NEW YORK, NY—Andrew Rasiej, Founder & President of MOUSE (Making Opportunities for Upgrading Schools & Education), a non-profit organization providing volunteer manpower and technical support to New York City public schools, announced today that 550 industry professionals will gather on October 26 at New York’s famous Windows on the World to support and recognize exceptional leadership in bridging the digital divide in New York City public schools with the first annual “Champions of Technology & Education” Awards.
“Champion of Technology & Education Awards recipients include Zoë Baird; President, Markle Foundation, Charles Raymond; President and COO, Citigroup Foundation; Mark Swanson; President, iXL, Fernando Espuelas; President, StarMedia, as well as an outstanding public high school teacher and student.
“These champions prove everyday that a personal commitment to education does make a difference. Without their involvement, the effort to bring technology to those who have not been served could not effectively happen,” Andrew Rasiej, Founder & President, MOUSE.
“I am quite honored to receive this award, especially from an organization that has itself done so much work with technology on behalf of children,” said Baird. “The Markle Foundation and MOUSE share the view that new communications media have enormous potential to help our children grow, learn and prosper, and we’re both working to give children the communications tools that will truly benefit them.”
Distinguished attendees such as Bill Thompson, President of the New York City Board of Education, Virginia Fields; Manhattan Borough President, etc and over thirty leading Internet companies have joined MOUSE in the launch of this prestigious fundraising event.
MOUSE, since its launch in 1997, has provided 24 public high schools with an estimated $1.5 million worth of technical expertise and support. On September 29, MOUSE and its partners, the 168th Street Armory Track and Field Center and Community School District 6, were awarded a three-year $1.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to set up a community technology center in Washington Heights.
