At ALCO USA Inc., we have always believed that technology is only one piece of the puzzle. The real heartbeat of any business is the community it serves and the people who give it life. When we look at our work here in Boise, Hermosa Beach, St. George, Boston, and the many places where our clients and partners are located, what stands out is not just the servers and networks we maintain, but the stories of resilience, generosity, and collaboration that define each neighborhood. This is why community engagement is not an afterthought for us—it’s at the core of who we are.
Take Learning How 2 Live, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Boise that is dedicated to helping individuals reenter society after incarceration. Their mission is about breaking cycles and creating opportunities where second chances are not just words but lived experiences. Statistics from the Bureau of Justice Statistics indicate that over 68 percent of individuals released from prison are rearrested within three years, and programs like Learning How 2 Live aim to change that trajectory. By providing housing, job training, counseling, and mentorship, they are rewriting outcomes for people who might otherwise be forgotten. ALCO was proud to donate a new website to them, not because it was good business, but because their mission deserves a digital platform that matches the dignity and importance of their work. When we see a nonprofit empowered to tell its story online and reach more donors and volunteers, that’s technology being used for good.
Or consider Purses with a Purpose Boise, another organization we are proud to support. Their work in fundraising through creative community events demonstrates that solutions can be both innovative and impactful. Events like their annual auctions not only raise critical dollars but also create spaces where people come together for something bigger than themselves. Local fundraising data shows that community-based events are responsible for nearly 30 percent of nonprofit revenue streams, proving that these grassroots efforts are not small—they are foundational. By supporting these efforts, ALCO helps ensure that more families have access to resources, more women find empowerment, and more opportunities are created.
The Hermosa Beach Kiwanis Club, one of the longest-standing community organizations in Southern California, reflects yet another dimension of the work we value. For over a century, Kiwanis Clubs have provided service, scholarships, and support to children and families around the globe. The Hermosa Beach chapter has been instrumental in building youth programs, mentoring students, and creating traditions that strengthen civic pride. Their mission aligns closely with our own values of service and accountability. By sponsoring and partnering with them, we are reminded that technology companies do not exist in a vacuum—we are part of ecosystems where schools, nonprofits, small businesses, and families all depend on one another.
What ties these partnerships together is a belief that when businesses invest in their communities, everyone benefits. A study by Cone Communications found that 87 percent of consumers are more likely to purchase from companies that advocate for issues they care about. For us, however, it’s not about statistics or marketing—it’s about integrity. When our team members show up at a fundraiser, volunteer at an event, or help a nonprofit modernize its systems, they are demonstrating what ALCO stands for. They are living out the idea that technology can empower not only profits but also people.
Community involvement also creates a ripple effect. A strong local nonprofit can change lives, those lives contribute back to the local economy, and a thriving local economy creates opportunities for businesses like ours. This cycle of reciprocity is why we encourage every member of our team to view their work not just as solving IT issues but as building stronger neighborhoods. Every project, whether it’s setting up secure networks for a business or donating digital services to a nonprofit, is a chance to strengthen the bonds that hold communities together.
Looking forward, our goal is to continue expanding these partnerships, amplifying the voices of organizations doing critical work, and investing in projects that make Boise and every community we touch better than we found it. We know that technology will always evolve, threats will always emerge, and businesses will always face challenges. But what grounds us is the knowledge that when we stand alongside our community partners, we are not just keeping systems online—we are building trust, fostering hope, and proving that business can be a force for good.
