National Partnerships

Neighborhood Networks 2007 National Partners

Partnerships are the lifeblood of Neighborhood Networks centers and are the only vehicle that provides the programming and resources needed to achieve HUD's stated goal of sustainability for both Neighborhood Networks centers and multifamily residents. Several significant partnerships have been achieved that are contributing to the success of Neighborhood Networks centers across the country.

WACHOVIA
Wachovia is one of the country's largest financial institutions, providing banking and investing services to numerous consumers. Wachovia is the first major bank in the nation to partner with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to implement the agency's financial literacy curriculum. Wachovia Corporation has partnered with Neighborhood Networks Mid-Atlantic Digital Alliance Consortium to facilitate financial literacy programs targeting adults. Wachovia aims to improve financial literacy skills for residents of low-income communities by offering the Money Smart financial education program, an FDIC-developed curriculum offered in both English and Spanish. Wachovia would also like to provide basic computer and Internet skills training using its program, eCommunitiesfirst. This program will provide training and marketing materials for the implementation of technology workshops at selected Neighborhood Networks centers in Virginia. Wachovia will conduct train-the-trainer workshops on the eCommunitiesfirst and Money Smart programs. Wachovia will also provide all program and marketing materials, including instructor guides, student manuals, videos, and certificates of completion. The benefits of this partnership will allow residents to attain self-sufficiency as they are able to make informed financial decisions for their future. It will also teach residents about banking, credit, credit repair, strategies for saving, and homeownership.

COMPUTERS 4 STUDENTS
Computers 4 Students is a nonprofit organization that focuses on building relationships with companies and organizations for the benefit of technology donations to schools and communities. Computers 4 Students also requires organizations to donate 25 or more computers at a time. Computers 4 Students is partnering with the Neighborhood Networks New York Consortium and the Neighborhood Networks New Jersey Consortium to give selected Neighborhood Networks centers 50 complimentary computers. The computers donated to Neighborhood Networks will have Windows 98 or Window XP software and will be shipped to Neighborhood Networks technology centers. With the donated computers from Computer 4 Students, Neighborhood Networks consortia will increase technology centers' focus on job training and self-sufficiency goals.

HOLIDAY INN
Holiday Inn is an InterContinental Hotel Group brand that serves as one of the world's premiere hotel chains. Holiday Inn has more than 1,300 hotels around the world; in the future, it plans on building more than 200 hotels in the United States. With the hotel's success and expansion of various locations, Holiday Inn is committed to locating and training the best staff to continue its superior service in the hospitality industry. In keeping with the company's commitment to corporate responsibility and hospitality training, Holiday Inn hotels will provide select Neighborhood Networks centers in the Maryland, Washington D.C. and Virginia area with workforce and employment training. Holiday Inn will give selected Neighborhood Networks residents' an introduction to the hospitality industry and train them to access possible job opportunities with Holiday Inn.

Introductory training will be provided for the following positions: front desk clerks; guest service representatives; and housekeeping. Residents of Neighborhood Networks centers will have an exclusive insight into the hospitality industry. Upon completion of the training, residents will have some advantage over other applicants for career opportunities. Additionally, Neighborhood Networks center residents will receive invaluable employment training that can be transferred to other industry sectors. Neighborhood Networks centers residents will also have access to other local human resource personnel for employment opportunities. Residents will have access to up-to-date information about current employment opportunities with Holiday Inn in specific geographic areas.

KAPLAN, INC.
Kaplan is one of the world's leading providers of primary, secondary, and higher education resources. Kaplan continues to increase its contributions to Neighborhood Networks and has donated educational products and services to students and educators for mentoring, literacy initiatives, and scholarships worth millions of dollars. For this year's partnership, Kaplan will provide Neighborhood Networks centers in Massachusetts, Mississippi, and Ohio with PSAT, SAT, ACT, and GED software, covering the subject areas of math, critical reading and writing tutorials; sample questions and tests, and admission and tuition guides. Kaplan will also donate 15-20 complementary copies of various college preparatory materials to select Neighborhood Networks centers. These products will aid in enhanced college preparation and increase the youths' learning capacity while encouraging the independent use of the technological centers with self-contained software. This partnership will enable residents to fulfill their goals of self-sufficiency.

LIFETIME LEARNING
Lifetime Learning is comprehensive computer software providing its users with reading, writing, and mathematics curriculum, including: an English dictionary with Spanish translation and thesaurus. The software is designed to assist individuals with strengthening their skills, fortify the knowledge of instructors, and provide remediation for those not performing at an appropriate grade level. Lifetime Learning is partnering with Neighborhood Networks centers in Minnesota, South Dakota, and Iowa to provide centers with complimentary installation of the computer software. Lifetime Learning professionals will help users increase their capabilities and navigate through the system.

Moreover, Lifetime Learning will provide complimentary ongoing technical assistance for participating Neighborhood Networks staff. This partnership will encourage independent use of the technology center with self-contained software and will increase residents' technological proficiency. The partnership will also, increase the learning capacity of youth, assist adults with GED preparation, enhance residents' marketability to prospective employers, and enable residents to benefit from additional educational opportunities.

