CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Global audio equipment company Shure is giving back to its community by donating $79,000 worth of earphones to Chicago Public Schools to help students learn virtually during the pandemic and offer earphone access for students from low-income households.
Shure, which is based in Niles, donated its SE215 Sound Isolating Earphones to select CPS schools on the South, West and North Side for students to better communicate with teachers and be less distracted, according to a press release from the company.
"Once schools were closed, teachers, staff, and administrators were forced to move toward a new normal by having students and teachers use online learning tools like Google Hangouts,” said Jeffrey Finelli, principal at Edison Park Elementary School. “Shure made a donation specifically for families who were not fortunate enough to have the proper tools to help their child learn effectively at home.
Finelli said the donation made a world difference for so many families.
"Students are now not distracted when they are participating in the live video conferences and able to communicate with their classmates," he said.
This is one of several ways Shure has given back to Chicago during COVID-19. The company also donated N95 masks to a Chicago-area hospital; provided support for the Chicago Independent Venue League to help over 20 music halls and performance venues stay afloat; and made a Corporate donation to Direct Relief, an organization working with authorities to provide personal protective equipment to health care workers in affected regions of the world, the company said.
“We are pleased to lend our support to CPS students and educators during this challenging and unprecedented time,” said Mark Brunner in a statement, vice president of global corporate and government relations at Shure. “This significant need for online learning tools presented an opportunity for Shure to fulfill what we consider to be a vital part of our corporate responsibility to our community."