Freddie Figgers facts for kids
Freddie Figgers (born September 26, 1989) is an amazing American inventor and business leader. He started his own companies, Figgers Communication and the Figgers Foundation. Freddie is known for creating new technology and helping others.
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Early Life and His First Inventions
Freddie Figgers had a unique start to life. He was adopted just two days after he was born by Nathan and Betty Mae Figgers. His adoptive dad, Nathan, worked as a maintenance person. His adoptive mom, Betty Mae, worked on a farm. Freddie grew up in Quincy, Florida.
A Young Fixer and Inventor
Even as a child, Freddie loved to fix old electronics. When he was nine, he found a broken Macintosh computer. He used parts from a clock radio to fix it! This was his very first computer repair.
By the time he was twelve, Freddie was already helping his school. He repaired and took care of their computers after school. The person in charge of the program, who was also the mayor, then hired him. Freddie started fixing computers at city hall. He even wrote a special computer program. This program helped check water pressure gauges.
When Freddie was fifteen, he decided to start his own business. He left school and began repairing computers from a shed in his backyard. In 2005, he launched his own cloud storage service. This service lets people save their computer files online. He grew his business by writing software for other customers.
Helpful Inventions for Family
Freddie Figgers also created inventions to help his family. His adoptive father, Nathan, developed Alzheimer's disease. This condition can make people forget things and wander off. To keep his dad safe, Freddie invented a special GPS tracker. He put this tracker, along with a two-way radio, inside his father's shoe. This way, he could always know where his dad was and talk to him. Freddie sold the rights to this tracker in 2014.
After his uncle, who had diabetes, passed away, Freddie developed another important device. He created a special glucometer. This device measures a person's blood sugar levels. It could send the readings to a family member and a doctor. It would also send an alert if the levels were not normal.
Building a Telecom Company
When Freddie was sixteen, he started his company, Figgers Communication. At nineteen, in 2008, he launched Figgers Wireless. He began asking the FCC for a license. This license would let him provide internet service. He wanted to bring internet to rural areas in northern Florida and southern Georgia.
In 2011, when he was 21, Freddie received his license. This made him the youngest telecom operator in the United States at that time. As of 2020, Figgers Communication was the only Black-owned telecom company in the country.
Personal Life and Giving Back
Freddie Figgers is married to Natlie Figgers, who is a lawyer. They have one daughter. Freddie also runs the Figgers Foundation. This foundation helps children and families who are facing challenges. It also provides money for education and healthcare projects.