Donor SpotlightDonors come in a variety of forms and make work at SFBFS possible. From students to seniors to companies with a big heart, we encourage you to check out one of SFBFS’ featured donors every month. Greg Hoyt - February 2012
Last year Greg, an Intel employee, submitted 1,250 hours of volunteer service at SFBFS, to the Intel Involved Matching Grants Program, which matches $10 for every hour an employee volunteers at a non-profit, non governmental agency, or school, up to $10,000. On an average week, Greg volunteers six to eight hours at SFBFS, assisting with IT support, at both Oak Park and North Sacramento facilities. Greg spends an additional twenty hours at home programming or rebuilding low income family computers at no charge. Greg estimates that he has rebuilt at least fifty computers and laptops. "It's all about relieving the suffering of the world,' said Hoyt a practicing Buddhist, "The world is suffering and it's up to each and every one of us to relieve this suffering." A 27-year Intel employee, Greg's interest in electronics began as a child rebuilding radios, TVs, and audio equipment. It was not until Greg entered school in 1978 to study engineering that he began working on computers and found a new passion. "Us nerds used to get together in school and do computer programming together," said Hoyt, "It was a social thing." At SFBFS, Greg says he enjoys working on the computers in the Adult Education and Youth Education programs and seeing his work and technical knowledge make others happy. One particular instance that Greg remembers was when a ten year old brought in her USB drive and couldn't open her homework files because they were corrupted. After quarantining the folders and reformatting, Greg says the girl, "went from tears to smiles." In the past few years, Greg has played a key role in keeping the computers in SFBFS' Adult Education and Youth Education programs running smoothly and free of viruses. Charles Coger, SFBFS Technology Manager, calls Greg the "lifeline of the technology center" by keeping all systems current and generously providing what is needed, at times out of his own expense. "In Star Trek terms he is the Scottie of my Enterprise," said Coger. Having traveled the world twice, and set foot on every continent, Greg calls California "the most beautiful place in the world" and insists that what keeps him coming back to SFBFS are the staff who he says are "true karmic yogis" for the way they treat and care for others. Greg has recently returned from a six week trip from Bhutan, East Germany and Nepal and is eager to begin assisting the Education programs in expanding and maintaining new and current computers at SFBFS. "There's just satisfaction in knowing that the computers are up and running," said Hoyt, "And that everyone is having a good experience." Greg's generous sharing of time and knowledge tremendously benefit our Adult and Youth Education classes and through his employer's volunteer matching program, he is able to provide significant financial support as well to help SFBFS provide for those in need. We cannot thank Greg enough for making our world a better place.
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