CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Indians may be in the middle of getting ready for the abbreviated season, but they aren't letting that distract them from the important things, like making sure kids are educated.
The team announced Tuesday they are partnering with Ohio's 529 Plan, CollegeAdvantage, to make a hefty donation that will be used to bridge the digital divide during the COVID-19 pandemic: $86,000 to the Cleveland Metropolitan School district, which will help provide more than 300 hot spots and 50 laptops for students.
CMSD CEO Eric Gordon issued the following statement on the Tribe's act of kindness:
"A lack of access to reliable high-speed Internet has been one of the biggest challenges our students have faced during this pandemic. Without reliable access, students' options for remote learning are limited. With support from the Cleveland Indians and Ohio 529, we can move closer to our goal of eliminating this barrier for them."
This isn't the first time the Indians have teamed up with CollegeAdvantage, as the club has worked with the program the last two years to create a $10,000 scholarship for students heading off to college.
"Over the past two years Ohio’s 529 Plan, CollegeAdvantage, has worked with the Cleveland Indians to enrich the lives of students in Northeast Ohio by offering CollegeAdvantage Saving Awards to families," CollegeAdvantage Executive Director Tim Gorrell said. "Today, we are continuing that partnership by providing computer hotspots and laptops to student who need them."
Gorrell added it is their responsibility right now to look after each other and take care of one another, and they believe this donation will help do that for kids in Northeast Ohio.
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