We are making a difference.
Project Red Dot
a 501(c)(3) Entreprenurial Philanthropy
informat
What is Project Red Dot?
Project RED Dot is a Laptop Donation Program
Do you have a laptop to donate? Click here.
Project Red Dot was founded by 1-800-GOT-JUNK? Washington DC franchise owner Mark Rubin. Mark is an entrepreneur with a simple idea of how to make a difference. He proved his idea could work and the project is ready to grow.
In 2007, Mark began his own entrepreneurial philanthropy, called Project Red Dot. Project Red Dot is a non-profit corporation committed to helping those in developing countries connect to the outside world through education, technology and entrepreneurship. He wanted to collect unwanted laptops - so he sent out an email to friends and family around the holidays asking for any old laptops to give to his friend Pat Gick to take to Ghana through Ghana Together, a U.S. 501(c)(3) non profit organization. He also had his 1-800-GOT-JUNK? employees ask customers to donate laptops they no longer used - nothing organized, but just to feel good.
Mark and a few other technically-skilled volunteers sorted through nearly 100 laptops in their spare time by spring 2008 they ended up with 26 working laptops that could be used in a school or village in Africa. The first shipments went to the Western Heritage Home in Ghana and to a school in Cameroon. To complete the puzzle, Mark received photos via email from the dedication ceremony and of the children receiving the laptops. (see Results).
PRD Founder Mark Rubin Laptop dedication ceremony in Axim, Ghana
Since then, Project Red Dot has found its first IT partner for the technical part of the project, YTI Career Institute in Mechanicsburg, PA. (see Partners). Now, as part of their curriculum, the students are reconditioning Project Red Dot's laptops. The working laptops have been erased of all data conforming to the DoD 5220.22-M data erasing specification and have been loaded with an operating system, a web browser, and Open Office.
Now, Project Red Dot is ready to expand the laptop collection to include participating 1-800-GOT-JUNK? franchise partners along the Eastern U.S. The reconditioned laptops will be distributed to refugee camps, schools and villages in underdeveloped countries. The working laptop computers will be donated to areas in developing countries who have electricity, internet access and a desire to connect to the outside world. With computers and internet access, these communities and schools will give their members and students a greater opportunity for education and learning.
1-800-GOT-JUNK? is the world's largest junk removal service and franchise partners see hundreds of unwanted laptops being thrown away, and many of them still work. By donating the still working laptops to Project Red Dot, these caring business owners are keeping electronic waste from landfills, and at the same time helping those less fortunate connect to the rest of the world.
Project Red Dot
a 501(c)(3) Entreprenurial Philanthropy
informat
