"Designer Collections's donation to Brilla College Prep has helped us purchase 105 Apple Macbook Air student computers. These computers are the core of our blended learning model which allows us to cater to each student’s individual academic needs in math and reading through the use of educational software such as ST Math, Dreambox and I-Station," said Aaron Gillaspie, Brilla's Head of School.

Brilla College Prep Public Charter School is a new K-8 charter school opened in September 2013 to serve disadvantaged youth in the South Bronx. Brilla is grounded in the classical tradition and will develop students into young men and women of good character and spirit by fostering their cognitive, social, emotional, and physical excellence.

"Thanks to funding from Designer Collections Foundation, Sawubona launched its service at the Don McKenzie Hospital in rural South Africa in September 2013. More than 2500 patients have already been enrolled with an over 90% retention rate. Sawubona will soon be expanding its proven technology to the Umndeni Care Program in the village of KwaXimba and will pursue further expansion throughout South Africa in 2014," stated Dario Sava, CTO.

Sawubona Health is a non-profit organization that aims to help rural communities hit by the HIV pandemic. HIV infection requires lifelong treatment to stay healthy and prevent new infections. However, every year many HIV patients in Africa stop taking their medicines, or default on treatment, for a variety of reasons, including lack of social support. Sawubona, which means “I see you” in the African language isiZulu, tackles this problem by sending HIV patients supportive, personalized, and low-cost weekly text messages. Such methods have been proven to lower the rate of default in academic trials.