Chicagoland Small Business Owner Donates 50000 In Technology To Primo Center For Women and Children



April 27, 2005 -- Richard Padula, Co-Founder, President and CEO of Barrington, Illinois-based Syclo LLC, has donated $50,000 in computer hardware, software and technology services to the Primo Center for Women and Children (PCWC).

PCWC is a transitional homeless shelter which aims to empower women and children to become productive, responsible and independent members of their communities. The technology donation will be used by PCWC, located at 4241 West Washington Street, to enhance the lives of clients by teaching them computer literacy, and providing the tools for cognitive learning and computer-based GED training.

Padula donated the gift as part of an award for being named Ernst & Young's 2004 Entrepreneur of Year in the Realizing Business Potential Category. The award was created as part of a Microsoft sponsorship to honor small businesses that have demonstrated success.

"Syclo wanted to support an organization that helped others realize their potential," says Padula, who announced the donation at the start of National Small Business Week (April 25th-29th). "We are very impressed with not only the goals and objectives of the Primo Center, but their staff, facility and growth plans. We feel the donation will be a benefit to them now and in the future. I know the Primo Center will make the most of the donation."

"This extremely generous gift from Syclo will greatly impact the women andchildren of the Primo Center by providing them with the tools to become more self-sufficient and technologically savvy," says Heather Mitchell, President of PCWC's Board of Directors. "We are all extremely grateful to Rich and his firm for providing us with such a significant resource to help combat the cycle of homelessness."

Padula, who founded Syclo in 1995, was recognized for developing a mobile technology platform that grew from a basement start-up to a leading global corporation in just nine years.

"We're passionate about delivering affordable tools to help businesses realize their full potential," says Jennifer Bogdalek, Microsoft's general manager of small business for the central region. "We congratulate the Primo Center for Women and Children on its receipt of this charitable donation and look forward to seeing how technology benefits the organization and the communities it supports."

The Entrepreneur of the Year awards program was created and produced by the professional services firm Ernst & Young LLP. The program honors entrepreneurs through regional, national and global award programs in over 100 cities and 35 countries.

For more information contact:
Trish Hoffman or Jeff Fisher
404-885-9897 (office)
404-550-0879 (cell)





Chicagoland Small Business Owner Donates 50000 In Technology To Primo Center For Women and Children