Distance learning is challenging for all students and particularly so for those who lack the necessary technology to access teachers and educational resources. It’s distressing to think that the East Bay educational gap will widen.

 

While we can’t be superheroes for all students, we can help shine light on the need. Since 1985, Red Oak agents, staff, clients, and friends have contributed over $1.3M to the Red Oak Opportunity Fund (ROOF), a 501(c) 3 nonprofit established to provide resources to charitable East Bay organizations that may not receive funding from larger sources.

 

This week, in preparation for the new virtual school year, ROOF is contributing $30,000 to help bridge the technology gap for individual students in need. These funds are already on their way to provide Wi-Fi hotspots to students in the Berkeley, Oakland and West Contra Costa Unified School Districts for the beginning of the academic year. As we turn to our friends and former clients, we ask for your help to keep the students in our communities connected to school and continuing to build on their knowledge for now and into the future. Red Oak agents and staff, through ROOF, will match the first $10,000 of your donations.

 

While donations of any amount will help, the cost to keep one student connected is:

 

Chromebook: $300

 

Headphones: $15

 

Hotspots: $20 per month/per student

 

CLICK HERE to donate to ROOF, which will give 100% of the proceeds to provide more students with the technology assistance they need.

 

Education is a right, not a privilege, and we all benefit when we can access educational resources.