About Teaming 4 Technology
Who We Are
Teaming 4 Technology (T4T) seeks to better the community of Chicago by providing new and innovative ways for technology to enhance the services of Chicago’s nonprofit community. We offer free technology consulting, software training classes, and low-cost office and network solutions. Our work is made possible through donations and volunteers willing to give their technology expertise or resources to charitable organizations requesting help.
How We Started
In 1997, Americorps and the United Way of Metropolitan Chicago started a joint venture to address the growing needs of local non-profits for assistance in the relatively new field of Information Technology. From that need, Teaming 4 Technology Chicago was created. For the first decade, Americorps provided volunteers, United Way of Metropolitan Chicago provided office space and IBM provided fiscal support and equipment. Under this partnership, T4T Chicago grew to support more than 100 agencies in less than 10 years by pairing up volunteers with nonprofits who needed IT help and equipment.
Today, T4T Chicago is now an official program of United Way of Metropolitan Chicago. Thanks in large part to the continued support of IBM and agencies such as Deloitte & Touche, T4T Chicago remains the place for volunteers to reach out to Chicagoland nonprofits with IT needs. T4T has also grown to include a computer recycling program in which computers and other equipment that is still serviceable is donated out to agencies in need. In addition to pairing volunteers and facilitating equipment donation, T4T Chicago hosts workshops to inform nonprofits of the latest tools and trends offered through the internet.
As the ever-changing landscape of technology continues to become a larger part of the nonprofit community, T4T Chicago works to keep Chicagoland nonprofits informed and up-to-speed on how to use this resource while recruiting volunteers to establish relationships with the benevolent causes in their community. For more information on how to get involved or to enroll your favorite nonprofit organization, register or contact us.
Our Team
Tom Galassini - Director of Agency Relations, UWMC
As the Director of Agency Relations at the United Way of Metropolitan Chicago (UWMC), Tom oversees the T4T Chicago program. Tom has facilitated the partnerships between T4T Chicago, IBM and Americorps since the inception of the program in 1997. He has maintained the program running through its transition from a shared resource with UWMC and Americorps to its current position as a sole program of UWMC. Under Tom’s guidance, T4T Chicago has adapted to the changing relationships and partnerships that have kept the program moving forward. Tom can be contacted directly at tgalassini@uw-mc.org.
Eric Olson - Program Director
Eric was introduced to T4T via TECH cocktail in 2008 and has since provided design, marketing and insight support for T4T Chicago. Eric's current day job involves working on his next entrepreneurial venture while acting as a consultant to a number of technology companies in Chicago. Prior to working on his current venture Eric was an Associate with Chicago based venture capital firm DFJ Portage Venture Partners and he was an early member of the FeedBurner team where he focused on business development (FeedBurner was acquired by Google in June 2007). At night Eric attends the University of Chicago Booth School of Business where he is working toward his MBA. Eric is also a co-founder of TECH cocktail and an avid drummer. Eric can be contacted directly at eolson@t4tchicago.org.
Stacie Zimmerman - Social Media Associate
Stacie joined T4T Chicago as a social media associate to assist with the launch of the new T4T Chicago website and to help manage all outlets of the social media. Stacie truly believes in the enhancement of the community of Chicago and especially Chicago's non-profit community. While she has held positions in diverse fields since graduating from Western Illinois University, she has always harbored a fond appreciation for all branches of collective media, and actively participates in the revolution of online networks. She will utilize her interest in web-based syndication networks and social networking forums to help spread the mission of T4T Chicago to ultimately benefit the non-profit community. She is excited to be a part of T4T Chicago and looks forward to the organization's continual success and growth. Contact Stacie directly at szimmerman@t4tchicago.org.
Karl Etherly - Program Development
Karl has recently joined T4T Chicago as a programs developer to help develop curriculums for events and workshops for the non-profit community. Karl hopes to bring our non-profit community up to speed on the latest technology to help foster the growth of their organizations through IT. While pursing his Computer Science degree at Grambling State University, he has contributed to creating curriculums for after school programs with professors, teachers and students to help bridge the gap between students and technology. Karl hopes those experiences will assist him in educating the non-profit community of Chicago about how IT can help their organizations grow. He is very excited to work with T4T Chicago and looks forward to contributing to a great organization. Contact Karl directly at ketherly@t4tchicago.org.
Katie - Program Relations
Katie joined T4T Chicago this fall as the Program Relations Associate to assist in coordinating and communicating for all events and match-making between volunteers and non-profits. Currently, she's a sophomore at Grinnell College in Iowa, but she has taken the year off to intern at T4T and spend her second semester traveling (she hopes to backpack and do volunteer work in South America). After graduating with a degree in Economics, Katie hopes to work in the non-profit sector using the knowledge and experience she will have gained from her time at T4T. Katie looks forward to building and nurturing close relationships with Chicago's nonprofits for a better future with the help that T4T provides.
Asha Frazier - IT Support/T4T Help Desk
Asha joins Joined T4T as IT Support/T4T Help Desk to support the website and explore new applications & technology. He brings a passion for helping others and a love of technology. Asha has several years of web design/development experience working with local and national non profits. This extensive experience includes working with NFP organizations developing websites from the planning stage to implementation. He holds an advanced knowledge of common design software including Adobe's CS3/4, and Microsoft Office (including Certification as a Microsoft Small Business Specialist). In addition to having installed, managed, & secured CMS/Blog systems including: Wordpress, Drupal ( including Civicrm), & Website Baker. Contact him at afrazier@t4tchicago.org
Crystal Fencke - Field Reporter
Crystal joined T4T in 2009 to post Web content about T4T’s many activities fulfilling its mission of connecting Chicago nonprofits with volunteer technology professionals. As a journalist and business development writer, she looks forward to shining a light on the growth of Chicago-area nonprofits as they benefit from generous gifts of time, talent and hardware the local IT community provides. She will also profile many in the local tech community who make these contributions possible. A graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), she will be glad to communicate the new educational opportunities made through these bonds
Randy Dill - Consultant
Randy came to T4T Chicago as a volunteer in 2007. Since that time, Randy initiated the T4T Workshops hosted at the United Way of Metropolitan Chicago headquarters, as well as implemented the current recycling program. Randy’s role has since grown and is now the Program Director of T4T Chicago. He oversaw the recent launch of the new T4T Chicago website. Together with the UWMC, Randy manages the key partnerships that keep the program relevant to the nonprofit and IT communities. Randy can be contacted directly at rdill@t4tchicago.org.