News & Events

Sectoral Employment Impact Study

Over the last decade, Per Scholas has been recognized as one of the leading providers of sectoral job training designed to benefit both workers and employers. Per Scholas participated in a controlled study sponsored by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation and Public/Private Ventures that compared the career outcomes of program graduates with a cohort who did not recieve training.

This sectoral employment impact study found that by all measures Per Scholas graduates outperformed those in the control group and were significantly better off two years after training. Per Scholas graduates found better jobs, earned higher wages, and remained on the job longer.

For more information click HERE

Founder John Hoyt Stookey to be honored at 2010 Gala Dinner and Auction

Per Scholas celebrates 15 years of excellence on April 19

Per Scholas will recognize its Founding Chairman, John Hoyt Stookey, for his 15-year commitment as an organizational leader. The Gala Dinner + Auction will take place on Monday, April 19th, beginning with a cocktail reception and silent auction at 6:30 pm followed by dinner and live auction at 7:30 pm. The event will be held at Cipriani Wall Street. Over 400 guests are expected to attend.

For more information, please click here.

The results of the Sectoral Employment Impact study have been released on Capital Hill! After five years of participation in a random assignment, longitudinal study; Public Private Ventures found that Per Scholas' Computer Technician Training graduates earn more, work more hours, and earn greater benefits than those who do not go through the program! Click here to read the full In-Brief...

20,000 low income NYC youth to benefit from e-waste competition sponsored by Valiant Technology and ISO 14001 certified, non profit, Per Scholas, Inc. Click here for the release.

Per Scholas' Comp2Kids program was featured on Fox 5 News. Click here to view the video!

Press Releases

Please direct all press inquiries to Jessica Leavitt, Chief of Staff: jleavitt@perscholas.org or (718) 772-0662.

Past Press Releases

PC Tools Provides virus protection software
A non-profit organization with a 13-year history of empowering low-income families through providing affordable technology, received a generous donation of anti virus software from PC TOOLS on September 29. This donation comes just in time to send students in New York and Miami back to school with a Per Scholas computer loaded with PC Tools virus protection software...[read more]

Partnership with Elevate Miami will deliver computers to students
Per Scholas, a New York and Miami-based nonprofit will raise the bar by providing technology access to 800 students in some of Miami’s most under-served middle schools... [read more]

Per Scholas and Koppell to contribute 30 computers to elementary school
After a theft, Per Scholas and Councilperson Koppell deliver computers through the ACCESS program... [read more]

Per Scholas holds first ever Comp2Kids Tech Camp
Participants in the Graham-Windham summer Beacon Program at IS 195 get a hands on lesson in technology... [read more]

Per Scholas in the News

Bronx Nonprofit Per Scholas Trains Low-Income Residents To Fix Computers
The New York Daily News - September 8, 2008

"The South Bronx-based nonprofit dedicates itself to using technology to improve the lives of people in low-income communities...."   [more]

'Good People' Replace School's Stolen Computers
The Riverdale Press - October 4, 2007

"'Every child in New York City has the right to be computer literate' says Per Scholas CEO Plinio Ayala...."   [more]

After Theft, PS 7 Given Computers
New York Daily News - September 25, 2007

"A glimmer of hope is coming to a Kingsbridge elementary school after a shocking summer heist left them strapped for computers. Public School 7 is to receive a donation of 30 laptop computers this week from the nonprofit organization Per Scholas.... "   [more]

Savior Antes Up for PS 7
Bronx Times Reporter - September 20, 2007

"Per Scholas' generosity has lifted the morale of the principal and teachers, who were disconsolate at the invasion of their space, and has helped to restore their faith in the goodness of people..."   [more]

PS 7 Will Get Some Laptops
The Riverdale Press - September 20, 2007

"PS 7, the victim of a $100,000 heist, received some good news last week when a non-profit organization announced it would begin to replace the school's stolen technology. Per Scholas, a Bronx-based group that brings technology to low-income families, told Principal Renee Cloutier it will bring 30 laptops to the school this week and reach out to businesses to acquire the rest..."   [more]

Program Prepares Computer Students
Miami Herald - August 19, 2007

"Since its inception, Per Scholas’ two locations have trained more than 1,300 students to be computer technicians, say school officials. The Miami branch, which opened in 2004 and has graduated 150 students... "   [more]

