Major contributors include the Kellogg Foundation, the J.P. Morgan Chase Foundation, the John T. & Catherine D. MacArthur Foundation, the Allstate Foundation, the eBay Foundation and the Ford Foundation.
Ramsey, 43, a New Jersey native and a law school graduate, was named chairman of Habitat for Humanity last year.
Taah Cox, 9, works at the computer as her mother, Maya Cox, and grandmother, Theodora Cox, look on. Theodora Cox helped her granddaughter embrace computers and the Internet.
(Barbara L. Johnston For The Washington Post)
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Part of One Economy's success is that Ramsey and his staff prefer spreading the gospel and its tools rather than micromanaging efforts everywhere.
Thus, different variations on the theme are popping up around the country, with partners such as the United Way and local social service agencies taking the lead.
In Washington, for example, banks have issued loans at discounted rates to 50 families in Columbia Heights so they can purchase computers.
"One Economy wasn't competitive with any other effort," said Jane Metcalfe, who founded Wired magazine and is on One Economy's board. "It's inclusionary in every sense."
In the Coxes' West Powellton neighborhood, 50 homes are taking advantage of the wireless network put together and run by the People's Emergency Center, which operates several social service projects in the area with help from the United Way.
Theodora Cox even traveled to Washington to urge the staff of Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) to support additional funding for the Philadelphia program.
A Web site run by the group at www.thebeehive.org provides information for parents and students.
The Coxes are already dreaming of the day when they can add a computer.
"It's ridiculous," said Maya Cox, whose boyfriend plans to donate one of his kidneys to her sometime in the next few months. "It's like you have to make an appointment for the computer."
