PCs for People’s Internet honored for excellence alongside other innovators and innovations in the Social and Cultural Impact category
St. Paul, MN – PCs for People has been named a finalist in the 2023 Edison Awards. The nonprofit organization is being honored in the Social and Cultural Impact category for its use of small cell fixed wireless and existing infrastructure to bridge the digital divide. The Edison Awards™, named after the American inventor Thomas Alva Edison, recognizes some of the most innovative products and business leaders in the world with past winners including Steve Jobs, Elon Musk, General Motors and Genentech. The prestigious accolades honor excellence in new product and service development, marketing, design and innovation.
PCs for People, a national leader in digital inclusion, is furthering its work in bridging the digital divide by developing affordable and reliable high-speed internet service networks in low-income communities. By leveraging community partnerships and existing infrastructure, it has already begun connecting thousands of households nationwide.
“As a mission-driven social enterprise, we aim to build value in the communities we serve through every area of our operations,” said Bryan Mauk, Chief Innovation Officer. “By providing low- or no-cost internet in communities most affected by the digital divide, paired with targeted close customer support throughout signup, installation, and use, we promote broadband adoption to potential new users and also provide an essential service at an affordable rate. Our social enterprise model also enables us to expand our nonprofit services quickly and maximize our impact nationwide.”
All nominations are reviewed by the Edison Awards Steering Committee with the final ballot being determined by an independent judging panel. The panel is comprised of more than 3,000 senior business executives and academics from the fields of product development, design, engineering, science, marketing and education, as well as past winners.
Gold, Silver and Bronze winners will be announced at the Edison Awards Gala on Thursday, April 20, 2023 in Fort Myers, FL. For more information on the Edison Awards, please visit www.edisonawards.com. Applications for the 2024 awards will open midyear, 2023.
About PCs for People
PCs for People is a national nonprofit working to get low-cost quality computers and internet into the homes of individuals, families, and nonprofits with low income. By recycling and then refurbishing computers, PCs for People provides a valuable service to businesses, families, and the planet by keeping computers out of landfills and repurposing them to advance digital inclusion.
Since 1998, PCs for People has become a national leader in digital inclusion by serving over 520,000 individuals, providing 190,000 home computers, connecting 77,000 households to the internet, and responsibly recycling over 9 million pounds of electronic waste through the secure e-waste recycling service. To learn more visit www.pcsforpeople.org.
About The Edison Awards:
Established in 1987, the Edison Awards is a program conducted by Edison Universe, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to fostering future innovators. The annual competition honors excellence in new product and service development, marketing, design and innovation. Past award recipients include Steve Jobs, Elon Musk, and leaders of global corporations such as Coca-Cola, Genentech, General Electric, General Motors, IBM and Campbell Soup Co. In 2022, the Edison Awards introduced the inaugural Lewis Latimer Fellowship program designed to celebrate, connect and bring together a community of innovative Black thought leaders. For more information, visit www.edisonawards.com.