A Tasty Byte of Charity
New York Post - July 26, 2007

"Some people who get new computers may consider their old ones "e-trash," but Plinio Ayala calls them an opportunity..."   [more]

Training Workers for Good Jobs
New York Times - March 19, 2007

"American politicians give lip service to the idea that retraining can give laid-off workers a second, better chance in a globalizing economy..."   [more]

Building a Career Path Where There Was Just a Dead End
Washington Post - February 26, 2007

"Barely two years ago, Cristina Rodriguez and her three children were moored on the wrong side of the income gap. A high school dropout, she was making a little more than $200 a week, stapling price tags to shirts and boxing them at a Modell’s warehouse. “I didn’t use my mouth, didn’t use my mind; I only used my hands. I was always going to be broke,” she said..."   [more]

Refurbishing Computers, And Lives, Too
New York Times - October 16, 2006

"MARINA RIVAS, 43, had no formal training when she became interested several years ago in the internal workings of computers. She began taking home discarded computers she spotted in her neighborhood and taking them apart, becoming familiar with their parts and learning to make relatively simple repairs and revisions, like replacing missing sound cards and reformatting hard drives. But there was much more she wanted to know and do... "   [more]

Plinio Ayala Featured in the NY Daily News   [read the article]
September 2006

City's Greatest [read the article]
New York Post - September 18, 2006

On July 17th, 2006, Per Scholas was presented with a 2006 NYC Neighborhood Achievement Award by Small Business Services (SBS) Commissioner Robert W. Walsh, on behalf of SBS and Mayor Michael Bloomberg. New York City’s Business Improvement Districts, Local Development Corporations, nonprofits, businesses and other local organizations nominated hundreds of projects in seven award categories, from which the fourteen outstanding recipients were selected...
[read the newsletter]

Workforce Development Study Commends Nonprofit IT Training Programs
June 2006

Per Scholas was one of six successful IT training organizations highlighted in the results of a three-year study, which examined the potential for individuals in the service economy to cross the digital divide to jobs in the knowledge-based economy. The study found that nonprofit training programs are particularly well-suited to make the transition from low-skilled jobs to careers in Information Technology possible...
[read the full report]

Plinio Ayala Honored by Bronx Borough President
November 21, 2005

A Real Net Gain for Apartment Complex [view]
New York Daily News - November 7, 2005

Per Scholas and Channel 13 Bridge the Digital Divide   [view]
The New York Amsterdam News - November 18, 2004

Students Enter the Technology Age   [view]
The Miami Herald - August 19, 2004

Antennas Sprout, and a Neighborhood Goes Online   [view]
The New York Times - June 10, 2004

Social Capital: A High-Tech Body Shop   [view]
Fast Company - May 2004

Councilmen Speak to the MOUSE Squad During Per Scholas Visit   [view]
Bronx Times Reporter - April 8, 2004

Computadoras accesibles y capacitacion da PerScholas   [view]
El Paracaidista - www.elparacaidista.com - Febrero 2004

Hooking Up to Information Age: Program Provides Technician Training, Computers for Low-Income Families   [view]
Episcopal Life - July/August 2002

UHAB ‘Connecting Communities’ to the Internet   [view]
NY1 News - June 11, 2002

After the Gold Rush: the Ongoing Opportunity in Information Technology   [view]
The Center for an Urban Future - March 26, 2002

NCC’s Recycle Program Helps Close Digital Divide   [view]
The Advocate - August 15, 2001

Putting Discarded PCs to Good Use   [view]
Daily News - December 18, 2000

Per Scholas on Television

News 12: The Bronx - September 27, 2007
Per Scholas donates computers to PS 7 (Coming soon!)

News 12: The Bronx - August 30, 2007
Per Scholas offers discounted computers to the community

Consumer Reports News - April 22, 2005
Per Scholas & Cristina Foundation [View]

News 12: The Bronx - July 17, 2004
First Ever Bronx Technology Day Helps Residents Learn Computer Skills [View]

CBS2 - Sept 9, 2003
Computer Help [View]

WNBC - September 2, 2003
Company Takes Computers to Goodwill Shops [View]

News 12: The Bronx - August 22, 2003
Bronx Not-For-Profit Offers Free Computer Training [View]

CBS2 - July 21, 2003
TechStyles: Per Scholas [View]

CBS - September 16, 2002
Marketwatch: Per Scholas [View]