Transforming Technology into Opportunity: How FHLBank Chicago Repurposed Laptops to Support Students

Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago's commitment to modernizing our technology and community impact came together during a recent hardware improvement. After the upgrade of hundreds of laptops for employees, the Bank saw an opportunity to transform these devices into tools for educational advancement.

The laptops, still in great working order after several years of use, became catalysts for change through strategic and intentional partnerships. FHLBank Chicago worked with technology partner, Avanade, to prepare the devices before they were sent to Compudopt - a national nonprofit dedicated to closing the digital divide by providing technology access to under-resourced youth. Employees from FHLBank Chicago volunteered their time, moving and sorting laptops at Compudopt's facility before distributing the refurbished laptops to students during back-to-school events with the Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund and the Chicago Housing Authority's Take Flight Trunk Party. For many recipients, these devices replace shared or library computers, giving them direct access to the tools they need to succeed in college and beyond.

"We knew we would change lives that day," said Cedric D. Thurman, Executive Vice President, Community Investment, FHLBank Chicago. "There were students trying to figure out how they would have access to technology. They walked away with laptops that were now theirs, and that would help make them successful."

By repurposing technology that might otherwise contribute to electronic waste, FHLBank Chicago demonstrated how corporate responsibility can create meaningful community impact - turning routine hardware updates into opportunities for Chicago's next generation.

Watch the full story below: