Sticks of Fire: a Tampa blog

Computer Mentors, the largely volunteer group that brings computer literacy, ownership and business skills training to kids who might otherwise be at risk, will hold its second Technology Bowl Oct. 20 at the Hillsborough Community College Brandon campus.

The contest is a Brain Bowl type tournament covering computer and technology questions - none easy. Sixteen teams will compete in this year’s event.

Kudos, by the way, to sponsors, which include: Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union; Nielsen Media; Citi; JPMorgan Chase; Holland & Knight; Acuity Solutions; Interface Network Systems; Numara Software; Microsoft; the St. Petersburg Times; Tampa Bay Community Network and Hillsborough Community College.

What is needed now, says Ralph Smith, Mentors’ founding father and guiding light, are volunteers to assist at the event.

For information about volunteering, visit: http://www.computermentors.org/enewsletter/enewsletter-oct07.html

To see some inspiring video, visit: http://www.computermentors.org/f_Videos_87.php.

You can’t view Ralph Smith talking about the program that is so close to his heart without marveling that here is one more person in our community who saw a need and did something besides just talk about it.

If you can’t volunteer for the tech bowl and the opportunity to watch smart, tech-savvy kids from Hillsborough and Pinellas in action, then make a financial donation.

That’s easy, too.

Just visit the website and click on the donate tab. Even $5 will make a difference.