gesture. However, they only talk about the student/community facing aspect about it. I have to wonder if the behind-the-scenes infrastructure is supported, and how sustainable this is.

No worries. If internet isn’t available (doubtful) with sufficient bandwidth, Ellen’s $100,000 cash donation will certainly help address that.

I’m happy there are are people and organizations that step up. I recognize there are many who focus on the what could go wrong instead of the potential benefits and making it work. Good on those that aren’t stuck and move forward.

 

[tambourineman]

They could donate fire tablets, it would cost them much less.

 

[tkukoc]

Nice to see this happen!

 

[gleepskip]

Have you considered working with Wounded Warriors, Tim?

 

[velocityg4]

Stop complaining about people complaining about the complainers.

Stop complaining about people complaining about people complaining about the complainers. Clearly complaints concerning the complaining of complainers will cause a copious cacophony of complainers to complain.

 

[citysnaps]

Have you considered working with Wounded Warriors, Tim?

Write him a letter and ask. And state why Apple should if it’s the case they don’t. I suspect you’ll get a reply.
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They could donate fire tablets, it would cost them much less.

As Apple manufactures iPads, I can’t see the company purchasing Fire tablets to donate.

 

[Kabeyun]

Do you have to post a comment like this on every charity article?

Only because at MR even the loveliest, most positive stories manage to invite the nastiest, pettiest, marginally relevant commentary.

 

[victorm1]

How many months until they’re all broken and/or stolen?

 

[justperry]

Macrumors should make new rules, negative posts should be deleted in such positive articles as these.
Or just don't allow any comments in these articles.

It's such a good thing to donate, whether it is from celebrities, big concerns or ('normal') people.
The article and video made me smile/happy, don't spoil it. (each and every time)

 

[BODYBUILDERPAUL]

Incredible and beautiful!
FINALLY some good news in this crazy world!

 

[oneMadRssn]

Wouldn't something simpler like providing 3 healthy meals a day go much farther to helping low-income elementary school students? An iPad isn't going to help them learn when the reason they are underperforming academically is because of things happening outside of school connected to their poverty.

 

[tridley68]

They should branch this out to private schools as well there are low income families that attend these schools as well.

 

[guzhogi]

No worries. If internet isn’t available (doubtful) with sufficient bandwidth, Ellen’s $100,000 cash donation will certainly help address that.

True, however, I worry about the recurring costs of this. Where I am, computers & iPads have a usefulness of maybe 3-5 years, so the district will have to replace them. Wireless access points have a slightly longer replacement cycle. You'll have to add in the cost of internet service as well. Add in the cost of repair & maintenance, including any IT staff that might get hired. Ellen's one time donation, while generous, only goes so far.