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| Redemtech Helps Healthcare Company Keep 8,200 Chronically Ill Children Connected with Outside World Each Year |
A major healthcare company had the best of intentions when it donated laptop computers to a charity that provides them to chronically ill children to keep the kids connected with the outside world. Unfortunately, there was insufficient budget to purchase enough operating system (OS) licenses to run all of the laptops donated. Redemtech helped the customer dramatically reduce its computer refurbishing and OS costs, which enabled it to step up its contributions and throw many more hospitalized children a communications lifeline.
A leading international healthcare business makes it a habit to give back to local communities through charitable donations, sponsorships and other initiatives that make a difference. With a Community Support Policy in place, the company ensures its charitable contributions are consistent with its commitment to improve community residents’ health and quality of life while promoting the value of science among young people.
To support its commitment, the company works with a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization that uses technology (laptop computers and Internet access) to help connect chronically ill children with their families, friends, schools and the opportunities represented by the online world. Through collaboration with Redemtech and the charity, the healthcare company donates laptop computers to keep children mentally stimulated and in touch with their support network, which studies confirm can help the healing process.
The healthcare company was able to donate its used laptops to the charity, but did not have the budget to purchase an expensive operating system (OS) for each laptop. And while the non-profit received grant money from the government to pay for software and services necessary to making laptop computers and Internet connections available, the OS consumed a significant portion of its budget. As a result, not all laptops could be utilized.
As the first commercial Community Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher (CMAR) in North America, Redemtech was able to install select Windows operating systems on all of the healthcare company’s donated laptops for only $5 per system. The Microsoft Office suite was installed for a $5 administrative fee as well.
Redemtech worked with the charity to complete the paperwork required by Microsoft to ensure CMAR eligibility, providing the specifications for the PCs received by the charity and the OS installed, and coordinating all aspects of donations fulfillment.
Laptops were processed according to the customer’s business rules, with value-appropriate services performed to upgrade and repair the units or harvest parts from incomplete, inoperative or damaged systems. Wireless cards were procured and installed to ensure Internet access for the children. Redemtech also erased all hard drives consistent with the company’s security policy.
To help the company gain exposure for its philanthropy, Redemtech affixed a “donated by” tag to every laptop. All systems were professionally cleaned and packaged to ensure a high quality deliverable with each laptop shipped so that it could be easily received by the beneficiary.
Redemtech compiled detailed reports, including the make, model, serial numbers and estimated value of each donated asset, along with the delivery date, so public relations photography opportunities could be scheduled as appropriate. Redemtech also provided certified reporting to verify the successful data destruction on each serialized asset.
Teaming up with Redemtech, the healthcare company was able to help the charity reduce its OS costs by as much as $300 per laptop while increasing the number of donated systems. Because incremental costs were minimal, the company made the decision to pay for the OS and imaging costs, which has enabled the charity to invest valuable grant money in other projects that benefit children who are ill or have been injured.
To date, the healthcare company has donated 249 laptops, with Redemtech refurbishing and installing the software on 200 of those systems. The laptops are provided to children in hospitals across the nation and to some who are recuperating at home. At one hospital, young patients from foreign countries—who have a limited support network in the U.S.—use the systems to stay in touch with friends and family at home.
With most chronically ill children remaining in the hospital an average of 3.5 days, each computer is used by two children every week. The 249 systems donated by the healthcare company keep more than 8,200 young hospital patients and those cared for at home connected each year.
Based on the program’s success, the healthcare company implemented a new policy to donate at least 100 laptops per year, with preparations underway to donate 100 systems in the near future. The company is a new participant in Redemtech’s TakeBack program, which provides free asset recovery and recycling services at the donated systems’ end of life. The program not only saves the charity recycling fees but it ensures the electronic waste is disposed of in a safe manner consistent with the company’s environmental values.
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