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16 August | 2003 |
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Press Clipping: Buena Park Independent Buena Park company seeks help
in mission of providing computers for kids It is also the front for a little-known organization that traffics in computers. Oh, don't worry. You won't have to call the FBI -- the second organization isn't exactly clandestine. Image Arts Foundation is a non-profit organization that helps founder Chris Pflanzer fulfill his dream of providing computers for school kids. Pflanzer, president and CEO, 46, and Keith Mason, 25, director of editorial services who has been a part or PR/DNA for three years, are successful with their public relations firm. They know how to promote products. Image Arts Foundation, said Pflanzer, "is my night and weekend job." It is not only non-profit, it is also an all volunteer operation. The dream was born of necessity. Pflanzer lives in nearby La Mirada. When he realized that his daughter's school, La Pluma Elementary, was far short of computers considering today's real world, he went to work. The idea was to collect used computers from companies, corporations, individuals -- wherever they could be found. They were refurbished, mostly with parts from other used computers, into working computers that can be used to teach young people. A computer lab has been completed and wired and computers have been placed throughout the school. They are all smiles at La Pluma. Pflanzer sometimes had his garage and his home overflowing with old computers and computer parts. It was workable, however, and he could do most of it alone. Now the horizons have been expanded. "I now have a source to get more computers and parts," he said. They will arrive on pallets. What Pflanzer needs is two-fold: "I need someone to let us use a building with about 1,000 square feet for storage and where we can work on the computers," he said. Pflanzer is looking for more schools and more school districts to get involved, too. He is especially looking for opportunities to expand his contributions to modern education in to Orange County schools. Pflanzer aid he is open to help private and public schools, maybe senior centers or tutoring projects, but most of all: "I want to get the computers into the hands of kids." "I have secured another outlet for equipment," he said. "I am looking for space to store and work on it. That is the real need now." he has found helping hands -- volunteers -- at Westwood College of Technology in Anaheim who need hands-on experience. They are willing to help refurbish and rebuild the computers so they can benefit the school kids. Everything has been aimed at elementary schools so far. Pflanzer is open to other possibilities and asks schools and districts to let him know what they are looking for in terms of computer opportunities for their students. The computers will continue to go to schools and similar institutions, however. They will not go to individuals, said Pflanzer. "The idea is to get (the computers) into kids' hands for education," he said. Anyone with space to offer or looking for computers for their school may contact Image Arts Foundation at 714-521-5111 and "ask for Keith or Chris." "We have filled every request at one elementary school," said Pflanzer. now the amount of equipment is multiplying, needing only to have a place to go that can handle the storage and refurbishing operations. "The main thing," said Pflanzer, "is that we need 1,000 square feet. "The first request was for 35 computers. We have turned one room into a computer lab. "They can request replacement part," he said. Things have come a long way from Pflanzer walking on to the campus at La Pluma and seeing only precious few computers. Image Arts Foundation has now donated 95 computers to the school. There are 28 more that are equipment from the Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District. In all, La Pluma has 123 complete computer systems on the campus. Excerpts from a few of the letters of thanks from the children: "Thank you for the new computers. They are fun. I hope we see you again." Shane. "Thank you for fixing our computers and giving us new computers. I wish you could always fix our stuff and we wish you a most a happy Thanksgiving." Carolyn. "...I was amazed that you did all of this for us. I am excited that you are doing this for us and I am very grateful. I think it's generous of you. I think you are intelligent because you're getting other schools to donate their old computers to our school." Kyle. "It was amazing you did this by yourself. I like what you did for our school. The computers look good. I'm excited about the computer lab. You are intelligent." Angelia. Other schools have the same chance to enter the computer age. "My motivation is to help children," said Pflanzer. It's a gift that teaches. • • • This story written by John Seymour. |
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