The Wareham Boys & Girls Club members are excited by the high-tech equipment that was just donated to the club: eight new computers from the Scotty Monteiro Jr. Foundation.

The foundation’s treasurer, Wendy Monteiro, said she learned the computers the kids used for homework and educational games were pretty old, so the foundation was able to give them an update.

“The mission of the Boys & Girls Club is in line with what the Scotty Monteiro Jr. Foundation is, so we wanted to support them,” Monteiro said.

The foundation is named for a Wareham man who was a victim of gun violence and lost his life at 21 years old in 2009. He was a Wareham High School graduate and his family established the foundation in his memory. The non-profit focuses on ending violence through education and awareness.

“Supporting our youth is what’s most important to us,” Monteiro said. “We want this generation to grow up to be kind, to be considerate to each other, to be good kids.”

Monteiro said the foundation has supported the Boys & Girls Club in the past because of the work they do for kids in Wareham. The club has an after-school program that runs through the school year from 2 to 6 p.m. and has a variety of activities and tutoring.

“I know friends and family who have sent their kids there, and they rave about the program,” Monteiro said. “They’re practicing the same philosophy that we are: enriching our kids so they turn out to be great adults.”

The computers are much better now, the members of the club all agreed.

“They load a lot faster and it’s easier to do homework now,” said Sofia Peluso, a member of the Wareham Boys & Girls Club.

The Scotty Monteiro Jr. Foundation also donates to bring programs to Wareham Public Schools, including Rachel’s Challenge and The Chris Herren Story. Monteiro said the foundation supports programs in the community that teach young people appropriate ways of coping with anger and how to achieve peaceful resolution.

For more information on the Scotty Monteiro Jr. Foundation or to donate or volunteer, visit www.scottymonteirojrfoundation.org or follow the foundation's Facebook page.