Presentation was held at the school Wednesday, February 10 at 2:15 p.m.
Photo Caption: Richard speaks with PV/PV Rawlings teachers after the unveiling of his $100,000 donation to the school for its technology initiative. Photo taken at the assembly on campus on Wednesday, February 10, 2010.
Richard Willich and MDI Holdings, the national healthcare technology company based in Ponte Vedra is donating $100,000 worth of teaching technology to Ponte Vedra Palm Valley/M. K. Rawlings Elementary School. The donation includes 37 interactive SMART Boardsä, 43 MDI computers, 30 new Apple computers, 18 classroom response systems, power strips, network switches, cables, software and labor. PVPV/Rawlings and MDI will mark the donation with a presentation on Wednesday, February 10 at 2:15 p.m. at the school.
“This investment fast forwards our opportunity to teach students growing up in a digital world, equipping us to simulate and measure learning while pacing our teaching methods in real time for more effective learning,” said Principal Kathleen Furness. “Currently, about 35 percent of the school’s classroom environments feature this SMART Board technology with interactive classroom response systems. Now it will be available to 100 percent of our classrooms. The impact of this technology will bring positive residuals for our students for many years to come.”
The donation is the largest private donation the school has ever received. In December, Richard Willich presented PVPV/Rawlings with $10,000 worth of orange trees and labor to support the school’s Healthy Initiative, which includes the promotion of diet, exercise and healthy habits.
“We are proud to support the efforts of our public school system, especially here in St. Johns County,” said Richard Willich, MDI CEO and active community philanthropist. “And we are pleased to offer our ongoing support to Ponte Vedra Palm Valley/M. K. Rawlings Elementary. Technology is what we do at MDI and it was a natural fit to fill this need at the school.”
In the last 10 years, Richard Willich and MDI have supported St. Johns County by making donations to Landrum Middle School, Pedro Menendez High School, Ponte Vedra High School and Nease High School. They also offer scholarships to teachers to study in Williamsburg, Virginia each summer.
MDI Holdings, based near Ponte Vedra, Florida owns three companies: MDI Healthcare Solutions, MDI Government Healthcare Solutions and United Teleplex. MDI’s mission is to market their advanced technologies to provide affordable healthcare information to reduce unnecessary costs.
Richard Willich, CEO of MDI, is a veteran, businessman, entrepreneur, cattle rancher and active community supporter. More information on Richard and his activities and philanthropy can be located at www.richardwillich.com or contact Maria Coppola at BroadBased Communications at 904-398-7279.
