He likes computers, cool new computer games and programs, and spending time with friends.

But then, of course, there are the things that set him apart.

For starters, he’s a junior in college.

By age 2, he was learning computer commands. Having tested highly gifted and bored within the confines of typical educational structures, by age 9 he was taking college-level courses and experimenting with the break-down and re-build of computers and small machines.

It was around this time that Jacob found his true passion. During a visit to a local public school he learned from a janitor that a number of older-model computers were being discarded.

Prompted by his love for computers, his newfound skills at rebuilding them, and his desire to help others, at the age of 9 he founded “Computers for Communities,” a program to refurbish discarded computers to distribute them to the needy. He felt that all kids should have computers, and that it made no sense to throw away ones that were perfectly good, but simply needed updating.

Jacob had always had computers at home, and had been using them since he was a toddler, so it was unfathomable to him that others did not.

He soon learned that kids who don't have a computer at home statisticaly do not perform as well in school, particularly in the areas of math and reading as well as in projects requiring online research, and likewise, Jacob felt called to help bridge this digital divide.

Knowing that he was capable of fixing up the old computers, his next endeavor became finding ways to distribute them.

His program initially contacted social services and asked for the names of 30 families who they felt could benefit from the refurbished machines. He especially wanted to help families with small children, particularly those in elementary school that wouldn’t necessarily be using the more updated programs that require faster speeds and greater memory storage.

From there, the program expanded, and soon Jacob had recruited his classmates to help refurbish the machines. At the time he was going to a high school emphasizing in math and technology, so many of the students were capable of helping in his philanthropic endeavor. At that point, the students were refurbishing 100 machines in a matter of months.

Once the computers were ready to go, they sent letters to local elementary school teachers asking which students were lacking computers, and distributing them accordingly.

Things have changed a bit since then. As of a year and a half ago, the computers are no longer completely free. They now cost $40 for everything – computer, monitor, keyboard, and mouse – which is an incredible value given the retail price of a full computer package. Regardless, they still make exceptions for people who can’t afford the small fee.

Recently Jacob also attended a computer-building project in the Silicon Valley which ultimately led to 400 computers being donated to nonprofit organizations.

He has also created a training manual and materials to help others establish Computers for Communities in other towns. He is currently working with a handful of groups to help expand the program throughout the U.S.

Everything Jacob does is to help bridge the digital divide, helping create equality between those who have access to and use technology and those who don’t.

Through a large grant awarded to the University of Hartford, Center for Professional Development by the National Science Foundation, Computers for Communities currently manages a program that helps inner-city, primarily minority, residents gain IT skills including networking, software design, and computer architecture.

Most recently Jacob was honored as a 2007 Br!ck Award winner. The BR!CK Awards celebrate young people making our world better.

So far, Jacob and Computers for Communities have distributed over 1,000 computers to the needy, and show no sign of slowing.

Jacob Komar was clearly blessed with outstanding intelligence and drive. Luckily, he was born with an equally exceptional heart.