Tech Leaders Helping with Tech Initiative to Support Displaced Residents

PASADENA, Calif., March 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — On Sunday, March 9, from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Jackie Robinson Community Center, over 400 residents impacted by the recent wildfires will be provided free laptops and internet access. This major relief effort is spearheaded by Human-I-T, a nonprofit organization dedicated to bridging the digital divide and minimizing e-waste. Collaborating with the City of Pasadena, Laserfiche, a leader in document management software, along with several other partners, this initiative aims to support affected residents in staying connected and accessing necessary resources as they work to rebuild their lives.

“Technology is a lifeline in times of crisis and essential for rebuilding,” stated Gabe Middleton, CEO of Human-I-T.

According to Chief Information Officer of the City of Pasadena, Phillip Leclair, “Our goal is to provide laptops and hotspots to community members from Pasadena and Altadena impacted by the wildfires.” He added, “We appreciate the IT leaders and organizations that have stepped in to make a difference.”

Laserfiche Chief Information Officer Thomas Phelps noted, “The outpouring of support has been incredibly heartwarming. We are thankful to tech leaders from East West Bank, Cathay Bank, The Beachbody Company, Metrolink, and USC Marshall, among many others who contributed devices.”

Additionally, corporations like Lenovo and Robert Half have joined this initiative. Other supporting organizations include Delete the Divide, the Los Angeles Digital Equity Action League (LA DEAL), EveryoneON, Ketchum YMCA LA, World Central Kitchen, CORE, and NAACP of Pasadena. Furthermore, T-Mobile will provide hotspots to eligible households through their Project 10Million.

The Tech Leaders Helping with Tech initiative, co-led by Leclair and Phelps with the assistance of Human-I-T, aims to rally major players in the tech community to donate devices. They have successfully recruited various nonprofit IT leadership organizations, including Innovate@UCLA, SIM Foundation, SCSIM, and ISACA Los Angeles.

Lenovo’s Vice President of the U.S. Public Sector, Leslie Harlien, affirmed, “We are committed to supporting communities during crises. Our laptop donation to the Los Angeles region will assist families in staying connected, especially as essential services and daily activities increasingly move online. Lenovo stands with the people of Los Angeles as they navigate this difficult period.”

The need remains critical. Many evacuees left their homes with minimal possessions, complicating their ability to fill out online forms for assistance, locate long-term housing, and access food programs and other necessities.

Gabe Middleton emphasized, “Access to technology can be a lifeline during crises and is vital for residents to start rebuilding. This generous support allows us to provide not just devices, but also hope and opportunity to those affected by this disaster. We are immensely grateful to our partners in the tech community for making digital access a key component of disaster recovery.”

Organizations with unused or refurbished devices to donate can visit human-i-t.org/ca-wildfire-donation.

Los Angeles County residents affected by the wildfires can register for free devices (subject to availability) at human-i-t.org/fire.

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SOURCE Human-I-T