Retail Orphan Initiative Announces Computer Recycling Program for Retailers
Program with Gear Foundation to create jobs for physically and mentally challenged adults and support other donations for families at risk
The Retail Orphan Initiative, (RetailROI) announced today a new partnership with the GEAR Foundation for computer recycling when retailer’s computers come off warranty and are less than 4 years old. The program will immediately create jobs for physically and mentally challenged young adults as the computers are erased, refurbished, and resold in the program.
“This is a win-win-win program,” said Greg Buzek, president of IHL Group and donor trustee for RetailROI. “It immediately saves retailers money on recycling costs, creates immediate jobs for physically challenged kids and young adults, and provides the funding for a future program that will allow for the donation of overstocked clothing for foster kids and families at risk.”
“This is perfect extension of what we are already doing with donated computer systems from individuals and families,” said Dave Krikac, Founder of the GEAR Foundation. “We are excited to see how this expands our workforce with a much larger scale so we can hire more kids.”
Retailers often pay a recycling company $8-10 each to remove old computer equipment and send to recyclers. Now they can take a charitable deduction by donating these items to the GEAR Foundation. GEAR will clean up the old computers, erase and re-install the hard drives, and resell the computers for a nominal cost to those in the community who may not otherwise be able to afford a new one.
This is the first step in a process to create an opportunity for retailers to also get a tax deduction for their overstocked merchandise that can be donated to children’s charities and at-risk families. The donated computers will generate the income to staff this subsequent effort.
RetailROI highly encourages retailers to get involved as it will give vulnerable young adults a job, save retailers $5-40,000 a year in recycling costs, and provide affordable computers to the community.
For more information, please see the charity website at http://www.retailroi.org/businesses/
About the GEAR Foundation
The GEAR Foundation was started in 2004 by Dave and Sandy Krikac in response to the difficulties their autistic daughter, Sara, encountered in trying to find meaningful employment. GEAR (Gainful Employment and Respect) has blossomed to employ 20 special-needs young adults in their two businesses: Our Thrift Store (which includes an eBay store) and Our Fulfillment Center. GEAR employees gain confidence and independence as well as skills and experience in retail support and sales; computer repair; small assembly and packaging; and bulk mail processing. These skills not only benefit GEAR businesses, but also translate into service and work opportunities in the community.
About RetailROI
RetailROI is a charitable foundation established to help the 400 million orphaned and vulnerable children worldwide. Created under the umbrella of The Giving Back Fund, RetailROI provides grants to charities that provide hands-on efforts in the following areas:
- Orphan care (food, shelter, medical, clothing, education)
- Foster care support organizations
- Adoption support organizations
- Grants and zero-interest adoption loans
- Child rescue from human trafficking
- Life-skills training for orphaned and vulnerable children
For more information, contact us at retailroi@ihlservices.com,1.615.591.2955 or visit www.retailroi.org. For media interviews, please contact:
Jeff Ketner
Ketner Group
512-794-8876
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