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Press
Clipping: Orange County News
Chris Pflanzer, friends fix computers for kids
Chris Pflanzer checks out a used computer. He founded Image Arts Foundation, a non-profit with a project known as Computers2Schools.org. Used computers are refurbished and donated to schools so students can learn computer technology.
Photo by John Seymour |
January 30, 2004 -- Chris Pflanzer is the driving force behind a program whose volunteers collect and refurbish old computers, then recycle them into classrooms to help school kids prepare to function more effectively in today’s world.
He founded and serves as executive director of Image Arts Foundation. The group’s Computers2Schools project is the vehicle to make all that happen.
Image Arts Foundation is a non-profit organization whose Computers2Schools.com project was set up to make Pflanzer’s dream of computers for school kids come true. He has plans to make it happen more frequently and more effectively. He has a vision that could ensure putting refurbished computers in the hands of students in public and private schools from Stanton to Buena Park, from Westminster to Cypress, from Garden Grove to Northridge and beyond.
The Buena Park-based foundation and its computer project has already built a solid reputation for its quality of work. Now the goal is to expand.
“I’m one of the directors and the founder,” said Pflanzer, 48, who lives in La Mirada. For almost 20 years he has been president and CEO of PR/DNA, a public relations firm that oversees Image Arts. The non-profit was born about 10 years ago and the computers for school kids project has been going for about four and a half years.
There is family involvement, too, in cheering on Pflanzer and his dream. He and his wife, Victoria, have been married for 18 years. They have two children, Christy, 9, and Tori, 5.
Pflanzer discussed the growth of the Computers2School.org project.
“The project is taking on an expanded growth,” he said. “Before we always picked up electronic equipment. We will be holding our first event in March where people can bring computers and other electronics to us.
“Here is an opportunity for people to clear out their garage; televisions, VCRs, DVDs, stereos – electronic things that have components that should not go in out landfills. In all electronics there is lead in solder, monitors and TVs – lead in the screen. The TV and the monitor cannot be picked up by refuse haulers.
“Actually, it’s illegal to throw those things away. Most people don’t know that.
“Computers2Schools.org is organizing a waste collection event for electronics. It will be held Saturday, March 20, from 8 a.m. to noon at 7884 La Palma Ave., Buena Park, behind the Crystal Factory in the parking lot exit for Knott’s Berry Farm.
“Our lab (where the refurbishing of old electronics takes place) is there, too.
“Our (refurbished) computers are donated to schools directly or through teachers or other staff. It is absolutely free of charge.
“Requests for the computers may be faxed to us at 714-521-3400 (calls for information may be made to 714-521-5111).
“Our foundation needs donations in order to enhance the program,” said Pflanzer.
In fact, with the new programs, donors will pay $10 for the disposal of their unsafe electronics.
“The refurbishing is all voluntary,” said Pflanzer. “Our volunteers are predominately students who are oriented in vocation programs.
“Some are from high schools putting in their community service time prior to graduation. They all come away with a better understanding of entry level information technology experience.
“We have about 100 volunteers. We have about 12 to 15 show up on a typical Saturday, both guys and gals.”
Some of them get involved with no electronic experience. “They just want to help,” said Pflanzer.
They get involved with scheduling or pickups.
One of the consistent needs: “We need help with pickups” of the electronics.
“When corporate sponsors are lined up, we plan to put on large scale collection fairs throughout Southern California,” said Pflanzer.
“My dream is to give kids access to technology. First and foremost, we need to teach typing at the first grade level. The challenge is kids have access to computers at home or away from school at an early age. If they haven’t learned typing, they’ll teach themselves two-finger skills.”
Pflanzer and the project have helped kids in schools already during the past few years.
Help is aimed at public and private schools, preschools and after-school programs and youth organizations such as Boys and Girls Clubs.
Computers have been installed for students in such communities as La Mirada, Buena Park, Whittier, South Central LA, Pasadena, East LA and neighboring areas.
“We are looking for requests from all local cities,” said Pflanzer. “I have been networking with service clubs and looking for corporations in our need for funding.
“Buena Park Noon Lions is helping to host our first community event,” said Pflanzer. “We also have future plans with Rotary Kiwanis and Lions at the district levels.
“We accept donations of all electronics. However, we need to charge a $10 donation for each monitor and per diagonal inch for each television – the exact cost of environmentally recycling the products.
“Kids want electronics for school. We can go through the teachers and have the teachers contact me. We don’t give to individuals.
“For local communities, this fulfills part of the cities’ recycling requirement under AB 989. The city gets credit for the tonnage we recycle.
“If there is interest in any community in setting up a collection fair, the can contact me,” said Pflanzer.
“It is important…Schools do not have the funds to purchase or even maintain electronics.
“We need to get this technology into the kids’ hands,” said Pflanzer.
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This story written by John Seymour.
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