Laptops donated for after-school study program

SAN DIEGO (CNS) – Sixty laptops were donated for use at a city of San Diego-funded after-school study program that started Monday at local library branches.

The computers were purchased with a $15,000 gift from the Wal-Mart Foundation that was matched by the San Diego Public Library Foundation. The money was routed through One San Diego, a newly formed nonprofit.

The library study program, which was touted by Mayor Kevin Faulconer when he made his budget proposal back in April for this fiscal year, started up at the Central Library and branches in Logan Heights, San Carlos, Pacific Beach and Scripps Ranch. It will expand to 13 other branches in January.

“San Diego is a city of opportunity and I want everyone to have access to it,” Faulconer said.

The program will provide one-on-one assistance to children for school-assigned homework, with the help of a learning coordinator, computers and an online tutoring program.

The One San Diego organization, which takes its name from Faulconer’s slogan for uniting disparate parts of the city, is headed by former City Council President Tony Young. The group plans to become involved in workforce development, skills training, neighborhood beautification, and small business creation, among other things.