A South Tyneside firm has pledged £1,000 to the Cash for Connectivity campaign to get our children online.
ChronicleLive has helped launch a £1.2m emergency fundraiser to help provide free internet to 100,000 disadvantaged families so pupils can learn at home during lockdown.
It is hoped that £35,000 can be raised across the North East to purchase dongles to allow up to five devices per household to be connected to the internet.
More than £4,000 has been raised in the space of four days - including a generous £1,000 donation from Boldon-based contact centre ECO.
Phil Westoby, managing director of ECO said: "The campaign struck a cord with me. I think it's a great idea. Children need to be educated. Most people just think we all have internet but it is not the case.
"We have up to 300 members of staff working from home. We had to ensure they all had the correct equipment and we delivered around 100 dongles to employees who either did not have internet at all or their connection wasn't strong enough.
"It is a lot of money for families to now go and pay £20 to £30 a month on a good internet connection for work and homeschooling.
"That is why Cash for Connectivity is vital. I really wanted to donate to the cause and I hope other people and businesses will too."
Schools will not reopen until March 8 at the earliest, meaning millions of children will face an extended stint of learning from home.
An estimated 55,000 families across the North East do not have a laptop, tablet or computer, with fears increasing that those most vulnerable will miss out on their education through no fault of their own.
Cash for Connectivity is part of the Laptops for Kids scheme, launched in the North East earlier this month with hundreds of devices already being distributed to those most in need.
Supported by ChronicleLive, the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, Sunderland IT firms Rebuyuer and Code, the initiative aims to end the digital divide among our children.
Sunderland AFC, headteachers, MPs and the National Education Union are among those to pledge their support.
To donate to Cash for Connectivity, please visit www.gofundme.com/f/chronicle-cash-4-connectivity
Anybody who wants to support the Laptops for Kids campaign should visit https://www.ltfk.co.uk/northeast where businesses can pledge to donate suitable technology, individuals can express interest in donating items and head teachers can request assistance.
