Loyalty Foundation Provides 200 Chromebooks to New Jersey Youth

On Tuesday, September 16, Manhattan-based nonprofit The Loyalty Foundation, in partnership with The Gateway Family YMCA, distributed 100 refurbished Chromebooks to Elizabeth youth who did not previously have a computer at home. An additional 100 Chromebooks, for a total of 200, will be distributed over the coming weeks.

This marks The Loyalty Foundation’s third major Chromebook donation to the Elizabeth community. In November 2022, the nonprofit donated 100 Chromebooks at an event that drew rap superstar Redman in support. In February 2023, the Foundation donated an additional 30 Chromebooks, following the launch of The Gateway Family YMCA’s first-ever esports program, which provided gaming computers, IT support, and coaching.

The September 16 donation, along with earlier Chromebook distributions and the YMCA esports program, were made possible through a grant from the J.C. Kellogg Foundation Fund for Elizabeth, New Jersey in conjunction with the Community Foundation of New Jersey.

Families expressed gratitude for the opportunity to bring technology home.

“This is a godsend. We’re really blessed and thankful because I could have never done this on my own. So, this is really good for us.” – Donna, mother of Chromebook recipient Jalyssa (above)

The event drew an enthusiastic crowd.

“It was amazing — a wonderful turnout. We expected some traffic, but seeing the number of people who came out today was really exciting.” – Lisa Yanez, Senior Director of Child Development, The Gateway Family YMCA “Yeah, this is beyond anything I thought it was going to be.” – Janay Swaggerty, Membership and Engagement, The Gateway Family YMCA

As part of the distribution process, families completed surveys at intake tables overseen by Yanez and Swaggerty. The questionnaire gathered feedback from both students and parents.

“The goal of the questionnaire was to get the students and parents both to give information. For the students it was more what they would be using the laptops for, and the conversation with the parents was that they should be answering the questions with the student. So we wanted to know authentically and genuinely what these children were thinking when they thought about having a laptop in the household. And then with the parent, they also filled out the back section, which is really the information that’s going to provide the feedback and all of the data to be able to know who we’re serving, where the members are coming from and the socioeconomic background so we can make sure that we are providing to those who need it.” – Lisa Yanez “The kids answered the questions truthfully and honestly. Some of the answers were amazing to see. A lot of police officers, veterinarians … It was a lot.” – Janay Swaggerty

Below: Our highlight video from the event, featuring interview with Y staff and laptop recients, also available on The Loyalty Foundation YouTube channel.

A big THANK YOU to the staff at The Gateway Family YMCA in Elizabeth, NJ for such a successful event!

(Left to Right) David Neeman, Founder and Chairman, The Loyalty Foundation and Gateway Family YMCA staff: Rodger Koerber, EVP/COO, Fiorella Diaz, Elizabeth Branch Director, Colleen Clayton, Chief Development & Strategy Officer.

Elizabeth Branch staff in the room: 

Colleen Clayton, Chief Development & Strategy Officer

Janay Swaggerty, Member Engagement 

Lisa Yanez, Senior Director of Child Development

Gilda Sinvil

Evrans Lamour-Munoz

Fiorella Diaz, Elizabeth Branch Director

Jorge Farias, Director of Sales & Member Engagement 

Nastisha Baptist Rodger Koerber, EVP/COO

Melynda Disla, President & CEO

and

Rachel Niemczyk, Development Manager for being the catalyst to our mutual success!