Overview

Welcome to the website (“Site”) of Connect the Future North Carolina.

This Privacy Policy outlines our practices for collection, use and disclosure of your information that you provide to us when you use the Site. By using this Site, you agree that your use of the Site is governed by this Privacy Policy. From time to time, we may update this Privacy Policy. Any changes made to this Privacy Policy will become effective as of the date of posting with respect to the information we then collect in the future, but will not apply to information that we have already collected. It is and will be your responsibility to periodically check this Site for updates and make sure you are aware of the changes. Your continued use of the Site affirms your agreement to any changes we make to this Privacy Policy.

Please note the distinction between our privacy practices in connection with your visit to the Site, and our Terms of Service.

INFORMATION COLLECTED AND HOW IT IS COLLECTED

Voluntary Information: We may collect personal information you voluntarily provide to us including, but not limited to your name, e-mail address, postal address, phone number, mobile number and geographic location. You may provide this information when you request information, register, make a purchase or for other purposes. We may also collect demographic information such as gender, date of birth, occupation, employer name and zip code. In limited circumstances, we may collect payment information such as credit card number where needed to complete a requested service or transaction.

By requesting information to your mobile phone, we may obtain the following information from you in connection with our SMS service: your cell phone number, your carrier’s name and the date, time and content of your messages, as well as other information that you provide. We will use such information in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

Automatically Generated Information: We may also collect non-personally identifiable information that is generated automatically while you are visiting the Site or elsewhere on the Internet when our advertisements are served, also known as log files. This data includes, but is not limited to, information such as IP address, web pages visited before and after visiting the Site, date and time, domain type, type of mobile device you use, your device’s unique ID, web pages you view and links you click on within the Site and interactions with our advertisements delivered by us or advertisements delivered by a third party advertising technology vendor. This type of information may be collected using different types of technologies, such as cookies and pixels. An IP address, for example, is a unique identifier that certain electronic devices used to identify and communicate with each other on the Internet. When you visit the Site, we may view the IP address of the device you use to connect to the Internet. We use this information to determine the general physical location of the device and understand from what regions of the world the Site visitors come. We also may use your non-personally identifiable information to enhance the Site.

All Site users remain anonymous unless they choose to give us their personal information. You may elect not to allow us to collect and use this non-personally identifiable data as part of our Service by following the Opt Out procedures described below.

COOKIES AND OTHER TECHNOLOGIES

Overview: We may use cookies and other technologies to obtain certain types of information when your web browser accesses the Site or visits a web site in our network. ‘Cookies’ are small pieces of information that are stored by your browser. Cookies help us improve your experience on the Site, however, if you wish to block, erase or be warned of the use of cookies, please refer to the paragraph below entitled Disabling Cookies or to your browser manufacturer. When you view a video on our Sites, a third party may also set a ‘flash cookie’ on your computer. Since removing and rejecting browser cookies may not also remove or reject flash cookies, you will also need to visit: http://www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer/security in order to delete or disable flash cookies. Rejecting or removing browser or flash cookies may affect certain features of our Sites.

This website uses Google Analytics to help analyze how users use the site, which uses cookies.

Cookies are used to collect standard Internet log information and visitor behavior information in an anonymous form. The information generated by the cookie about your use of the website (including IP address) is transmitted to Google. This information is then used to evaluate visitors’ use of the website and to compile statistical reports on website activity for Connect the Future.

Google Analytics collects information anonymously. Google will not associate your IP address with any other data held by Google. Neither Connect the Future nor Google will link, or seek to link, an IP address with the identity of a computer user. We will not associate any data gathered from this site with any Personally Identifiable Information from any source, unless you explicitly submit that information via a fill-in form on our website. It reports website trends without identifying individual visitors. You can opt out of Google Analytics without affecting how you visit the Site – for more information on opting out of being tracked by Google Analytics across all websites you use, visit this Google page.

