Tek4Kids

Blog

  • Have You Heard About IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions?

    Have You Heard About IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions?

    The Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) was introduced by Congress (on a temporary basis) in 2006 for IRA holders. In a QCD, an individual over age 70½ can fund gifts to charities such as Tek4Kids from his or her IRA. Specifically, an individual can make one or more “qualified charitable distributions” from his or her IRA, up to an aggregate of $100,000 during the year, directly to certain charities of his or her choice. To qualify, the distribution was required to be paid directly from the IRA to the qualified charity. The QCD became permanent in 2015.

    Distributions that qualify as a QCD receive very favorable tax treatment: they are not included in the individual’s gross income, but nonetheless count toward the required minimum distribution that the IRA owner must take each year after reaching age 70½ (or a beneficiary must take after the death of the IRA owner). The distribution to charity does not reduce the amount the donor can otherwise give to charity on a fully deductible basis. In other words, the amount donated through the QCD will not “count” as charitable donation when calculating the donor’s charitable gifts for the year. Thus, while the donor does not have income from the distribution, the donor does not receive a charitable deduction either.

    If you are interested in donating to Tek4Kids through a Qualified Charitable Distribution, please consult your financial advisor or contact us for further information. To view a .pdf file with more details, click here: 2019-10-15 IRA Qualified Charitable Distribution

  • St. Francis School of Technology Graduates Its Second Class!

    St. Francis School of Technology Graduates Its Second Class!

    St. Francis School of Technology (SFST) is a technical school located in Jeremie, Haiti operating on a three year cycle. Students have the opportunity graduate with a diploma once they complete the cycle. During their time at SFST, students may also have internship opportunities. SFST is fortunate to have many competent teachers who are recognized nationally and internationally, as well as having the latest materials and technology for students’ learning.

    On July 13, 2019, SFST celebrated its second graduating class, which was named after William Philippe. The class chose this name because Philippe directed SFST for three years and is a very qualified teacher. The students are truly grateful for Philippe’s dedication and expertise at SFST. As its goal, the 2016-2019 class chose the following: “Work is the key to success.” Graduates do not believe in luck and chance, but rather in the work and efforts they have made during their studies at SFST.

    This year’s graduation celebrant was Mgr. Marc Arthur Emille, who greatly demonstrates his love for SFST and is always delighted to celebrate our school graduations. His meditation blessed the class and urged them to continue in their studies and in the professional careers that await them.

    Gary and Cathy Boice are the founders of SFST. The graduates appreciate the Boice’s dedication and love for them, as they leave their home country to help students receive their education. In recognition of Gary and Cathy, the class created a song for them: Thank you, thank you, thank you TEK4KIDS; thank you, Mr. Gary Boice and his family.

    The 19 graduating students wore blue and gold and were accompanied by a choir for the ceremony. The top student of this graduating class was Laguerre Guelson, who averaged 87.91. Jean Widner was the second laureate with a general average of 82.24. Francky Civil was third with a general average of 81.97. About 275 people attended the graduation ceremony, including parents, family members, and friends of the graduates and the staff of SFST.

    “Work is the key to success.”

    — by Elisabeth Dauphin, Accountant and SFST Graduation Coordinator

    [supsystic-gallery id=101]

  • 2019 Golf Scramble Thank You

    2019 Golf Scramble Thank You

    On behalf of Tek4Kids, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to all golfers, sponsors, in-kind donors and volunteers who supported the 7th Annual Golf Scramble for Haiti which was held on Tuesday, September 10, 2019 at Covered Bridge Golf Club.

    Thank you to our awesome volunteers who generously donated their time to another great golf outing!

    A special thanks to our Birdie Sponsors – Michelle Boice, Financial Architects,Inc., and Morgan Stanley Wealth Management for their continued and generous support! A very big Thank You to Penn Station East Coast Subs for donating lunch to our golfers, staff and volunteers!

    We would also like to recognize and thank our hole sponsors for their support: Accredited Wealth Management, CISCO, Commonwealth Bank & Trust Co., Elite Heating & AC, Encore Technologies, Jerry Mudd Consulting, New Albany Heating & Air Conditioning, Samtec, Trace3, Your Key Solutions – Angela Bauer Armes & Rebecca Potter.

