Coin App Donates to a Good Cause

When I turned off the lights at Coin App in early 2010, there were many unanswered questions.  What went wrong?  What went right?  What's next?  But for now, what was I going to do with all the company assets?  I got rid of most of the furniture on craigslist, but the software was worthless because I purchased it legally and couldn't resell it all.  I moved the computers with me across state lines to two different apartments, unsure of what exactly to do with them.  Maybe I was having trouble letting go.

Then 2011 came around and I was finally sick of looking at them collect dust and lose value.  I read an article in the local paper about kids in public housing using donated computers to get work done at home, instead of walking back from a library late at night.  After emailing the newspaper, the superintendent, and the principal of the school, I finally got in contact with someone who would take Coin App's leftover hardware.  Matthew Higgins, a school social worker from Malcolm X Academy, told me I could drop them off and he'd give me a tour of the place.

Malcolm X Academy reminded me a lot of the grade schools I attended in Maryland.  Tight budgets, troubled neighborhoods, and outdated equipment.  Students can only excel at the opportunities they're offered, and if public schools are any indication of these opportunities, then the offerings are way too slim. At least a few computers may help.

It was decided that the best use of Coin App's computers would be as raffle prizes. A huge issue with child development is just missing parents. The idea was to raffle off a computer every month at parent workshops to increase parent turnout. So far it's been a huge success, and they've seen an increase in parents showing up!