Fill out this form to email this article to a friend

Your name		Your email
Recipient email	You may enter up to 20 multiple email addresses, separated by commas.
Your message
Validation Code	Hear validation code
	Enter validation code

We were unable to send your email.

Click here to try again.

Man finds true winning ticket in computer school

By Ernest Hooper, Metro Columnist
In print: Saturday, November 15, 2008

Story Tools E-mail this story Contact the editor Print this story Comment on this story Social Bookmarking Digg Facebook Stumbleupon Reddit Del.icio.us Newsvine

ADVERTISEMENT Loading Video...

Eleven years ago, Ralph Smith was working as a computer consultant when he began talking with a client about what he would do if he won the lottery.

Like so many others, he shared a dream about big houses and new cars. He even fantasized about a monthlong cruise, playing tennis at every stop. But then he added another wish.

"I said, 'When I get back, what I want to do is start a small computer school for youth,' " Smith explained.

The friend gave him a quizzical look, and suggested he didn't need to win the lottery to make his dream came true.

They sat down and worked out a simple business plan. With a $7,000 donation from the client, Smith bought computers and software and launched a program. Thanks to what he might call divine intervention, he found space at the Ybor City branch library. The librarian happened to be looking for someone to teach a computer class.

Now Computer Mentors has blossomed into a nonprofit that features five different programs. The core program certifies teens to build and service computers, and they earn one of the computers they help build.

On Thursday, Smith finally hit the jackpot. No, he didn't win the lottery, but he did receive a two-year, $200,000 grant from the Bank of America Neighborhood Excellence program.

Naturally, Smith credited many, including his small but hard-working staff. And the head of Computer Mentors has his own mentor, Conn Foundation executive director Sheff Crowder.

"I never envisioned myself as an entrepreneur, but I had to learn all about the nonprofit business," Smith said after a celebratory presentation at the Tampa Theatre.

Bank of America honored a number of others during the event with a total of $450,000 in grants, including a second $200,000 gift to fund the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center's outreach program for underserved students. A selection committee of community leaders, including me, chose from a list of finalists to determine the recipients.

Local Hero recipients, who received $5,000 grants to give to the nonprofit of their choice, consisted of William Channer (I CAN! Community Education Coalition); Tallie Gainer III (Tampa Bay Academy of Hope); Peter "Grandpa Pete" Gaumond (Lowry Elementary PTA); Sister Claire LeBoeuf (Everyday Blessings) and Jeffrey Luddeke (Liberty Manor for Veterans).

Four youths also were recognized as Student Leaders and received paid summer internships and a weeklong leadership trip to Washington, D.C.: Melissa Boone, D.W. Waters Career Center; Zachary Bruce, Freedom High School; Shivam Kharod, Hillsborough High School; and Manuela Munoz-Alvarez, Plant High.

Smith marveled at the success he's had since his fledgling start. He viewed the grant as affirmation.

"Sometimes you wonder does anyone really appreciate what we're trying to do," Smith said.

Certainly, the grant helps, but so does the success of former students, including Rhodes Scholar Garrett Johnson and doctoral candidate Kia Flowers. He's also had students come back and mentor.

"You make the whole cycle," Smith said. "You plant some seeds and they grow, and then they plant some seeds."

Now that's really a winning ticket.

That's all I'm saying.