    This special event raises awareness of the needs of school children in Haiti and support of our ongoing projects with our partner schools in Jeremie, and our three-year St. Francis School of Technology (SFST.) These projects include: providing reliable electricity to our nine partner schools, 10,000 gallons of purified water per week, 400 laptops and iPads for schools and supporting over 2,000 students; and our technology school St. Francis School of Technology. The students at SFST have been trained in networking, Microsoft Server, programming, database, web design, and other areas of study including English. In 2019, Tek4Kids Haiti offices and SFST moved into our new facility with 8 classrooms/labs, office space and internet cafe (for staff and students.) The extra space will allow us to expand our curriculum and outreach to the community. Tek4Kids reputation has grown through the years as well. Our partner schools’ enrollment has increased dramatically and our technology school only accepted 24 students out of the 150+ applicants for the 2019-20 school year. As always,100% of the funds donated/raised directly support our projects.

    Please keep all of the above donors and sponsors in mind when looking for products or services; their support is integral in making our event a success!

    Thank you to Covered Bridge Golf Club staff for their support throughout the scramble.

    We are truly grateful for your support and look forward to next year’s golf outing in September, 2020. We hope to see you there!

    Please visit our website www.tek4kids.org for information on our projects and how you can help.

    Gary and Cathy Boice
    Tek4Kids Founders

    [supsystic-gallery id=100]

  • Working with Tek4Kids in Haiti

    Working with Tek4Kids in Haiti

    “I have worked in Haiti since 2014 and joined the staff of Tek4Kids in February of this year as a project manager. I have known Gary Boice for many years and loved hearing stories about what he has been doing in Jeremie, Haiti and the difference Tek4Kids is making here. I am honored and excited to be a part of Tek4Kids and to use my experiences in Haiti to further advance its mission.

    The people and connections I have made here are amazing. I love the heart everyone has for Jeremie and the will they have to make a difference not only in their own lives, but also in the community. In this short time, I have made some great friendships and have integrated well into the community.

    I hope my experience in Haiti, along with others, will continue to propel Tek4Kids forward as an organization. During my time here, I have been able to learn so much and work with some great people along the way. Some of my projects have included: camera installation and wifi access points in the Jeremie Enterprise and Technology building, set up for community meetings and programs, logistics and purchasing materials and a water purification schedule for our partner schools.

    I can honestly say that working with Tek4Kids here in Jeremie has reignited the fire I already had for Haiti. It has been a great experience and I look forward to what the future holds in our work together.”

    — Dustin Klink

    [supsystic-gallery id=98]

  • Tek4Kids Students Shine in Robotics Class

    Tek4Kids Students Shine in Robotics Class

    Nearly 50 students in Jeremie, Haiti recently had the opportunity to take part in a hands-on Lego robotics class sponsored by Expo Science Haiti. The students ranged in age from 10-14 and were invited to attend from five Tek4Kids partner schools: St. John Bosco, St. Therese Montessori, Bro. Paulin, St. John the Evangelist and St. Louis High School.

    The event was coordinated by Raygine Francois, Founder and Executive Director at Haiti STEM Alliance, and held at the new Jeremie Enterprise and Technology (JET) center. Graduates of the St. Francis School of Technology (SFST) – Laguerre Guelson, Pierre Jean Widner, Leon Roberto and Pierre Wesley – worked on the project in advance and were on hand to help guide the students during the class.

    The goal of the robotics class was for students to learn to assemble, program and operate a small Lego robot. Teams of 2 or 3 students were each given the Lego kit, which contained hundreds of pieces. Students used tablets to follow the instructions for assembling the robot and once assembled, used them to sync, program and operate it.

    Most of these students already had experience using iPads, smartboards and laptops as a result of Tek4Kids collaboration with partner schools in Jeremie. Nearly all 20 teams were able to complete the robot project successfully! We look forward to future opportunities to participate in robotic challenge competitions and hope to represent Jeremie well.

    [supsystic-gallery id=97]

  • Another Boice Joins Tek4Kids in Haiti

    Another Boice Joins Tek4Kids in Haiti

    Working with Tek4Kids has become a family affair for the Boice family! Gary and Cathy Boice are its co-founders, while son Michael joined the team full-time last year to lead and coordinate all our technology efforts in Haiti.

