Imagine not having a computer for the last 10 years… or even for the last 10 days. Now imagine what it’s like to be a student and not have a computer at home…
Our Mission
Kramden Institute Inc. is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charitable institution based in the heart of the Research Triangle Park in Durham, NC whose core mission is to empower hardworking, economically disadvantaged students bridge the digital divide and advance their academic and personal achievements by awarding them home computers. We do this by collecting, refurbishing, and reusing donated computers, extending their useful lives with the help of community volunteers, educators, and corporate partners across North Carolina.
Our History
Kramden was born out of a father/son project initiated in June 2003 by Mark and Ned Dibner. The idea was hatched when Ned, then 13, suggested to his father that they refurbish and fix older computers to donate to middle school honor-roll students in Durham, NC who could not afford home computers.
Mark and Ned Dibner in 2003
The pilot project was highly successful and from July 2003 through March 2004, over 90 personal computers and 50 monitors were donated by individuals and businesses allowing Mark and Ned to create and complete 50 computer systems to donate. These PCs were given to sixth, seventh and eighth grade students on the school honor rolls but who could not afford home computers. By May 2004, each honor-roll student in the school had a computer in their home.
In the years since, Kramden has awarded nearly 10,000 computers to deserving students across 57 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. We have partnered with numerous schools and other non-profits in the state, as well as to children of enlisted men and women serving overseas. To date, we estimate that some 44,000 people have been positively impacted by the simple gift of a home personal computer.
Our Future
At Kramden, our goal is to eventually eliminate the digital divide that persists in North Carolina and beyond. We believe that each student should be fully computer literate in order to thrive in our interconnected world. Kramden continues to grow each year thanks to the tireless efforts of our volunteers and through the generous support of corporate and individual benefactors. We are looking forward to awarding our 10,000th computer in early 2012 and hope to double that milestone in the years to come.
