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Today Gary Knight came on the show and told us about San Diego Futures Foundation (SFFF). \xa0This organization helps seniors and low income individuals get computers at a reduced rate.\nSDFF also teaches their recipients how to use the technology, which is often a hurdle in their target populations.\nGary Knight is the Executive Director of the San Diego Futures Foundation (SDFF), a 501(c)3 nonprofit established to improve lives in San Diego through technology. SDFF provides equipment, software, training, services, and technical support to San Diego nonprofits, small businesses, and disadvantaged residents.\xa0 SDFF is working to bridge the digital divide in San Diego, and helps low-income households, people with disabilities, and seniors.\nPrior to joining the San Diego Futures Foundation, Gary Knight was the president and chief executive officer of the San Diego North Economic Development Council.\xa0 The council is a coalition of public and private entities whose main objective is to attract, retain and develop business in North County. It has almost doubled its membership since Knight took over in 2004.\xa0 As president, Knight pushed for improved transportation options, greater educational opportunities, and reliable/affordable power supplies.\xa0 Gary also provided strong support for the proposed desalination plant in Carlsbad and the new Palomar Hospital in Escondido.\nGary sits on a number of Boards, Committees, and Advisory Groups all across San Diego.\nThe organization not only helps those over 65 (and on Medicare) or those people of any age who are on Medi-Cal (California's version of Medicaid) or Cal-Fresh (California's version of Food Stamps) but it also helps anyone volunteer. \xa0Seniors can get a computer for little to no cost and then learn how to use it. \xa0SDFF gets seniors involved in technology.\nThis Technology program works by partnering with:\n\n* Connect to Compete\n\n* Designed for kids who are on the Free Lunch program\n* Low-Cost Internet\n* Low-Cost Computers\n\n\n* Groups of people who want to volunteer by setting up computer labs at schools\n* SDFutures.org which is part of SDFF and provides computers and IT support to non-profits\n* Girls who Code, a school program that encourages girls to go into technology fields\n\nAre the computers FREE? \xa0No, because of some issues in the past, the computers are not free. These high-end computers\xa0start\xa0at about $100. \xa0Some people do get donated computers depending on the availability, need, and other factors. \xa0These low cost and free computers help get seniors involved in technology.\nSDFF re-formats the donated computers according to Department of Defense Standards. \xa0They also send unusable computers to a salvage company that meets their security and disposal requirements. \xa0Additionally, their staff undergoes background checks. \xa0Donors can\xa0feel good about donating their computers without having to worry about their data getting into the wrong hands.\nHospital re-admittance rates are about 30% compared to only about 10% when the senior has something to look forward to. \xa0Working on a project or volunteering\xa0gives them something to look forward to.\nGary told us a retirement lifestyle story about a\xa0man who was in a wheelchair because of a leg amputation due to diabetes. \xa0He rolled up to Gary and exclaimed, \u201cYou saved my life!\u201d\xa0 That was interesting to Gary since he\xa0had never met him.\nHe explained that he had received one of their\xa0computers at a very low point in his life (right after his amputation). \xa0The gentleman had loved to work on cars and attend car shows before he lost his leg but\xa0was now confined to a wheelchair.\nBy using the computer to join chat rooms and view car events online, he felt invigorated again with a newfound purpose in life. \xa0By the time he met Gary, he\xa0had started a web site for car buffs where they shared stories that made him feel ...