Over 10,000 pounds of electronics collected at credit union’s community celebration

11/03/2022

Over 10,000 pounds of electronics were donated to PCs for People during Alliant’s 87th birthday celebration at their O’Hare headquarters. The event marks the credit union’s fourth – and most successful to date – cohosted computer drive. 

More than 10,000 pounds of equipment were collected during Alliant’s Birthday Bash Electronics Drive – a community celebration of the credit union’s commitment to digital equity and 87 years of service to members nationwide.

The drive supported the sourcing of computers for nearly 1.1 million Illinois households that lack the at-home computer access necessary for daily activities such as telehealth, online banking, remote work and much more. The Alliant Foundation – the credit union’s charitable arm – has pledged to pay for 150 laptops to be given to eligible community members who were identified as lacking at-home devices through the event.

Alliant, a national digital financial institution with a mission to help bridge the digital divide and create equitable digital access for all, held the event at the credit union’s Chicago corporate office. Community members from the Chicagoland area flocked to donate desktop computers, laptops, phones, tablets, and other electronics to nonprofit organization PCs for People of Illinois. Device donors enjoyed complimentary data destruction of their unused electronics, which are then refurbished to provide to individuals in need. Any unusable equipment is recycled responsibly.

"For 87 years, Alliant has committed to helping our members and community cultivate a brighter future. By participating in these device drives and donating their unused electronics, our members are creating tangible impact for someone in their own community, and that’s something they should feel really good about,” said Dennis Devine, President and CEO of Alliant Credit Union.

In total, Alliant's used electronics drives have saved over 36,000 pounds of e-waste from landfills and sourced hundreds of laptops and desktop computers for refurbishing. The financial institution supports digital equity in a number of ways, from offering grants through their charitable Foundation, engaging elected officials through their annual Alliant Day of Action, spreading awareness through a corporate pledge partnership, and partnering with digital inclusion organizations across the country.