NEWS

E2D is gearing up for its biggest distribution of free, refurbished laptops ever with the support of Google Fiber and in partnership with Lending Tree, Lowe’s, AvidXchange, Truist, TIAA and EY.

One thousand devices will be available to Charlotte students heading back to school Saturday, August 26, 9AM-Noon at the ImaginOn Library (300 E 7th St, Charlotte, NC 28202).

E2D (aka Eliminate the Digital Divide) will distribute laptops on a first come/first served basis. You can find out more about the distribution by contacting E2D’s Christy Cowan at [email protected].  

Google Fiber has supported E2D’s mission to provide devices to students who need them since 2015. This has included grants and hands-on volunteering.  

“My first meeting with Jess George of Google Fiber was on June 9, 2015,” says E2D co-founder Pat Millen. “Getting that first grant from Google Fiber made us feel like we were being ‘seen’ for our potential. It meant everything at the time and our relationship with Google Fiber remains very special to us at E2D.”

Says Google Fiber’s Government and Community Affairs Director Jess George, “Google Fiber is committed to connecting communities. We’re so proud to work with E2D to support their efforts to build digital inclusion in Charlotte.”

In 2016, when Google Fiber supported our “eLemonade the Digital Divide” promotion (as in ‘eliminate,’ get it?), E2D had not quite distributed its first 1,000 laptops. Following the upcoming event on Saturday, August 26, E2D will have distributed more than 38,000 laptops.  

“So,” Millen says, “one could say that GF’s support sparked our growth in very real ways.”