At the start of the pandemic, United Way of Southeast Mississippi awarded a $5,000 Community Initiative Grant to the Hattiesburg Public School District Foundation for the purchase of 25 Chromebooks. The Chromebooks were for HPSD students who didn't have computers to do schoolwork at home. The Foundation contributed an additional $20,000 to purchase even more Chromebooks for students.
"The Chromebooks were a pivotal part of continuing summer education for our high school students. We are very appreciative of United Way and Hattiesburg Public School District Foundation for their continued support to our students and our school community," says Superintendent Robert Williams, Hattiesburg Public Schools.
Jerome Brown, president of the Hattiesburg Public School District Foundation, says:
"The mission of the Hattiesburg Public School District Foundation is to support the Hattiesburg Public Schools. When asked by Dr. Williams if the Foundation could assist with the purchase of Chromebooks to support distance learning because of COVID-19 for students, it was an easy decision for the Foundation’s Board of Directors. The purchase was definitely In line with our mission. We are also grateful for the grant support from the United Way of Southeast Mississippi to purchase even more Chromebooks."
Special thanks to our generous donors who made this grant possible.