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Learn more about this year's Youth Leadership Award winner.
Sometimes youthful curiosity and passion can lead to a real contribution in one's community.
17-year-old Sam Nadol of Ossining readily admits that he’s always been the kind of kid who wanted to know how things worked. At some point during middle school, he convinced his mom to let him take apart an old computer that had been discarded by the family. Using a combination of YouTube videos and "mostly just messing around," he taught himself PC technology. Now he can easily understand what needs to be fixed on a computer (for instance, funny sounds are often indicative of a broken hard drive).
To ramp up his passion, Sam solicited donations of used desktops, laptops, and parts to launch a computer repair shop in his home. Sam also began running ads on Craigslist offering the repaired computers for $25 each to underwrite the cost of buying replacement parts. This was all happening in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic and it quickly became clear that people in Westchester County needed inexpensive computers—especially laptops—to help them stay in touch with their families, attend school, and apply for jobs.
To respond to this community need, Sam launched RebootPC, a small non-profit organization where locals can donate computers, make donations, or apply for a reconditioned computer on a first-come, first-served basis. Sam serves as his organization’s executive director.
RebootPC accepts computers in any condition, but Sam notes that old units from the 1980s are virtually impossible to fix, and he prefers PCs over Apple products (“They are just easier to repair”). Any gaming computers are repaired and sold on eBay to help defray the cost of new parts, and additional funding comes from private donations and a Hogg Grant from Hackley School. Sam estimates that he spends about six hours a week working on computers. As of today, he has repaired and donated more than 257 units and he even has a number counter on his website to help encourage donations.
Sam lives in Ossining with his mother and his brothers, Jake and Joey, and Reboot PC truly is a family affair: everyone pitches in, whether it’s responding to emails or serving as board members. Sam is currently a junior at Hackley School where he is a member of the fencing team. He is already thinking about what will become of RebootPC when he heads off to college. Sam tells us that if he has space in his dorm room, RebootPC will probably go with him!
The Volunteer Spirit Awards is the premier volunteer recognition event in our region, with an expected attendance of 500 community leaders, business leaders, and elected officials. Please join us for a celebration of community and kindness on Friday, May 5th at the Westchester Marriott in Tarrytown from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM.
For more information, please visit www.volunteernewyork/awards, or contact Matt Soper, Director of Development at matt@volunteernewyork.org.
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