John W. Scherer's contributions to the US Military reflect his attention to detail: his eye for unmet needs. John Scherer knows what the Army is like, and he knows that staying connected to family and friends back at home is important. Knowing that:
- US soldiers in Iraq can at times wait in lines of 30-50 people just to use a computer and internet access, John Scherer donated 30 PCs and Video Professor tutorials to a prominent internet cafe in Iraq. Working with Habitat Thrift Store in Broomfield, Colorado, the internet cafe (housed in one of Saddam Hussein's former palaces) helped many more soldiers keep in touch with loved ones, even from far away.
- A free computer tutorial of
their choice. With over 35
Video Professor titles to choose from at levels varying
from beginner, intermediate, and expert users, an
active-duty US soldier had the opportunity to investigate
any corner of technological knowledge that he or she
desired.
As someone who served in the Army Reserve and later went on to form a successful business, John W. Scherer knows that a soldier must eventually make plans for their post-Army, civilian life. With this in mind, John W. Scherer donated:
- A computer lab, complete with
Video Professor tutorials to the Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C. This donation was made in the effort to give America's veterans the opportunity to learn new and marketable skills for today's business climate, and help ease their transition back to civilian life.
John Scherer knows the importance of community and family. He knows that those soldiers serving overseas during the holidays can feel very homesick without their loved ones, so, in order help ease some loneliness during Christmas, John W. Scherer and his employees:
- "Adopted" 43 soldiers serving in Iraq. Letters and e-mails were sent weekly to these men and women, full of words of gratitude, support, and community. In addition to the letters, care packages with games, toiletries, and homemade goods were sent to these brave soldiers as a sign of ongoing support in what came to be known The Soldiers' Angels Project.
John Scherer also knows the growing need for computer knowledge in the military, and he wants to make sure that each soldier has the opportunity to excel, despite any shortcomings in their educational background. That's why John W. Scherer donated to every active-duty US soldier:
"We all need to do more than put a bumper sticker on our vehicles to support our troops. They provide us the luxury of going about our daily lives in safety and without fear."
-John W. Scherer, CEO & Founder of Video Professor