State targets foster kids for computer giveaway program

A state program aimed at getting computers in the hands of Tennessee kids is targeting much of its effort at children in state custody.

Over the past two years, Computers 4 Kids has donated more than half of its 2,000 computers to foster care children, many of whom will soon age-out of the system.

Last week, program officials handed out 120 Dell laptops to foster kids who have graduated from high school or have earned their GED.

Michael Ramage oversees the program and says the kids selected have strong academics, good behavior and a chance of going on to college.

“We wanted to make sure that we could reward them because, as important as a computer is for middle school or for high school, it’s even more important in college. So we wanted to make sure that they had that access when they went on to that next step.”

Computers 4 Kids ends next year. Officials expect half of the final 1,000 computers to be given out will go to kids in foster care. There are nearly 7,000 children in state custody.