ORANGE BEACH, Ala. - Thanks to the amazingly generous contribution of a local benefactor, Gulf Shores and Orange Beach have become the leading communities to empower students with hands-on technology in Baldwin County Public Schools Digital Renaissance.

At a specially-called news conference Friday morning, September 28, at Orange Beach Elementary School, the Erie Hall Meyer Foundation presented a check for $292,000 to Island Schools to ensure that every elementary and middle school student, in both Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, is equipped with a cutting-edge Mac Book Air. Students at Gulf Shores High School all have Mac laptops supplied by Baldwin County Schools.

“This is an absolutely incredible contribution by the Erie Hall Meyer Foundation,” said Angie Swiger, President of the Baldwin County Public Schools Board.

“This enormous contribution today is an investment in our community, in Baldwin County, in our nation and in our world,” Swiger said.

“Erie Hall Meyer Foundation, you have given students the competitive advantage they need to compete and win in the global economy. On behalf of our children, our teachers, our community and our school system, thank you very, very much for believing in and investing in our future.”

Today’s contribution is, in fact, the second from the Erie Hall Meyer Foundation. The first was for $320,000 earlier this year which put Mac Book Airs in the hands of Island teachers.

“The Erie Meyer Foundation has propelled Gulf Shores and Orange Beach into the lead position of the Digital Renaissance by providing the resources students and teachers need to excel to the very top. Thank you for what you’re doing for teachers and students,” Alan T. Lee, Superintendent, said. 

In addition to the Erie Hall Meyer Foundation contribution, a few months ago the City of Gulf Shores contributed $988,000 to ensure that Gulf Shores Elementary students had Mac laptops as well as seventh and eighth graders. Gulf Shores City leaders have also been instrumental in supporting Macs for the Island schools “Learning 4 Life” Career Academies. The partnership also includes the Gulf Shores Utilities Board that contributed 10 Mac laptops to Gulf Shores Middle students.

“You have an amazing community that supports learning through the Digital Renaissance, a partnership I hope others not just in Baldwin County but across the U.S. will emulate,” said Dr. Lee.  “The leadership of Mrs. Swiger in bringing together the vision of "Learning 4 Life" has been outstanding and so has the support by this community that cares about kids. Thank you, Mrs. Swiger and thank you all for what you’ve done and all that you’re doing,” he said.

The Meyer Foundation Board’s Herb Malone said that today’s contribution is perfectly in line with Mrs. Meyer’s vision.

"In the past, the foundation's donations to the schools have always been anonymous, but the board felt strongly that the Learning 4 Life program will affect children's lives in such an astounding way that they wanted it to be synonymous with Mrs. Erie Hall Meyer's legacy" Malone said.

Baldwin County Public Schools’ Digital Renaissance’s mantra is: Empowering Learners to Innovate.

According to an Alabama Legislature Resolution in 1998 honoring Mrs. Meyer on her 90th birthday, George and Erie Meyer envisioned and implemented a long-range plan for community support that has been gifted for use for churches, public beach, municipal parks, school sites, and to benefit The Faulkner State Community College campus, among other benevolent endeavors. Erie Meyer was a native of Escambia County, Alabama, taught in Foley in the early 1950’s where she met her husband. Later she managed her husband’s real estate businesses in Mobile and Gulf Shores.