We may use other companies to set cookies on the Site and advertisements and gather cookie information for us. In some cases, we may also use another company to operate web servers or process credit card purchases for the Site. The Site may use cookies and other technology to speed navigation and keep track of items and to gather anonymous traffic data that we may use to enhance the Site, our Services, marketing and other internal purposes. If you create an account to log on to the Site, Connect the Future will set a persistent cookie to store your username and password so that you do not have to enter it more than once. It also allows us to send confirmations, receipts, updates, alerts and support and administrative messages and to otherwise facilitate your use of and our administration and operation of the Site. The persistent cookie also enables Connect the Future to track and target the interests of users to enhance the experience on the Site. The persistent cookie is removed when you log out.

Disabling Cookies: The ‘Help’ portion of the toolbar on most browsers will tell you how to prevent your browser from accepting cookies, how to have the browser notify you when you receive cookies and how to disable cookies altogether. Note that if you reject or block cookies, it may affect your ability to enjoy the full functionality and experience of the Site.

Web Beacons: Pages of the Site [and our e-mails] may contain small electronic files known as web beacons (also referred to as clear gifs, pixel tags, and single-pixel gifs) that permit Connect the Future, for example, to count users who have visited those pages or opened an e-mail and for other related web site statistics (for example, recording the popularity of certain web site content and verifying system and server integrity).

INFORMATION USE AND SHARING

Use of Personal Information: If we do receive your personal information, we will only use it for the purposes described where it is collected or otherwise described in this Privacy Policy. We may share this information outside of Connect the Future if: (1) you authorize us to do so; (2) it is necessary to allow our service providers or agents to provide products or services for us; (3) it is necessary in order to provide our products or services to you (and contacting you when necessary); (4) subject to applicable contractual or legal restrictions, it is necessary to disclose to entities that perform marketing services on our behalf or to other entities with whom we have joint marketing agreements; (5) subject to applicable contractual or legal restrictions, it is necessary in connection with a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of Connect the Future or the merger of Connect the Future into another entity or any consolidation, share exchange, combination, reorganization, or like transaction in which Connect the Future is not the survivor; (6) it is necessary in connection with other business purposes including, without limitation, responding to your inquiries or requests for information or services, customer care, service quality, business management and operation, risk assessment, security, fraud and crime prevention/detection, monitoring, research and analysis, marketing, customer purchasing preferences and trends, dispute resolution, credit checking and debt collection; (7) it is necessary to disclose in order to protect or defend our rights or property or those of our users; (8) it is necessary to disclose in order to protect the personal safety of our users or the public; (9) it is necessary for us to provide it to our attorneys, accountants, regulators, auditors or other advisors; or (10) otherwise as we are required or permitted by law or required to comply with legal process served upon us, our agents, representatives or our affiliates. We may also aggregate your personal information with the information of others and may disclose such information in aggregate form for marketing and promotional purposes in a way that would not identify you individually.

Use of Non-Personally Identifiable Information: Connect the Future or our service providers or agents that provide services for us may use non-personally identifiable information as part of the Services to better tailor advertisements and other content in an effort to create a more relevant experience for each person that visits the Site or elsewhere on the Internet. This non-personally identifiable information may also be used to predict responses to advertisements, to help determine which ads perform best and which content is most appropriate for different individuals, to measure and optimize the effectiveness of advertisements and to provide aggregate reporting to our service providers or agents and for our and their internal purposes.

We use various web site analytics tools and technologies regarding activities on the Site that require storage of web session data. The overall aim of these tools is to aid in making the Site easy to use, to proactively identify and correct error conditions and to provide more relevant advertising and content to you. These tools and technologies are also used to assist Site visitors who report problems in the use of the Site. Stored web session data is used in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

Third Party Use of Cookies: We use cookies to compile aggregate non-personally identifiable data about Site traffic and Site interaction so that we can offer better Site experiences and tools in the future. We may also share non-personally identifiable information with companies such as agencies, ad networks or exchanges to enable them to analyze user behaviors or to customize the ads that you encounter.

