CNA Kicks Off PC Pledge 100

When you consider that nearly 60% of low-income homes in the U.S. lack a computer, closing the digital divide is a huge challenge. But we’re already starting to make progress with PC Pledge 100. There has been a lot of excitement since we joined with FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski and Connect2Compete to launch this nationwide campaign to close the digital divide through corporate donations of used computers.

Today, I am pleased to welcome the first company to take the pledge – CNA, a leading insurance company based in my hometown of Chicago. CNA is the 7th largest U.S. commercial insurer and the 13th largest U.S. property & casualty insurer providing insurance protection to more than one million businesses and professionals in the U.S. and internationally.

We appreciate CNA’s enthusiasm and quick action – they really get it. "CNA is committed to strengthening the communities where our employees live and work by providing volunteer and financial support to nonprofit organizations dedicated to building healthy and prosperous neighborhoods,” said Sarah Pang senior vice president, Corporate Communication. “Connect2Compete is an outstanding example of a program introduced to us by a CNA employee actively involved in their community. We are thrilled to support Connect2Compete’s green, efficient, and effective actions to close the digital divide."

CNA’s donated equipment landed on our loading dock just last week, and we’re getting to work to refurbish the equipment so it can be distributed to C2C participants. We think it’s an opportunity to showcase our Serious Good® approach to refurbishment, which caused a leading analyst firm to write that “Redemtech Re-writes the Rules on IT Equipment Donation.” Keep an eye on our @Redemtech Twitter feed over the next week or so. We’ll be posting pictures that show the whole process as equipment is received at the docks, unpackaged and processed for refurbishment, boxed and sent out the door for delivery.

Helping more companies learn about our system for making donation an easy choice is the key to tapping the more than 17 million used-but-still-useful corporate PCs that go to waste annually in the U.S. due to premature disposal or storage. Connecting that surplus with the needs in society is what PC Pledge 100 and Serious Good are all about.

I hope you’ll join me in congratulating CNA for the pioneering role in this effort. Feel free to send them a thank you on Twitter @CNA_Insurance. We will keep you informed as PC Pledge 100 continues to grow. What do you think is the most important issue for encouraging more companies to “take the pledge?”