By LEAH WEATHERSBY

Editor's Note: A version of the following story which appeared in the print edition of the January 2002 issue of the Seattle Sun contained some typographical errors. The following is the corrected version of that story.)

The Catharine Blaine Foundation celebrated its first anniversary last month. The organization was first formed by Haller Lake residents Jeff and Cathy Hammer one year ago in December 2000 to bring older but usable computers to needy kids.

Jeff Hammer, a computer network analyst for the Seattle School District, first got the idea for the foundation when he purchased some computers at an auction for his two children. Though he had only intended to buy machines for his family, he ended up with four pallets worth. Hammer said he tried to donate the computers to an elementary school but was told they did not meet the School District's standards. It was then that he decided to create an organization that would connect the computers directly with kids.

Hammer's next step was a name. After some research he decided to call the organization the Catharine Blaine Foundation after Seattle's first school teacher who arrived at Alki Point in 1853.

"Reading about (Catharine Blaine), I just knew she had to be the person," said Hammer, explaining that he and his wife had wanted to name the foundation after a Seattle educator.

A year ago, the Hammers were the foundations's only two board members. Now, they have a board of four, a handful of volunteers, and a home that is literally packed with computers.

"We have computers in our garage, in our house - almost every room in our house," Hammer said.

The Catharine Blaine Foundation has given out 14 computers so far and is looking for more applicants. Hammer said that kids who accept free or reduced lunch at school are eligible for the program. He added that the foundation is expecting to receive a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service soon which will make contributions to the foundation tax deductible. This valuable fund-raising tool with likely be a relief to the Hammers who have supported the foundation in its first year largely with their own time and money. For more information, call the Catharine Blaine Foundation at 367-8097 or on the foundation's Web site (catharineblaine.org). b