CHICAGO (October 3, 2018) LaSalle Network, a national staffing, recruiting and culture firm, Avant, an online lending platform that provides credit alternatives to middle income consumers, and Pangea Properties, a private real estate investment trust (REIT), are donating 47 laptops to Michele Clark Academic Prep Magnet High School, located in the Austin neighborhood on the West Side of Chicago.
Michele Clark High School is one of Chicago’s five early-college Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) schools, which allows students the opportunity to gain knowledge and insight into professional careers and the workplace.
“The laptops will be a great tool in my classroom because our students are learning in an era where digital literacy is a critical skill necessary for life outside and after high school,” said Jessica Faughn, English department chair and teacher at Michele Clark Academic Prep Magnet High School. “Classroom laptops will give my students opportunities to frequently engage in project-based learning, work through various stages of the writing process including collaborative peer revisions using Google Drive and Classroom and publishing formal work, and conduct research for college and career opportunities including researching scholarships, filling out applications and creating personal statements.”
The incline of technology in classrooms has broadened educational capabilities. In recent years, Chicago schools have implemented laptops in the classroom to facilitate learning, and more than 380 Chicago Public Schools (CPS) have at least one laptop or tablet for every three students.
“LaSalle Network has been committed to working with charitable organizations and giving back to the local community for 20 years,” said LaSalle Network Founder and CEO, Tom Gimbel. “It’s important that we continue to invest in our youth and provide resources they don’t have so they have the opportunity to learn, grow and become successful professionals.”
Michele Clark High School is not only committed to quality STEM education, it is also the only school in the CPS district that offers an Incubator Edu program, which demonstrates the necessary skills to be entrepreneur or business executives to students.
“Giving back to our communities is always a priority for Avant employees,” said Chris Armsey, Avant senior vice president, human resources. “We are so pleased to be a part of this important program to help local youth have more access to technology.”
The laptop donation is part of each company’s mission to provide youth the appropriate tools needed to succeed in a society where technology is continuously rising and enhancing educational capabilities.
“We strongly support STEM-related causes as it reflects our dedication to one of the main pillars for Pangea Cares: Education,” said Chanelle Cromwell, programs director for Pangea Cares, a 501c3 nonprofit organization within Pangea Properties. “We believe that youth should have access to the resources needed to enhance learning and growth, and as a tech-forward company, we understand the influence of technology, especially in education.”
For more information, contact Heather Youkhana at hyoukhana@lasallenetwork.com or 312-496-6562.
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About LaSalle Network
LaSalle Network is a national staffing, recruiting and culture firm with business units that specialize in accounting and finance, administrative, call center, healthcare revenue cycle, human resources, management resources, marketing, sales, supply chain, technology and executive search. Since inception in 1998, LaSalle has worked with thousands of clients and placed thousands of candidates in temporary, temporary-to-permanent and permanent positions. Its newest offering, Culture 20/20, works with companies of all sizes and industries to help them focus on what matters: Culture. Performance. Results. LaSalle Network has been listed on Inc. Magazine’s 500/5000 “Fastest Growing Privately Held Companies in America” list for 11 consecutive years, named by Staffing Industry Analysts as a top five “Best Staffing Firms to Work For” from 2011 to 2017, Glassdoor’s 2016 “Best Places to Work,” Inc. Magazine’s 2016 and 2018 “50 Best Workplaces,” Forbes’ 2018 “America’s Best Professional Recruiting Firms” list, and Crain’s Chicago Business’ “Best Places to Work” list from 2014 to 2018. The firm has offices in downtown Chicago, Nashville, Oak Brook and Schaumburg. For more information, please call 312-419-1700 or visit www.lasallenetwork.com.
About Avant
Avant is a high growth financial technology company first and foremost dedicated to creating responsible financial products for all consumers. Avant has secured more than $4 billion in institutional funding and has issued over 750,000 personal loan, auto loan and credit card products through its technology platform. Avant has been featured in publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, TechCrunch, Fortune, Bloomberg and Crain’s Chicago Business. In 2015, Avant was named to Forbes America’s Most Promising Companies list as well as Forbes list of Next Billion Dollar Startups. Find out more at www.avant.com.
About Pangea Properties
Pangea Properties is a private real estate investment trust (REIT) targeting the distressed residential multi-family real estate market. Pangea was founded in 2008 with the mission to bring service, value and care to its residents. The unique REIT serves as both the property owner and the building manager, utilizing a call center to support the high bar for service and scalability. Today, Pangea has invested over $415 million into 13,000+ apartment units throughout Chicago, Indianapolis and Baltimore, with the goal of continuing to expand within current markets as well as into new markets. Pangea has been highlighted by several media outlets including The Steve Harvey Show, Forbes, CNBC, USA Today, Investor’s Business Daily and Chicago Grid. Pangea has made the annual Inc. 500|5000 list in 2013 through 2016, ranking first overall for the Chicago market and second for the entire real estate industry in 2013. Pangea has won numerous awards including multiple Good Neighbor Awards and has been named a Crain’s Chicago Business Top Job’s Creator as well as a Chicago Tribune Top Workplace several times. For more information, visit Pangea online at www.pangeare.com, www.facebook.com/PangeaRE, www.linkedin.com/company/pangea-properties or on Twitter @PangeaRE.
