Charitable Computer Donation Program Overview

The New Jersey Computer Club (NJCC) is a not-for-profit Section 501 ( c )(7) Internal Revenue Code organization dedicated to educating the public about computer systems, software, and their uses; providing community service to charities and educational groups (such as donating refurbished computers and/or providing computer training to non-profit groups); and sharing knowledge and social activities with other computer enthusiasts. Our NJCC Constitution & By-Laws states that we are “organized exclusively for charitable, educational and scientific purposes, including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations … organized exclusively for charitable, educational and scientific purposes, as well as governmental units that make use of developing computer technology, by providing equipment, service, and training free of charge.”

In 1994, Philip A. Corbo, a dedicated NJCC member, instituted a recycling program to meet this need by soliciting and accepting donations of used computer equipment from corporate, private and other agencies that could be refurbished and reused by other non profit organizations. He set up a storage, refurbishing, and distribution system whereby this equipment could be disassembled, cleaned, tested and reassembled into useable units that could then be delivered and installed free of charge at needy schools and other charitable organizations. Thus, computer equipment that was obsolete or would potentially be scrapped by one organization was beneficially refurbished for use by another desperately needy non-profit organization.

Numerous individuals and many fine organizations have generously donated computer equipment to this program, including corporations, banks, small businesses, and law firms.

Schools and charitable organizations that have benefited from this program include Academy of Saint Aloysius, Alma White College, American Red Cross, ARC of Somerset County, Bethlehem Township School District, Bound Brook Elks, Bound Brook Memorial Library, Boy Scouts of America, Brain Injury Association of NJ, Business and Education Partnership, Catholic Charities, Catholic Schools in Jersey City, Montclair, & Newark, Community Visiting Nurses Association, Cooperative Housing Corporation, East Amwell Schools, Habitat for Humanity, Interfaith Hospitality Network of Somerset County, Literary Volunteers of America, Midland School, National Council of Negro Women, Inc., North Branch Reformed Church, Presbyterian Homes of NJ, Renaissance Employment & Training Academy, Saint Aloysius High School, Saint Rose School (Perrysburg Ohio), Second Reformed Church (Irvington), Somerset County 4-H Association (Somerset County Youth Development Program), Somerset County Community Development Office, Somerset County Office of Affordable Housing, Somerset County Office on Aging, Spinobifida, St. John's Baptist Church (Scotch Plains), Tourette Syndrome Association of NJ, United Cerebral Palsy of Morris & Somerset Counties, Valley Health Care Corporation, Victims of Hurricane Floyd, Villa Maria Home for the Aged, Watchung Avenue Presbyterian Church, and Wells Village School (Wells, Vermont).

Starting in 2001 we have also sold refurbished computers to the public at competitive pricing, with the income going to our NJCC Founder’s Memorial Scholarship Program for scholastic assistance to needy students. The first two awards of $500 each have gone to the non-profit Raritan Valley Community College Foundation for their Financial Aid Committee to administer and award to needy computer students that demonstrate an ability and willingness to help others increase their computer skills both now and in the future.

All useable equipment therefore goes to or supports completely and solely non-profit schools and charitable organizations. Every attempt is made to assemble equivalent systems for multiple units going to the same school or organization to ease training and maintenance (also provided free of charge by the NJCC).  All hard drives are reformatted to remove all private and proprietary information before reuse.

The New Jersey Computer Club has received numerous thank you letters and acknowledgements from the recipients of these refurbished computer systems and equipment. In addition, Philip A. Corbo (who not only started this program but still manages it for the NJCC) was selected the Senior Volunteer of 2001 by the United Way of Somerset County in acknowledgement of his dedication and services to this most worthwhile project.

Please also note that older and unusable equipment are dissembled, the parts are separated, and the components sent to appropriate recycling facilities. The Somerset County Recycling Center accepts monitors and other unusable electronic components the first Saturday of each month. Other components are properly disposed of at New Tech Recycling Co. (Bridgewater), M & A Recycling Co. (Hillsborough), Klein Metals Co. (Manville), Absolute Salvage Co. (Middlesex), and Elemental Metals Co. (Philadelphia).