Three companies, plus integrator EPS, donate time and technology to community icon
Three companies, plus integrator EPS, donate time and technology to community icon
IQinVision, provider of high-performance HD megapixel network cameras, smart IP cameras, and network video recording systems, announced the St. Stephen's Community House in Columbus, Ohio, has received a new state-of-the-art video surveillance system, donated to the community institution by IQinVision, Anixter, Milestone Systems and installation integrator EPS.
St. Stephens is a 90-year old community center that houses a child care facility, 25-exam room medical facility, gymnasium and activity space for many service projects performed for the community. The center is located in Linden, a neighborhood burdened by a high crime rate. It did not have a security system beyond lock and key, and common sense. Things began to look up for St. Stephens earlier this year when a representative from Anixter toured the facility and happened to discuss security issues at the center with President and CEO Michelle Mills.
The Anixter staff member, Chad Biniasz, had a relationship with integrator Charles Wilde. Together, the two decided that St. Stephens deserved some help. At Anixter, Biniasz's colleague, Heather Miller, got busy and put out a call to numerous security providers. IQinVision and Milestone were quick to respond with offers of IQeye HD Megapixel cameras and a Milestone open video management software system. Wilde's company, EPS, organized technology specifications and oversaw system design and installation.
“We were experiencing a problem with damage and vandalism at the center,” Mills said. “We house a child care facility and we have materials for all our service projects as well as a number of agency vans. In addition, our hours of operation vary each day and we have a huge parking lot — we needed to provide a better sense of security for those we serve and to protect our assets.”
Being a nonprofit organization at a time when they are struggling, St. Stephens had little money to spare on a luxury like a high technology video surveillance system. “This was an amazing gift, the value is immeasurable,” Mills said.” “Even in these difficult times, when businesses are scaling back, it is such a blessing these companies found a way to give of their time and materials.”
The Milestone system manages video input from 13 IQeye HD Megapixel cameras monitoring strategic areas throughout the 70,000 square foot center, the playgrounds, and parking lots. The system is designed for staff to do live monitoring by a staff member located at the center's front entrance desk. Mills and her staff recognized the system will provide an excellent resource for investigating any incidents, and it will also serve as a strong deterrent to any future crime.
“We say we're a safe haven and now we're even more so,” Mills said.