Only two New Yorkers made the list of Time magazine’s “25 Most Influential Hispanics in America,” and their influence can hardly be called positive.

The entertainer Jennifer Lopez was chosen because she rose from humble beginnings in the Bronx to being known to the world as J. Lo.

The current national director of the American Civil Liberties Union, Anthony Romero, is the other. Mr. Romero was listed as No. 5 in the book “100 People Who Are Screwing Up America” by Bernard Goldberg. Under Mr. Romero’s rule, the ACLU has become an absolutist organization that rejects all government efforts to fight terrorism.

Surely, New York can muster up less dubious nominees, but, as I counted only two Hispanic names among the 20 or so writers of the article, perhaps the problem is a lack of familiarity with those whom we Hispanics consider truly influential.

In this town, those who make a positive difference in our lives are rarely showered with attention, unless they are politically connected with a liberal elitist agenda. One of our true heroes is virtually unknown, but what he has accomplished is nothing less than extraordinary. With private donations, his nonprofit organization does far more for the poor of the city than many government-financed programs do.

Plinio Ayala, born and raised in the Bronx, is CEO and president of Per Scholas, a unique organization that provides free – I repeat, free – computer training to those in need. Closing the digital divide is not only a possibility but also a reality, thanks to Per Scholas, which operates a huge facility in the South Bronx.

The organization trains disadvantaged men and women between 18 and 55 for jobs as computer technicians. Unquestionably, the jobs of the future will be in high-tech industries, but the problem is that too few workers can afford the training and certification that are required for those positions. Per Scholas offers qualified applicants an intensive three-month program, which includes three weeks of an on-the-job internship paying minimum wage. It offers two courses of study: computer technician training, which leads to A+ certification, and office equipment repair technician. The next class starts Friday and ends December 9. Interested parties should contact Linda Lopez at 718-772-0599.

Per Scholas was established more than a decade ago with the express purpose of bringing technology to nonprofit organizations and low-income families in all five boroughs. A key part of its activities involves the recycling of computer equipment from large corporations. A licensed recycler, to date it has recycled more than 300,000 computers, trained more than 800 computer technicians for careers in the field, and helped more than 25,000 families gain access to information technology.

Only computers from corporate offices, equipped at a minimum with Pentium III processors and having a speed of at least 533 megahertz, are accepted for donations to the program. They are then thoroughly reconditioned, tested, cleaned, and packaged for shipment.

Per Scholas also offers complete low-cost computer systems for only $245. Each comes with new peripherals, keyboard, CD-ROM drive, modem, network card, sound card, and speakers, and a one-year guarantee.

I visited the operation at 1231 Lafayette Ave. in the South Bronx, which is in a converted mint facility. Its 100,000 square feet is a beehive of activity. Old computers must be disposed of properly. If they’re working they can be donated, or their owners must pay fees to have them removed by certified recyclers. Per Scholas has a $1.3 million machine that shreds the equipment and sorts and converts it into reusable raw materials. Leaded glass that might otherwise end up as hazardous waste in landfills is disposed of properly, and valuable materials including copper, aluminum, and ferrous metals are separated for sale and reuse. The company charges only a very small pickup fee. Anyone needing to dispose of a computer can contact Angel Feliciano at the same telephone number.

My guide, Damon Howard, the managing director, explained that in addition to the training, students are given career guidance skills, such as practice interview sessions, dress codes, and assistance in writing resumes and filing applications.

Once again, I am learning about the unsung heroes in our city, and they are legion. Mr. Ayala may be the engine that’s moving the community into the 21st century, but it would be a much harder job without the cooperation of the many corporations and foundations that have partnerships with Per Scholas.

Throughout my tour, one question kept popping up in my mind: Why hadn’t I heard about this wonderful program and Plinio Ayala before?

But maybe my priorities are completely out of whack and I’m just not on the same wavelength as Time magazine. Then again, has anybody over there seen “Gigli”?