CONTESTS, SWEEPSTAKES AND OTHER PROMOTIONS

On the Site, you may wish to participate in contests and other promotions that we may offer from time to time. Through these promotions, you may choose to participate in activities such as sharing information found on the Site with others and sending e-mail invitations. In connection with any contests and other promotions that we may offer from time to time via the Site, we use the information you provide to administer the contests and other promotions. Subject to applicable contractual or legal restrictions, we also may use the information to communicate with you, or the other people you select, about our products and services or our service providers or agents partners may use such information to communicate with you about the contests and other promotions or their products and services. If you choose to participate in these promotions, and are eligible to do so, we may ask you for information such as your name, e-mail address, date of birth and telephone number. Official Contest Rules will accompany any contest sponsored by Connect the Future.

THIRD PARTY FEATURES

Third Party Links: For your convenience, we may include or offer third party offers, products or services on the Site. Third party vendors may use cookies or other technologies to serve ads on other web sites based on your visit to this Site and other web sites on the Internet. We cannot be responsible for the privacy practices of any web sites or pages not under our control and we do not endorse any of these web sites or pages, the services or products described or offered on such sites or pages or any of the content contained on those sites or pages. Nonetheless, we seek to protect the integrity of the Site and welcome any feedback about these web sites.

Social Media Platforms and Web sites: Any information, communications, or material of any type or nature that you submit to the Site (including, but not limited to any of our pages contained on a social media platform or web site such as Facebook or Twitter) by e-mail, posting, messaging, uploading, downloading or otherwise (collectively, a ‘Submission’), is done at your own risk and without any expectation of privacy. We cannot control the actions of other users of any social media platform or web site and we are therefore not responsible for any content or Submissions contained on such sites and platforms. By visiting any of our pages or web sites that are contained on a social media platform or web site, you are representing and warranting to us that you have reviewed the applicable privacy policy and terms of use of such platform or web site and that you will abide by all such provisions contained therein.

Additionally, in the event that we offer a message board or any other interactive or social-type feature on a web site administered directly by us, please be aware that these areas may allow you to publicly post, and share with other users, certain messages, content, or other information (e.g., stories, pictures, ingredients, tips, etc.). Although we may take certain precautions to protect those who use these areas of one of our web sites, we encourage you to be wary of giving out any personal information in such public forums. The information you post can be collected and used by people you don’t know. We cannot guarantee the privacy and safety of these areas and are therefore not responsible for any information you choose to post. Your use of these features is fully at your own risk.

E-MAIL SIGNUPS

E-mail: We appreciate your questions and comments about the Site and services and welcome your e-mails and questions submitted to the Site. We will share your messages with those within our organization who are most capable of addressing the issues contained in your message. We may archive your message for a certain period of time or discard it, but your e-mail address and message will only be used in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

Submitting your e-mail: Submitting your address anywhere on the Site may result in your e-mail address being added to the Connect the Future e-mail list. You may unsubscribe to Connect the Future e-mails at any time by opting out of e-mail subscriptions with the ‘unsubscribe’ link included in each e-mail. Your e-mail address will be removed from our marketing list. Please allow us a reasonable period of time in order to satisfy your request, as some promotions may already be in process.

Suggesting the Site to a Friend: If you elect to use any feature that includes suggesting a page to a friend or to inform a friend about the Site or solicit donations or pledges or otherwise communicate, Connect the Future may ask for your friend’s name and e-mail address. The Site may automatically send the friend a one-time e-mail inviting them to visit the Site or otherwise provide the information requested by you. Connect the Future will store and use this information in accordance with this Privacy Policy. Your friend may contact Connect the Future to request the removal of this information from our databases.

SECURITY

We employ and maintain technology and security measures designed to protect your personal information. However, no data transmission over the Internet can be guaranteed as 100% secure. As a result, while we strive to protect your information, we cannot ensure or warrant the security of any information you transmit to us or receive from us.

OPT OUT

Overview: We may use non-personally identifiable information to provide more relevant advertising and content. If you’d like to stop the Site from collecting certain types of information that provide more tailored online ads and messages to you, please click here. If you elect to opt out of this type of advertising, we will place a cookie on your computer to flag that we should not collect data to tailor advertising to your browser. If you delete your cookies, install a new browser, or use a different computer, you may need to revisit this page to opt out.

