January 19, 2005
 
 
Dear Friends,
 
Happy New Year!  We hope that this past year has been as rewarding for you as it has been for us. The Technology Goes Home (TGH) program continues to thrive within Boston’s communities and schools. 
 
Beginning in January of last year families began purchasing their computers with the help of a no-interest, no-down payment loan from Bank of America.   A financial literacy component was added to the TGH curriculum to help families budget for the loan expense and gain personal financial management skills. 
 
The Technology Goes Home @ School (TGH@S) program, which was piloted two years ago in six Boston Public Schools, has expanded to over 25 elementary, middle and high schools and has graduated over 300 families.  Families are trained by the children’s classroom teacher.   The opportunity for parents and teachers to communicate regularly has been key to both the improved academic performance for children as well as a deeper relationship for parents and teachers.  The original Technology Goes Home program which operates out of six neighborhood collaboratives involving over 60 partner organizations, has trained more than 1,400 families to date.
 
The Center for Social Policy at the McCormack Institute at UMass Boston concluded a multi-year evaluation of Technology Goes Home.  Evidence collected clearly indicates that families are interacting and changing through TGH participation.  Participants are expanding their knowledge of computer technology and strengthening relationships within their family, with other families and within their communities.  95% of graduates report obtaining new skills to enhance their employment opportunities and 90% of parents report that their children’s school work has improved.
 
In September we held our 4^th annual “Evening on the Bridge” event which was a tremendous success.  This annual celebration is an opportunity to bring families, sponsors and supporters together to celebrate the successes of TGH graduates.  Over 1000 people attended last year’s celebration.
 
Over the next 12 months, our goal is to continue to strengthen our existing programs.  We look forward to another promising year.  Our work is a constant reminder that in giving, we ourselves are enriched.
 
Again, thank you for your interest and continued support of Technology Goes Home and the Boston Digital Bridge Foundation.
 

Sincerely,
                                                                                    
                                                                                   
Edward L. DeMore                                                           Steven J. Gag
CEO                                                                                    COO