Lenovo Supports Wake County School Students with Supplies for a Successful Start

This article was written for our sponsor, Lenovo.

The start of the school year is filled with excitement and new beginnings, but for some area families skyrocketing prices can make it a struggle to provide the essential supplies their students need to get off on the right foot. That is why technology giant, Lenovo, and North Carolina nonprofit, Activate Good, partnered together to provide supplies for 2,750 school children in Wake County.

"As a kickoff to our fiscal year, we bring staff together from across the US and Canada for different trainings and just to build a big sense of community, and a part of that building of community is giving back," said Libby Richards, Lenovo's Community Engagement Manager.

In addition to its focus on technological innovation and transformation, Lenovo is committed to continually enhancing the community that serves as one of its two global headquarters for nearly two decades.

"Lenovo cares deeply about supporting our local community at every level," Richards said. "We're proud to partner with organizations like Activate Good and live out our mission of being a good neighbor in North Carolina."

Activate Good helps companies and individuals improve their communities through service, and the nonprofit has appreciated Lenovo's contributions.

"We've been working with Lenovo for over six years and have always been impressed by their dedication to education and our local school community," Activate Good Executive Director Amber Smith said.

With a need for school supplies in the community, the support from Lenovo was important, and it inspired others, as well.

"This year, we've consistently heard from our school partners just how critical support from the external community is right now for schools — through supply donations, volunteer support, and more," Smith said. "It's exciting that not only has Lenovo provided this support in a big way but has also set an example for other community members and companies to help out, too."

The impact on participating employees was particularly noticeable.

"I like volunteering to give back to my community in which I was born and raised," said DaMetrius Upchurch, an APOS Sales Representative at Lenovo. "I was born and raised in Raleigh, so it's important to me to stay embedded and stay familiar with what's going on in the community and always giving back and never forgetting my roots."

APOS manager, Ernie Homer, appreciated the opportunity to offer the kind of support he remembers receiving.

"I grew up in a very impoverished part of the United States," Homer said. "I was a recipient of that kind of charity as a child. And I can tell you firsthand, that feeling that somebody knows that you need something and they took time out of and money out of their pocket to make it happen for you, it makes an impression that those kids will never forget."

Named one of the World's Most Admired Companies by Fortune Magazine, Lenovo is dedicated to working within local communities to effect change and create a more inclusive future for all.

"Lenovo volunteers just get it done," Smith said. "They love to get in here, get their hands dirty, and it makes an impact every time."

This article was written for our sponsor, Lenovo.