Idaho companies support student internet fund

| June 4, 2020 1:00 AM

Idaho Business for Education announced this week that several Idaho companies, foundations and individual Idahoans have committed more than $260,000 to an Internet for Students Emergency Fund in the Idaho Community Foundation.

“IBE is so grateful to all the businesses, foundations and individuals who have donated to our Internet for Students Emergency Fund in the Idaho Community Foundation,” said IBE President and CEO Rod Gramer. “These generous donations will help us provide connectivity to thousands of students across Idaho who don’t have internet services at home. We hope this fund can play a significant role in helping Idaho ‘Close the Divide’ between students who have computers and internet at home and those who do not. All Idaho students deserve to have an equal opportunity to learn. Every student matters.”

IBE has currently received commitments from the following IBE members, foundations, and individuals:

IBE members who have contributed: Micron Foundation, $75,000; Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation, $25,000; Idaho National Laboratory, $20,000; Idaho Central Credit Union, $5,000; CapEd Credit Union, $5,000; Ron Nahas, $5,000; Power Engineers, $2,500; Little Family Endowment, $1,000; Hawley, Troxell, Ennis & Hawley, $1,000; and Kate Eldridge, $500.

Other contributions include: The Micki and Dan Chapin Education Fund at the Idaho Community Foundation and the Julius C Jeker Foundation each contributed $10,000 to the effort. The country of Qatar made a $100,000 contribution with the assistance of Senator Jim Risch, R-Idaho.

IBE’s special fund has received close to another $2,000 from individual Idahoans who have responded to the need for assistance.

Karen Bilowith, president and CEO of the Idaho Community Foundation, said one of the Idaho Community Foundation’s areas of impact is education.

“We are so proud to assist IBE with the Internet for Students Emergency Fund,” she said. “An impressive amount has been raised for the fund, which is a wonderful demonstration of Idahoans’ generosity and willingness to help our neighbors in need.”