Who is Ryzen?

When Ryzen was 3 years old, he went with his parents to visit Santa at a mall in Portland, Oregon.  

Ryzen went to meet Santa and had his photo taken.  Something pretty amazing happened… 

After a short conversation with Ryzen, Santa stopped the photo session, left his post and went to tell Ryzen’s parents what he had said.  

Santa said he asked if Ryzen had been a good boy that year, and he asked Ryzen what he wanted for Christmas.  

Ryzen’s answer to Santa was:

“I don’t need toys this year, Santa.  Please give my toys to kids who really need them.   
But if you have an extra train set, I’ll take it.” 

Santa was impressed.  He said that Ryzen was a special young boy who is going to do great things.   Everyone who heard that conversation gave a small round of applause, and Ryzen's parents were so proud!

Since then, Ryzen has become very interested in technology - especially how smartphones and the Internet work.  When COVID hit the US in 2020, his school switched to virtual learning after his second grade Spring Break.  Laptops were issued to Ryzen and his classmates and they made their adjustments.  Ryzen asked if students in all schools were taking classes remotely.  After learning that they were, but that many students in schools across the US have to share devices, have old devices with broken screens, or worse - he was saddened.  

Ryzen's parents had several old desktops, laptops, and mobile phones in a closet.  He asked if they could give those away to kids who didn't have their own, and so they did.  In the months that followed, he said that he wanted to help make things easier for students without technology at home, and started RyzenUp!  

In 2024, Ryzen wanted to expand RyzenUp to be able to help in other ways.  RyzenUp donated school supplies to schools to help teachers avoid having to spend their own money.  RyzenUp also donated toward gift cards for book fairs.  The gift cards were distributed privately to students (selected by teachers and faculty) who likely weren't able to participate in the book fairs like their friends. 

In the summer of 2024, RyzenUp has applied for 501(c)(3) status.  If approved, donations to RyzenUp will be tax deductible.