Rock Island Milan Educational Foundation Provides Funds for RIMSD41 Digital Equity
The Rock Island-Milan Education Foundation (RIMEF) Board of Directors has awarded $40,277.66 to fund internet access for Digital Equity in the Rock Island-Milan School District (RIMSD) over a period of 3 years. The vote was made at the RIMEF’s board meeting last Thursday 
after a presentation from RIMSD IT Director, Troy Bevans. Mr. Bevans stated the goal for the District’s technology is a sustainable approach reaching beyond the current COVID-19 crisis. The RIMEF’s funds will provide 26 indoor/outdoor antennas and 3 years of internet service for 28 Cradlepoint cellular routers currently placed throughout Rock Island and Milan. This technology is part of the District’s ROCKfi (Reaching Our Community’s Kids with fidelity) network allowing any RIMSD student to connect through their district-issued Chromebook or personal device.
Support of the Digital Equity program is made possible through two $5,000 grants from the Doris and Victor Day Foundation and the Rock Island Community Foundation. Another $2,000 grant was received from the Rauch Family Foundation. The total from these great charitable organizations was added to over $6,000 the RIMEF received from its targeted Birdies for Charity appeal and $28,000 from the RIMEF’s annual distribution. “The Rock Island-Milan Education Foundation is very grateful to our generous donors. Their contributions have allowed us to help our students and their families during this difficult time,” said an appreciative John Phillips, RIMEF Board President.
In 2019, the Rock Island-Milan Education Foundation provided over $300,000 to the Rock Island-Milan School District and its students in the form of teacher grants, programs, and scholarships. Last Spring the RIMEF awarded $90,000 in scholarships to the Class of 2020 and has recently awarded another $58,000 in PRIME Grants to RIMSD teachers and administration to provide programs and tools to assist with remote learning.
