Sodak Gaming helps employee bridge the digital divide in CA Indian Communities

CALIFORNIA -- One man’s endeavor to provide computer hardware to California Native American children has grown in scope since Sodak/IGT (providers of gaming equipment to Indian casinos nation-wide) agreed to donate nearly 100 reconditioned PCs to the program. Chris Korpi, who began this program he entitled NACK, or Native American Computers for Kids, saw a widening digital divide that keeps children from using technology in their personal growth, because of their income level.

            Having been a teacher, Korpi noticed that many of his Hispanic students would not pursue higher education and college, not because they weren’t academically capable but because they did not have access to computers. He became involved in AVID, or Advancement Via Individual Determination, which provides computer hardware to needy kids. When he left teaching and went to work for Sodak Gaming, Inc. (a company that focuses on Indian Gaming) as a sales representative, he transferred his efforts to the Native American communities where he saw the same need.

            On his own, Korpi donated twelve computers to tribal learning centers and now predicts that the additional PCs provided by Sodak will fill the need of ten computer centers that support schools, youth centers and one senior center. NOLI School, in San Jacinto, CA, has 9 and will receive 13 systems in all, Pechanga youth and senior centers already have 10 and are scheduled to get 7 more, San Pasqual will get 10 and Cahuilla Creek accepted 2 as did Pauma Valley. Other locations are DQ University campuses; one in El Cajon on the Sycuan Indian Reservation near San Diego, one in San Jacinto on the Soboba Indian Reservation and the other in Coachella at the 29 Palms Reservation near Palm Springs.

            Sodak Gaming, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of International Game Technology and the leading distributor of IGT® slot machines and progressive systems on tribal lands. It also manages the Native American Progressive Systems from its headquarters in Rapid City, South Dakota.