Grant Award: CompTIA Member Communities ($5,833)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation is pleased to report that CompTIA Member Communities have agreed to provide $5,833 in grant funding for the BDPA Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program. The funding comes from two sources within CompTIA - The Computing Technology Industry Association:

1. $2,500 - Mobility Community (chair, Dave Sobel) - It is great to know that our SITES program will be adding a 'mobile applications development' component in 2014!
2. $3,333 - Unified Communications (chair, Guy Yasika) - This is our second year in a row of getting funding from these wonderful folks!

Charles Eaton

“The CompTIA Member Communities are a terrific mechanism for making sure that charities around the country and even the world that align with our mission are properly identified and supported,” said Charles Eaton, CEO of Creating IT Futures. “The community members take this task very seriously and do a great job. Each year we see new charities enter the fold.”

We are very pleased in the growing strategic alliance between BDPA, CompTIA and the Creating IT Futures Foundation. All of us help populations that are under-represented in IT and individuals who are lacking in opportunity to prepare for, secure and be successful in IT careers. Funding over the past few years from Mr. Eaton and his cohorts has helped us provide funding for the Dr. Jesse Bemley Scholarships that have gone to some truly remarkable young people.

Creating IT Futures Foundation Donates $10,000 to Dr. Jesse Bemley Scholarship Fund

Creating IT Futures Foundation agreed to donate $10,000 to BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) to support education for 20 high school students interested in pursuing STEM-related studies at the collegiate level. The funds will be placed in the Dr. Jesse Bemley Scholarship Fund and be awarded to 20 high-performing students in the National BDPA High School Computer Competition (HSCC) championship being held in Washington DC on August 14-17, 2013.

Creating IT Futures Foundation supported college scholarships for deserving BDPA student members in 2011 and 2012. The scholarships have been awarded to some truly remarkable young people who will help America 'win the future' in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

BETF Scholarship Winners

Creating IT Futures Foundation,established in 1998 as the philanthropic arm of CompTIA, the IT Industry Association, is aware that studies show that workplaces benefit from diversity. Due to a number of factors, the percentage of women and minorities in Information Technology (IT) has been lower than reflected in the population at large. That’s why Creating IT Futures Foundation specifically partners with programs that can identify and recruit women and minority candidates to the IT profession.

"BETF is grateful to Creating IT Futures Foundation executive director Charles Eaton and others who continue to fuel BDPA programs, scholarships and services. We hope that others will seek to do their part in support of the Jesse Bemley Scholarship Fund by making secure online donation immediately!" said BETF executive director Wayne Hicks.

Grant Award: CompTIA ($5,000)

CompTIA's Unified Communications Community voted a $5,000 grant to the BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF), one of more than 30 tech-related charities that received a combined $100,000 from the Creating IT Futures Foundation in 2012. The Unified Communications Community focuses on best practices, business fundamental education and resources for companies engaged in the creation and delivery of rapidly-developing technology. The group is in the development stage, designed to provide networking opportunities among thought leaders from this segment of the industry. The Unified Communications Community focuses its efforts on building business specific education programs and creating member-driven initiatives to reach their overall objectives.

BETF plans to use the CompTIA grant award in support of our Dr. Jesse Bemley Scholarship Fund. We are building that scholarship fund to reward up to 25 high-performing students in the National BDPA High School Computer Competition championship being held next year in Washington DC.

BETF will continue to try to raise enough money so that we can truly reward these remarkable young 'uns. CompTIA has done its part. Perhaps you are willing to support us with a secure online donation of your own. What say u?