Communities In Schools of North Carolina (CISNC) has received a grant from IBM that will benefit 14 CISNC affiliates across the state, including the one in Moore County.

The grant allowed CISNC to purchase 19 Young Explorer centers, each valued at $2,600.

"IBM is committed to breaking down the digital divide and helping all children to have access to technology," said Tina Wilson, manager of corporate citizenship and corporate affairs. "Through our partnership with Communities In Schools of North Carolina, we can help young children at an early age use technology as a learning tool to begin developing early literacy and computer skills needed to succeed in school."

The computer centers are part of IBM's KidSmart program, a global early learning technology initiative to support the early childhood education of children internationally.

The Young Explorer is a computer housed in brightly colored, kid-friendly Little Tikes furniture.

The center comes with award-winning educational software to help children learn and explore concepts in math, science and language.

Children also learn important socialization skills such as how to work together and share. To learn more about the Young Explorer learning center and the KidSmart program, visit www.kidsmartearlylearning.org.

"IBM has been a wonderful partner and a model of corporate leadership in North Carolina," said Linda Harrill, president and CEO of CISNC. "Children need support from the entire community to learn successfully and help them achieve their dreams.

"IBM's continued support is a testament to that strategy and an important step toward creating healthy and successful students."

For the past 20 years, CISNC has been helping communities connect resources with schools and other sites to help young people learn, stay in school and prepare for life. As a result, CISNC is a leading statewide dropout prevention organization. Corporate partnerships, like those with IBM, are a key part of that strategy.

CISNC is part of the national CIS organization, the largest and most successful dropout prevention nonprofit in America.

Last year, the CIS network in North Carolina worked with more than 163,000 children and youth across the state, empowering 98 percent of its high school students to remain in school.