Bridging the Digital Divide in the Hudson Valley

The Loyalty Foundation and Boys & Girls Clubs of Poughkeepsie & Newburgh Distribute 50 Free Chromebooks

Above: Chromebook recipients at the Boys and Girls Club of Poughkeepsie. Photos by the Boys and Girls Club of Poughkeepsie

On November 6, 2025, The Loyalty Foundation, in partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Poughkeepsie and Newburgh, distributed 50 free refurbished Chromebooks to local students who do not have a computer at home. The event, held at the Boys & Girls Club of Poughkeepsie, was supported by Vassar College, whose campus is located nearby.

David Neeman, founder of The Loyalty Foundation and a Vassar alumnus, joined Vassar College President Elizabeth H. Bradley to celebrate the moment and address the importance of digital access in education.

Above left: The Loyalty Foundation founder, David Neeman, with our recipient-ready Chromebooks. Above right: David with President of Vassar College, Elizabeth H. Bradley, Boys and Girls Club of Poughkeepsie Unit Manager, Mildred Betances Williams, and a Chromebook recipient. Photos by Debbie Swartz/Vassar College

This initiative is part of The Loyalty Foundation’s Devices4All® program, which provides free laptops to K–12 students in under-resourced communities across the U.S. The program’s mission is simple but powerful: to help bridge the digital divide so every child has the opportunity to learn, explore, and create through technology.

A Day of Joy and Possibility

The atmosphere at the Boys & Girls Club was filled with excitement and pride as students received laptops of their very own — often for the first time.

The following quotes are edited from videos of the day, which can been see on our YouTube Shorts page.

“Super excited to have something of their own,” said Mildred, a Unit Director at the Club. “We’re going to teach them the right way to use it, the responsible way. We do coding here, so maybe they can continue that at home.”

For many children, the moment was as thrilling as a holiday morning.

“Just to see the kids’ faces—like early Christmas,” said Magdalena Carrero, Director of the Universal Pre-K Program. “They can keep it at home, go on whenever they want, no restrictions. In communities like this, it’s pretty cool to see them have that independence.”

More Than a Device

For the Club’s staff, the laptops represent more than hardware — they’re tools to expand literacy, creativity, and opportunity.

“It might be something they’ve never had before,” said Carl Acevedo, Project Learn Program Director. “They’ll be able to do research, projects, and essays — and take ownership of it. We’re also working on programs and apps that amplify literacy skills, because that’s something we dearly need here.”

What It Means to Families

For parents, the impact was immediate and heartfelt.

“It’s better, because at least it’s her own,” said Latoya, mother of Chromebook recipient Yanari. “She doesn’t have to give it back to the school at the end of summer. She can learn more, research different things, and do it on her own laptop.”

Her daughter Yanari shared the same excitement:

“Because I get to get a new Chromebook!” she said, grinning. “I’m gonna do schoolwork. My favorite subject is math — and reading too.”

Another parent, father of seven, shared: “It helps her instead of trying to use my laptop or mom’s laptop all the time. She now has her own personal. None of my kids really have laptops — this is the first step right here. It helps us out.”

The Students Say It Best

“It’s a Chromebook — it’s for free and I can do a lot of stuff on it. I can learn on it,” said Alfred, a student recipient. “If I don’t have my school Chromebook, I can study on this one.”

“Because I can get my own Chromebook!” smiled Alana, who loves reading and math. “I’m going to go on I-Ready to do my reading.”

“It means a lot,” added Angel. “The one I got back home is kind of glitchy. This one means a lot — I can do my homework, download apps, and learn more about computers. My mom says it helps me learn more about technology — especially now that we’re learning about AI.”

Continuing the Mission

The Loyalty Foundation’s Devices4All® program has now distributed over 2,600 refurbished Chromebooks nationwide through 29 partner organizations in 14 states, empowering students to take part in digital learning and discover their potential.

This Hudson Valley distribution marks another meaningful step in the Foundation’s mission to ensure that every child — regardless of background or zip code — has the tools to dream, strive, and thrive in the digital age.