Students Sought for Computer Donations

The Second Byte Foundation in the Westlake area is looking for 10 underprivileged schoolchildren in the Conejo Valley and San Fernando Valley who would like to get home computers this holiday season.

Teachers and nonprofit groups with specific candidates in grades six through nine are asked to call Juliette Harris, the foundation’s executive director, at 497-4675 or 1-888-263-2983. “We’re trying to get this done before Christmas,” Harris said.

The foundation was formed in 1998 to help children whose families cannot afford computers. Through grants and donations, Harris said, her group has given computers and printers to 300 children in Ventura and Los Angeles counties. Harris said it costs the foundation about $400 to put together each computer.

Computers for the next group of 10 are made possible largely through a $2,500 grant from the Pacific Research Institute, which advocates school vouchers and charter school programs. Nonetheless, public school students are eligible for consideration.

To keep the computers, children selected for the program must prepare a monthly report to the foundation, maintain good grades and strong school attendance, and demonstrate they are serving their communities.