    Recently, son Brooke traveled to Jeremie, Haiti to teach a Python class for third year students at St. Francis School of Technology, the certified technology school Tek4Kids began in 2015. Brooke lives in Boulder, CO with his wife and three children and is currently a Senior Advanced Services Architect in the Data Center ATG with Trace3.

    Brooke created a lab environment where everyone in the class had access to their own virtual machine to run Python, which is a high-level programming language used primarily for web and application development. During the class, Brooke presented brief segments of lecture, immediately followed by a lab to apply the lessons learned. He focused initially on the basic concepts of Python and the labs then challenged students to customize Python scripts that query live websites for weather data, based on location. Finally, the students built a basic Python web server.

    Brooke commented that he was surprised by the students’ level of engagement and noted that almost every student followed along and constantly asked questions. He said it was truly a pleasure to teach students who were so eager to learn!

    [supsystic-gallery id=96]

  • SFST Receives Significant Certification

    SFST Receives Significant Certification

    Our technology school in Jeremie, Haiti, the St. Francis School of Technology (SFST) recently received its certification from the National Institute of Vocational Training (INFP). Created by presidential decree in 1973 and later (in 1983) entrusted with managing vocational schools, INFP’s mission is to develop and organize permanent vocational training programs and coordinate various means of such training in Haiti.

    INFP certification is required to operate a vocational school in Haiti and mandated by the Minister of National Education. SFST can now participate in Haiti’s official examinations and persons who graduate from a school with this certification are considered highly qualified and eligible for employment in their chosen field.

    In addition to the recognition for students, the certification sends a positive signal to the community that SFST meets all the quality, excellence and administrative standards required to be certified. The diplomas SFST confers will carry both an exceptional reputation and the official signature of Haiti. The certification will also allow some educational partnerships between the US and Haiti and make it possible to prepare duty-free applications for importing technology materials. The designation could lead to funding from both US non-governmental organizations and Haiti’s government, which supports the education sector.

    Normally, the INFP certification process can take anywhere from five to eight years. But thanks to a great team effort from Gary Boice, William Philippe and Michelet Jerome, SFST is now certified after only four years in existence! Jerome followed up on Gary and Philippe’s initial work toward certification by travelling to Port-au-Prince several times to meet with INFP officials and its director, Maguy Durce’.

    SFST offers a three-year intensive program of study in areas such as database, networking, programming and Microsoft Server training. English is also part of its curriculum. With its new classrooms, lab space and this certification, the stage is now set for St. Francis School of Technology to become one of the premier technology schools in Haiti!

    [supsystic-gallery id=95]

  • Tek4Kids Partner School Reps Gather to Learn and Collaborate

    Tek4Kids Partner School Reps Gather to Learn and Collaborate

    Tek4Kids partnership school representatives recently assembled to learn about our latest efforts in technology education for students in the community of Jeremie, Haiti. The response was better than 100%, since we sent out 24 invitations and 25 people showed up!

    Representatives from all our partner schools joined us, including teachers and administrators from St. Louis High School, St. Louis Elementary, St. John Bosco, St. Therese Montessori, Brother Paulin, Montfort, St. John the Evangelist and Step by Step.

    During the meeting, Te4Kids founder Gary Boice outlined our process for using technology in educating students, beginning with our partnership with local schools in Jeremie. Around 2,000 students have access to iPads, smart boards and laptop computer classes in our partner schools. In addition, we provide basic infrastructure such as purified water and reliable electricity so that the school environment is conducive for learning.

    Those students interested in pursuing a career in the field of information technology can apply for entrance into our St. Francis School of Technology (SFST), which recently received INFP certification in Haiti after only four years in existence. The three-year program at SFST offers study in database, programming and Microsoft Network Server. Our goal is to prepare students with the knowledge and skills necessary for careers in website design, desktop support and infographics. English language skills are also part of the curriculum at SFST.

    Post graduate support and opportunities follow for SFST graduates with our newly incorporated for-profit business, Technology Integrators Caribbean (TIC). Some students are offered jobs in this business and others can begin their own businesses using the business center located in the Jeremie Enterprise Technology building. All profits from TIC will be funneled back into our non-profit, Tek4Kids.

