A Geek-A-Thon® is Kramden Institute’s method for streamlining the process of computer refurbishing. While PCs can be refurbished individually, at a Geek-A-Thon® we bring together hundreds of PCs in need of refurbishing along with anywhere from 150-200 volunteers working in shifts, and our streamlined process. The process has four steps: Triage (figuring out what the PC needs); Cleaning; Installing and Testing Software; and Final Inspection and Activation.
At a Full Geek-A-Thon® - held over the course of a weekend, typically from Friday evening through Sunday afternoon – about 140 volunteers, working in 4-hour shifts, turn 200-300 donated computers into approximately 180-250 refurbished computers ready to award to deserving students. Typically 60% of our volunteers are adults, many of whom have a technical background. The remainder are students from the community. Volunteers can do less technical tasks, such as cleaning computers, keyboards and mice, or supporting our administrative staff.
At a MINI Geek-A-Thon®, usually held on the third Saturday of every month (see Volunteer Event Schedule), we have approximately 45 volunteers working in two four-hour shifts to turn 100-150 donated computers into approximately 120 refurbished computers ready to award to deserving students.
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To date, Kramden has refurbished over 4,000 computer systems through Geek-A-Thons® alone.
Geek-A-Thons® are often paired with Award Days where volunteers who have refurbished machines have the opportunity to award the systems to worthy students from the community. Award Days take place on the last day of the Geek-A-Thon® and typically result in 40 computers finding new homes. The remainder of the computers produced at a GAT are returned to Kramden HQ and awarded to students on other Award Days, through school-sponsored functions and through our other partnerships that help identify youth in need.
The cost to Kramden for a Geek-A-Thon® is approximately $15,000 and we are always looking for venues to hold these events. For information on sponsoring a GAT, please send an email to admin@kramden.org . Similarly, if you or your compan/group would like to support a Saturday MINI Geek-A-Thon®, the cost is approximately $7,500 for the day.
