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N O N P R O F I T I MOLLI WINGERT CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPUTERS FOR KIDS n 2002, Molli Wingert was a home-based bookkeeper living in Boise, Idaho, when she found herself in need of a computer for a new employee. Having heard that the local school district was unloading surplus computers, she picked up two pallets of 10 units apiece, and – with a little help from her then-9-year-old son – got 11 of the 20 machines up and running. Wingert kept one for her business, gave one to her son, then distributed the remainder to her son's friends. When the school district contacted Wingert a few weeks later to inquire if she was interested in acquiring a whopping 1,500 more machines, Wingert realized she had an opportunity to make a difference in today's technology-driven world. Using donated storage space and enlisting the assistance of volunteers who worked out of her garage, Wingert formed Computers for Kids Inc., a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that repairs and refurbishes donated computers and then in turn donates the fully-equipped systems for home use to underprivileged students K-14, with a year's worth of free technical support and relevant educational software. "I always knew I wanted the computers to go to the kids," said Wingert, adding that CFK was among the first to participate in the Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher program CONGRATULATIONS HENRY VALENTINO that allowed for increased expansion and exposure. "We grew about 600 percent for seven years straight just on a tear, with one Boise company donating 400 computers a month. Since our inception in 2002, we've provided about 30,000 systems and are the third-largest refurbisher in the country." Last year, Wingert – who attended Boise State University – brought Computers for Kids to Southern Nevada with the opening of a local physical location, and is geared up to get the program in full swing. "So far, we're only bringing in about 100 computers a month, but we're trying to generate more support from the community," said Wingert, adding that Verizon Wireless, the Las Vegas Elks Lodge and Wells Fargo have all stepped up to the plate. "We give out 3,500 sys- tems a year in Idaho, and Boise has a population of 256,000. The Las Vegas area has 1.7 million, so our goal here is to get up to at least 7,000 systems a year." Besides enhancing the education of young program participants, CFK also embraces a "reuse, reduce, recycle" policy with a couple of profound environmental benefits. First, the organization provides an outlet for businesses and households to dispose of unwanted computers, and it also keeps electronic waste out of landfills, as all unusable parts of equipment are disposed of with an R2 Certified Recycler. In 2009, Wingert also launched Secure Data Sanitation LLC, specializing in data-removal processes, security enhancement and data-theft prevention. — By Danielle Birkin Las Vegas' No.1 Business Resource Has Never Been More Important. FOR YOUR NOMINATION FOR VEGAS INC'S 2013 TOP TECH EXEC AWARDS! President and CEO Get your one-year subscription to and we'll include our best leads via email. All for only $50 a year. POS Retail Loss Prevention & Casino Fraud Detection Software As seen on Bar Rescue! www.eConnectGlobal.com | 702.523.8786 10A VEGASINC.COM/SUBSCRIBE For additional information call 800.254.2610 or email subscriptions@gmgvegas.com | VEGASINC | 20 13 TOP TECH EXEC AWARDS 2-12_VINC102813_TOPTECH.indd 10 10/23/13 12:23 PM