Radio host works to get computers to children, military

John Iasiuolo understands how computers can help fulfill dreams. That's why he's on a mission to put computers into the hands of people who are unable to invest in the tools that help make dreams come true.

Iasiuolo has long hosted radio talk shows that focus on making computing understandable. Over almost nine years, his Computer Outlook (www.computeroutlook.com) show has grown from a small, on-air program with hundreds of listeners to an online-only webcast with more than 5 million listeners every quarter.

The popularity of his programs has led to sponsorship from the computing industry and Iasiuolo saw a way to leverage his experience. After getting sick and losing both kidneys in 2007, he decided it was time to give back to his extended community.

He unveiled the Outlook Foundation, www.outlookfoundation.org, last November, but he'd been working on it for nearly a year.

"I was sitting in Lou's Diner one day and in walks a gentleman with his family," Iasiuolo recalled. "He had a 'scrambled eggs' hat on, and I went over and thanked him for his service. He turned out to be Ken Roberts, the American Legion commander for the state of Nevada. I told him my plan, he asked what he could do to help."

Roberts cut through channels to get discounted shipping of Iasiuolo's computers to any military base in the country. Then the Outlook Foundation pieces began to fall into place.

"Our mission is to give computers to children and military families fighting for our freedom," Iasiuolo said.

His dream is becoming reality. Stacks of boxed computers from Lenovo fill the front room of his Las Vegas home.

The foundation has commitments of 60 to 70 computers per month from both Lenovo and Hewlett-Packard. He's about to deliver the first computers from the foundation later this month, and is narrowing the list of potential recipients.

"I'm putting together a board of advisers that will review the worthiness of the requests," Iasiuolo said. "I'm also talking to the school district, churches and civic organizations."

A rose-colored Lenovo laptop will soon be in the hands of a Las Vegas third-grader.

"I talked to the girl's father, and he started crying. (He said,) 'You don't know what you'll be doing for my daughter,' " Iasiuolo said.

The foundation will also put desktop computers in the homes of military families and netbooks in the hands of military parents deployed at bases around the world.

"It's not just pop going overseas today," he said. "It's mom, too."

Iasiuolo's next challenge is securing a building for the foundation. He envisions a warehouse area, training rooms and an area to configure the machines, which are typically models used in testing by the computer makers' employees.

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