NATIONAL CRISTINA FOUNDATION BEGINS USER GROUP PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM 

First Joint Project Wins Computer Industry REACH Award

Pelham Manor, NY--June 21, 1993--The National Cristina Foundation (NCF)
announced today that they have launched a partnership program with
computer user groups. The partnership program will involve the development
of joint NCF/user group projects in which user groups work with NCF to
repair and restore broken or outdated computer equipment donated to NCF.
The repaired computers will then be provided to people with disabilities
and students at risk in the user group's community.

The first project under the partnership program was the Phoenix Project, a
venture between NCF and the Columbia Baltimore PC Users Group (CBUG). CBUG
takes donated equipment in need of repair and fixes or reassembles
computers during workshops in which user group members train and enlist
the help of other groups in the community including police officers and
retirees. Then NCF places the repaired equipment with groups and
individuals identified through the Maryland Department of Education. The
Phoenix Project was the recipient of the Microsoft REACH Award last month,
an award recognizing excellence in user group community service projects.

"The development of grassroots networks is the key to helping those who
could really benefit from computer technology get the equipment they need.
We are delighted to be working with computer user groups to make use of
equipment that, in the past, we couldn't accept." said Yvette Marrin,
President of NCF. "User groups have long been active in helping those in
their community gain access to computer technology. Our role is to work
with them to expand their outreach."

A second user group project is in development with the Las Vegas PC Users
Group and the Clark County School District in Nevada.

The National Cristina Foundation has been working since 1985 to solicit
donations of computers and related technology and place them with groups
that provide training through education, rehabilitation, or job training
to people with disabilities or students at risk. Since its inception, NCF
has placed thousands of computers to people in 40 states and five
countries. Donations of equipment can be called into the NCF toll-free
hotline: l-800-CRISTINA (1-800-274-7846)

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