Giving Back to SFUSD: One Alum’s Mission to Provide Laptops to Students in Need

In late 2025, Spark SF Public Schools was contacted by Natty Gove, a former SFUSD student and current junior at Redwood High School. Earlier that year, Gove founded the Tech4Youth Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to providing personal laptops to students whose families cannot afford them. Through his fundraising efforts, Gove was able to provide Chromebooks to over 35 students in the Sausalito Marin City School District who did not have access to a personal laptop at home.

Gove reached out to Spark to explore opportunities to support SFUSD students facing similar challenges and offered to fundraise for the six recipients of the Superintendent’s 21st Century Scholarship Awards. On May 5, during the award ceremony held at the Asian Art Museum, each awardee was surprised with a brand-new Apple laptop. Spark spoke with Gove about his SFUSD experience and his fundraising efforts.

Spark: What was your experience like as an SFUSD student?

Natty Gove: I have nothing but positive things to say about my experience in SFUSD. I always felt very supported and appreciated that learning extended beyond the classroom. I remember trying real honeycomb in the school garden and taking dance classes in the gym. Those experiences made school feel engaging and memorable.

How did you organize your fundraising efforts to purchase laptops for the Superintendent’s 21st Century Scholarship Award recipients?

NG: Much of our fundraising involved reconnecting with previous donors. Building a network of people who genuinely connect with our mission has been incredibly important. We also used social media and reached out to local content creators to ask whether they would be willing to share our fundraiser. A few of them did, and that helped us reach a much wider audience.

What has been the most rewarding part of this experience for you so far?

NG: The most rewarding part has been seeing how many people care deeply about digital access and knowing that 100% of the donations we receive go directly toward purchasing computers. I’m proud that we’ve been able to maximize our impact in the community. At this point, we’ve provided more than 40 students with computers, and it’s meaningful to know that I’ve played a role in helping those students gain access to technology they need.

How do you think this kind of support can make a difference in a student’s future?

NG: I’ve been fortunate to have my own computer since freshman year of high school, and honestly, since middle school, I’ve completed about 80% of my assignments on a computer. I can’t imagine not having reliable access to one or having to share a device with family members. It’s not only about completing schoolwork. Having a personal computer also makes it possible to organize extracurricular activities and pursue projects independently. For example, I would not have been able to start this nonprofit or organize these fundraisers without having access to my own computer.

What have you learned about yourself through this process?

NG: I’ve learned that I really enjoy connecting with a wide range of people, whether they are donors or students receiving computers. Volunteer work and charitable initiatives expose you to many different stories and perspectives. It makes you reflect on your own role in the community and how you can contribute in meaningful ways.

What stood out to you at the Superintendent’s Award Ceremony?

NG: I was especially happy to see the smiles on the recipients’ faces when they received their computers. It was rewarding to know that those laptops could make a meaningful difference as they move forward beyond SFUSD.

How has this experience influenced your future goals?

NG: I definitely want to continue making an impact through the Tech4Youth Foundation. I’m very interested in technology and in finding ways to make AI and digital tools more accessible to everyone. So much technology today is locked behind subscriptions or financial barriers, and I want to help make those resources more available.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

NG: I’d just like to reiterate that for anyone who connects with our mission and is considering supporting us, 100% of donations go directly toward purchasing computers for students.