Why the COVID-19 Pandemic Made Investing in the Community More Important Than Ever
By: James J. Roszkowski, Discover Bank President
Now more than ever we are reliant upon our technology in all aspects of our daily lives, and probably in ways that we never imagined a year ago. Many of us have kids that required new technology to participate in remote learnings, had companies give us new tech so that we could safely work from home and we have seen increases in the use of tech to do things like shop for groceries, order food and more.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2020, Discover employees located in Delaware virtually volunteered more than 1,800 hours of their time to various organizations across the state.
Discover Bank invested in two essential community projects to ensure that nonprofits were able to deliver critical technology and services in a remote environment and that youth in our community were able to access critical educational support.
The computers that were provided to the nonprofits helped their employees transition to remote work for safe social distancing. Additionally, they were providing a variety of support services like youth mentoring, delivering afterschool programs, providing mental health services and other social services.
Some computers were provided directly to students in need. While schools were trying to equip students with laptops, the supply was initially limited and Discover Bank’s donation enabled NERD iT to provide laptops to targeted low-income families who did not get early access through their school.
Discover Bank collaborates with NERDiT NOW
With non-essential businesses working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic, Discover Bank stepped up to help with a $75,000 grant to provide computers to 150 local nonprofits in the short span of just two weeks through Delaware-based organization NERDiT NOW.
As a result of this donation, the NERDiT Foundation (its philanthropic arm) also provided webcams and other technology equipment as needed to ensure that nonprofits can continue to meet the increased demand for services. To date, more than 84 desktops, 58 laptops and 150 tablets have been deployed to 29 nonprofits across the state of Delaware — and the list keeps growing.
Discover Bank expands their support to YMCA of Delaware
In addition to the NERDiT Foundation support, Discover Bank also invested in the local Walnut Street YMCA to help support a remodel of the teen space, which has now become the Discover Teen Innovation Center.
The Discover Teen Innovation Center provides middle and high school students with a space to explore learning, experience new things, and socialize with their peers and to have FUN! In recent months, the Teen Innovation Center has also become the place where teens can feel safe, speak without judgement and be heard.
During COVID, the Walnut Street YMCA hosts over 230 students, ages 3–18 years old, from 54 different schools, daily. The majority of youth that visit the YMCA daily live at home with essential workers in Delaware and need a place to complete and participate in their schoolwork. The YMCA has been able to provide that space, in part, because of the renovation of the Teen Center.
Local youth are currently onsite visiting the Walnut Street YMCA because their parents are either first responders/essential workers. The Teen Innovation Center provides a place to participate in school activities (many don’t have technology or internet access other than a smart phone to be able to complete schoolwork). The Walnut Street YMCA also provides two meals and two snacks per day for the youth as well.
Updates to the space were necessary to keep up with the evolving world. Advanced technology, visual arts and exploratory learning are the driving forces behind the Discover Teen Innovation Center. At the Center, teens have access to the latest equipment and supplies and materials they may not normally have access to.
With Discover’s support, the YMCA was able to do a full renovation which included brand new SMART TVs, an interactive smart board, virtual reality headsets, brand new games, a new pool table and air hockey table, cooking appliances and supplies, and worktables designed with electrical outlets. Additionally, The Discover Teen Innovation Center received 15 Chromebooks so youth without their own technology could utilize them while in the space.
The Teen Innovation Center is open seven days a week. Any young person between the ages of 12–17 has access to the Teen Innovation Center as part of the YMCA’s Extended Hours/Safe Haven program. The YMCA follows all state health and safety guidelines which include wearing masks, doing health screenings with temperature checks and more.
These donations will have positive ripple effects throughout our community and we’re proud of our ability to quickly mobilize internally to benefit the communities where we live and work. We are providing more than just new computers — we are helping people stay connected, making sure students have a safe place to stay when parents are working and ensuring that these resources are available within our community well after the pandemic is over.
