The Office of Resources for Latinos received a $5,000 grant Thursday from All-State Insurance Company.

The requests for the grant went out about a year ago, through the Office of Sponsored Projects, to a number of companies, but All-State was the company that came through with the check.

George Gutierrez, director of the office for Latinos, said the proposal was to meet the needs of some 700 Latino students attending NIU. He said the computer system that will be purchased with the grant would help students with papers, resumes, and even the English language.

Gutierrez said because the computers were purchased through NIU, “university services would be available in case the computer system needed repairs sometime in the future.”

Robert Ihmels, territorial sales manager for All-State, said the request was referred to All-State’s Foundation Program, which handles all of the company’s grants and charitable contributions.

Ihmels said All-State’s Juan Sanchez was instrumental in getting the proposal through. Sanchez said he came into contact with Gutierrez while recruiting at NIU.

Daniel Witt, dean of International and Special Programs, said “the recognition of the office in the form of a gift is greatly appreciated.”

“Computerization throughout campus is a very important thing,” he said.

Witt said one of the purposes of the office is to attract Latinos in greater numbers to NIU, and that retention of those students is a very important concern at NIU.

He said guidance is very important for students just out of high school and entering the college environment. He said that is where resources, like the Office for Latino Resources, come into play.