BRIGHT FUTURES LEARNING, INC.
Bright Futures Learning, Inc. is a tutoring company that receives Title1 funding to provide supplemental educational services to youth in failing school systems. Bright Futures focuses on three academic programs including: reading, language arts, and study skills. Bright Futures trains children by using Sensory Integration Therapy, which improves the ability to process information. Bright Futures is partnering with Neighborhood Networks centers and consortia to provide complimentary supplemental educational services to qualifying Title 1 students located in selected Neighborhood Networks sites in Florida, South Carolina, and North Carolina. Bright Futures and Neighborhood Networks will market the program and organize orientation workshops to enroll residents. Parents of youth utilizing the Bright Futures' approach will also be provided with weekly reports on their child's progress. The Bright Futures partnership will allow Neighborhood Networks centers to have onsite, educational, afterschool programming thereby promoting increased student academic achievement and parental involvement. This partnership will also provide complimentary services to a number of students who do not attend Title 1 schools, but access the selected Neighborhood Networks centers.

GIFTS IN KIND INTERNATIONAL
Gifts in Kind (GIK) International is the largest charity in the world that focuses on new corporate product donations. It then provides these new products to 150,000 community charities worldwide. These products include: computers, software, office equipment, supplies, and educational materials. GIK focuses on product donations that promote community building, community services, youth and education, sports, technology, and office productivity for nonprofit organizations. The GIK organization will provide a various array of in-kind donations to the Neighborhood Networks National Consortium (NNNC). The NNNC will receive a discounted membership registration for the program, allowing it to identify and select the products for distribution to member centers. The membership allows unlimited access to products with few exceptions. GIK will also provide complimentary discounted memberships to selected local Neighborhood Networks consortia nationwide. This partnership will allow centers to have access to supplies so that their residents receive the benefits of these valuable products. Regional consortia can take advantage of technology hardware and software products to enhance their center programming and operations.

GRANTSTATION.COM, INC.
GrantStation.com, Inc. is an Alaskan Corporation that has delivered quality, up-to-date funding information to more than 8,000 organizations and individuals. GrantStation.com, Inc. provides access to federal and state funding opportunities. These funding opportunities focus on: education, workforce development, and computer literacy. GrantStation.com, Inc. will provide the Indiana Neighborhood Networks Consortium and the Neighborhood Networks New York Consortium with a limited complimentary membership that includes: access to thousands of national and regional grant makers, daily updates of federal grant opportunities, and links to grant making agencies in each state. The partnership also includes: access to the Common Grant Forms database, a weekly newsletter (GrantStation Insider), daily updates about federal grant deadlines, and access to Grant Station's proposal building tutorial, which assists organizations in their navigation through the grantwriting process. GrantStation.com, Inc. will create a Neighborhood Networks co-brand for the GrantStation Insider and other materials for distribution to local consortia members. This partnership enhances the consortia's capacity for programming and resources, and provides residents with an array of tools that assists them with their continuing education.

GRANT WRITE
Grant Write researches grant opportunities for clients to ensure a higher rate of success during the grant application process. Grant Write personnel research various grant requests from American government agencies, private foundations, and religious organizations. Grant Write works with numerous nonprofits and understands the need for funding and budgeting constraints. Grant Write has grantwriters with several years experience in grantwriting and administration. Grant Write personnel have written successful applications for grants for several companies, resulting in a quarter million dollars for security upgrades and the development of a computer learning center.

As an experienced grantwriting company, Grant Write will continue its efforts of freelance grant writing by partnering with selected Neighborhood Networks National Consortium (NNNC). Grant Write will identify the qualifying grant opportunities and write complimentary grant applications for the NNNC. Grant Write will research grant opportunities on behalf of the NNNC, through government agencies, corporations, and private foundations, and present them to the consortium for consideration and approval, as well as manage any additional follow-up communications to secure the grant.

SAMSUNG, INC.
Samsung, Inc., a global leader in the electronic and technological industry, has partnered with Microsoft to launch its digital photo frame product. Through this collaboration, Samsung will partner with the Neighborhood Networks National Consortium (NNNC) to engage New York, Boston, Washington D.C., Seattle, and Los Angeles Neighborhood Networks center youth in team building activities, while learning how to create digital stories. Neighborhood Networks center youth will use technological digital frames to enhance their digital storytelling projects.

Samsung will also provide each participating center with digital cameras. Under the supervision of Neighborhood Networks staff, each center will create a site on Windows Live Spaces to showcase their creative digital work. Panel members from Samsung, Microsoft and Neighborhood Networks will choose the winning center to receive a Samsung digital photo frame. Following the contest, a gallery will be displayed at the winning center to showcase the participants' work to the community and the media. This partnership is not only a great benefit to youth, but also to the winning center that will receive useful equipment from both Samsung and Microsoft. The paraphernalia will also increase and enhance technology programs for all residents utilizing that Neighborhood Networks center. Having the media spotlight on this partnership will increase community awareness of that center.

Interested centers can call the toll-free Neighborhood Networks Information Center at (888) 312-2743 for additional information on Neighborhood Networks national partnerships.

Some of our national partners from previous years include:

2006

	I-Safe America, Inc.
	Operation Hope, Inc.
	The National Network of Libraries of Medicine's (NN/LM's) Southeast Atlantic Region
	Hargadon Computer, Inc.
	TechMission
	Museum of Science, Boston's Intel Computer Clubhouse Network
	Alliance for Technology Access

2005

	Beaumont Foundation of America
	Carolina Pros
	Grassroots.org
	Network for Good
	Money Management International
	TJX Companies, Inc.
	SeaKay
	Per Scholas
	UniRush Financial Services

2004

	Adult Literacy Media Alliance
	Npower
	The Points of Light Foundation
	CompuMentor
	Pro Bono Net, Inc.
	One Economy

2003

	U.S. Department of Labor
	Bank of America
	Nortel Networks Kidz Online
	U.S. Department of Education
	CyberLearning

As Neighborhood Networks moves forward, we are committed to continuing these positive efforts. To find out more about how your organization can become a national partner, visit our Becoming a Partner page.