YOUR CALIFORNIA PRIVACY RIGHTS

Under California Law, California residents have the right to request in writing from businesses with whom they have an established business relationship, (a) a list of the categories of personal information, such as name, e-mail and mailing address and the type of services provided to the customer, that a business has disclosed to third parties (including affiliates that are separate legal entities) during the immediately preceding calendar year for the third parties’ direct marketing purposes and (b) the names and addresses of all such third parties. To request the above information, please contact Connect the Future on the Site or write to us at (with a reference to California Disclosure Information):

E-mail: [email protected]

We will respond to such requests for information access within 30 days following receipt at the e-mail address stated above. If we receive your request at a different e-mail or mailing address, we will respond within a reasonable period of time, but not to exceed 150 days from the date received. Please note that we are only required to respond to each customer once per calendar year.

Connect the Future does not currently engage in activities that constitute a “sale” for purposes of California’s privacy law. However, if you are a California user and would like to request that we either (1) delete all information we have obtained about you; or (2) not sell that information in the future to any third party whatsoever, click here to make that request: DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION. A California user’s exercise of the rights described in this Section will not result in discriminatory treatment by Connect the Future.

YOUR NEVADA PRIVACY RIGHTS

Under Nevada law, a Nevada resident who has provided Personal Information to a business with whom he/she has established a business relationship for purposes related to personal, family, or household use (“Nevada user”) is entitled to request that we not make any sale, as defined in applicable law, of any Personal Information collected, or to be collected, about you to any third party whatsoever. Click here to make that request.

DONATIONS

When you make a donation to Connect the Future, applicable state or federal law may require us to collect and report certain information. All donations made to the Site are considered final unless the donation is not in compliance with applicable law. All purchases from the online store are considered donations to Connect the Future. Online donors to Connect the Future have the option to store their credit card information when registering with the Site. Online donors taking advantage of this option will have their credit card information securely saved through a third-party payment processor, Stripe (https://stripe.com/help/security), which has been audited by a PCI-certified auditor, and is certified to PCI Service Provider Level 1. This is the most stringent level of certification available.

SPECIAL STATEMENT FOR JOB APPLICANTS

Any personal information that you provide to us when applying for a career position with Connect the Future will be used solely to consider and act upon your application. We may retain your personal information for a period of time, but only for as long as necessary for such purposes or as otherwise required by law. We may disclose your personal information to our agents for the purpose of evaluating your qualifications for the particular position for which you applied, for other available positions or as otherwise required by law. We may also disclose your personal information to third parties hired by us to collect, maintain, and analyze candidates for career positions or as otherwise required by law.

VISITING THE SITE FROM OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES

This website does not intend to target any users who are residents of the European Union, nor does intend to provide any goods or services to any users who are residents of the European Union. If you are visiting the Site from outside of the United States of America, please be aware that your information may be transferred to, stored or processed in the United States, where our servers are located and our central database is operated. The data protection and other laws of the United States and other countries might not be as comprehensive as those in your country, but please be assured that we take steps to protect your privacy. By using the Site, you understand that your information may be transferred to our facilities and those third parties with whom we share it as described in this Privacy Policy.

MISCELLANEOUS PRIVACY ISSUES

You must be at least 18 years old to have our permission to use this site. Our policy is that we do not knowingly collect, use, or disclose Personal Information about visitors that are under 18 years of age.  We expressly do not target and are not seeking to do business with those under the age of 18.

As described above, we reserve the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time. If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, the practices of this site, or your dealings with this site, please contact us by sending an email to:

Connect the Future
Attn: Privacy Compliance Officer
[email protected]

This Privacy Policy is effective with respect to all data that we have collected since the date we started collecting data, which was March 1, 2021.

Questions. If you have any questions about our Privacy Policy, feel free to contact us by sending an email to: [email protected].