    Representatives were then treated to a tour of the Network Operations Center for TIC, showing its capabilities for monitoring, security and energy management. Several in attendance expressed gratitude for our work in the community and encouraged more meetings such as this, so everyone can be aware of our work. St. Louis High School educational director Fr. Luxo congratulated Tek4Kids for its determination, will and courage in opening doors of success for young people in Jeremie and affirmed our work as a center of technology that will help Haiti’s economy grow for years to come.
    [supsystic-gallery id=94]

  • New Life International

    New Life International

    Please support our Tek4Kids partners!
    Click here to visit their website.

  • Technology Integrators Caribbean

    Technology Integrators Caribbean

    Please support our Tek4Kids partners!
    Click here to visit their website.

  • Volunteer’s Efforts Evolve as Tek4Kids Expands

    Volunteer’s Efforts Evolve as Tek4Kids Expands

    In the summer of 2014, I began volunteering with Tek4Kids. I read an article in the Catholic Record about a former classmate of mine at St. Xavier High School, Gary Boice, who was doing some notable work in Haiti. I was retired and had moved home to Louisville, looking for a new purpose during my retirement years. After seeing the article, I was excited about the possibility of volunteering with Tek4Kids.

    My first trip to Jeremie, Haiti was in November, 2014. I was not yet sure how I would utilize my skills and talent to help with the needs of the organization. When I arrived, Gary and his team were in the final stages of completing a water filtration system and pump house at an orphanage in the hills overlooking Jeremie. I did whatever was asked of me: running pvc pipe, wiring, carrying materials and handing tools to those who knew what they were doing. The work was more about construction than using my skills in technology, management and personnel development. However, it was so rewarding to see the difference we were making in this developing country. I was hooked and decided I would continue supporting Tek4Kids and helping the people in Haiti.

    Over the next three years I made about two trips per year to Jeremie. The work varied but was always rewarding. We built classrooms for the partner schools we supported. This required painting, some light carpentry, wiring classroom workstations, installing laptop computers and hanging overhead projectors. At the end of each day, we would be tired, hot, dirty and the cold showers back at the house where we lived actually felt good. Though the work differed, by the end of each trip the feeling was always the same: I was glad to return home but knew I had to return to Haiti. I was full of gratitude for the blessings I had, yet wondered why I had so many opportunities while the people in Haiti had so many challenges.

    Now in 2019, the Tek4Kids organization has grown from building water filtration systems and classrooms to teaching computer skills to Haitian children, supported by nine full-time teachers and maintenance personnel. Tek4Kids has opened a three-year technical school for high school graduates, now occupies a new building with eight classrooms and partners with an Information Technology business to supply jobs for our school graduates. Including the new business, the staff has grown to over 35. As a result, my role has changed.

    Now my experience and knowledge of business management and employee development are values I can contribute. Both Tek4Kids and TIC, the new for-profit company which was started to support our work in Jeremie, can benefit from what I have to offer. Although I didn’t mind helping with construction and more labor-intensive work, I now enjoy spending my time working with people.

    On this latest trip, I made presentations both to our different employee teams and the students in our technical school. The presentations covered the need for organization values, teamwork, accountability, professionalism, business ethics and other skills needed to be successful in the business world. I also spent time with our management team to train and mentor them on leadership skills, the importance of setting goals, communicating job responsibilities and measuring performance. I am working to develop some resource tools such as an employee handbook, discipline documentation, hiring guidelines and other HR processes that are currently needed. I participate in organization design discussions and planning for future growth.

    The work I am doing now has resulted in a new commitment to return to Jeremie every three months so I can be more involved in the development of our team there. I have also started working with another non-profit in Jeremie to help their staff with leadership skills. I am so thankful for the opportunity to assist Tek4Kids in its mission to improve the life of the people in Jeremie through education and technology. It is nothing short of amazing to see the growth and success I have witnessed in the five short years since I became involved in this worthy effort.

    — by Bob Glaser

    [supsystic-gallery id=93]

  • Tek4Kids Maintenance Team Forges Ahead!

    Tek4Kids Maintenance Team Forges Ahead!

    With more than 20 years of work experience with Tek4Kids between them, our maintenance crew continues to develop and make important contributions to the organization. Jean Joseph Langder (Baba) leads the team and has been with Tek4Kids since 2011. Max Chaurant also joined the team in 2011, with Francklyn Etienne following soon after in 2012. The newest team member is Jean Pierre Celebien, who began as our custodian with St. Francis School of Technology (SFST) in 2015.

    (more…)