Giving Campaign off to Strong Start; People Want More Time to Participate

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--One Laptop per Child (OLPC), a non-profit organization dedicated to providing every child in the world access to new channels of learning, sharing and self-expression, is extending its recently launched Give One Get One program beyond the initial two-week limited time offer through December 31, 2007, in the USA and Canada. The extended period gives people more time to participate in this unique giving program and support the mission of One Laptop per Child.

On November 12, OLPC launched the Give One Get One program for individuals in the USA and Canada to support the OLPC Foundation by paying US$399 for two XO children’s laptops – the buyer gets one laptop and the other is given to a child in the developing world. The donated laptops will go to children in such countries as Afghanistan, Cambodia, Haiti, Mongolia and Rwanda.

“In the past 10 days, we’ve experienced an outpouring of support from the public that is truly gratifying and encouraging,” said Nicholas Negroponte, founder and chairman of One Laptop per Child. “Because so many people have asked for more time to participate either individually or in order to organize local and national groups to which they belong, we have decided to extend Give One Get One through the end of this year. During this extended period we will solicit input and transition to a program of giving only at the beginning of 2008. We want as many people as possible to have the opportunity to act upon the giving spirit of the holiday season.”

$200 of the Give One Get One contribution is tax deductible as a charitable donation. Give One Get One donors also get access to one year of complimentary T-Mobile HotSpot Wi-Fi access, which is available at more than 8,500 locations throughout the United States.

In addition, XO laptops can be purchased for educational purposes and in quantities of 100-999 at $299 each, 1000-9999 at $249 each, and 10,000 and up at $199 each.

To date, donations to the Give One Get One program have averaged US$2 million per day.

To learn more and participate in the Give One Get One program, go now to http://www.laptopgiving.org or call 1-877-70-LAPTOP (1-877-705-2786).

While this is a nice idea, I don't agree with the premise. Children need the basics like MATH, ENGLISH, and GEOGRAPHY.

Computers are simply a tool. There are FAR too many students who cannot even perform basic academics. MANY poor countries that use just a chalk and a board run circles academically around more modern countries.

the knowledge combined with a tool can do more than knowledge alone but i still can't understand the "Give One Get One" idea. if you want to buy a laptop so some children can use it that's just great. but why do you need to buy one for yourself? i mean, the laptops are so not impressive, they do not attract people that go to stores and choose between dell and asus.

The laptop idea means to do good by helping children in 3rd world countries gain access to a computer, but it fails to solve anything. Food, clean water, a basic education (ie. math) are more important. What good is a computer when you are starving and dying from a parasite you got from drinking dirty water.

from what i've heard those laptops should be given for children that attend school, so they get some kind of basic education and then they can expand their knowledge. i totally agree that food and water are needed much more for a moment, but education is more important if you see the bigger picture.

Actually, there is a way to just give a donation of $200 to deliver one XO laptop to a child in a developing nation without having to buy one for yourself.

http://www.laptopgiving.org/en/give-a-laptop.php

I agreee with Tedster. Poor kids dont deserve laptops.