AT&T Supports Nonprofit Organizations in Fort Worth; Builds Stronger Communities Through $9 Million in National Grant Program
AT&T Excelerator Grants Assist Organizations Serving Diverse Ethnic Groups, Low-Income Families, People With Disabilities, Youth and Seniors
Fort Worth, Texas, November 27, 2007
The AT&T Foundation — the corporate philanthropy organization of AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) — has announced that it has awarded more than $83,000 to support five Fort Worth nonprofit organizations and communities through the AT&T Excelerator competitive technology grant program.
Since 2002, the AT&T Excelerator program has provided more than 2,500 technology grants — totaling more than $47.8 million — to organizations across the country. In 2007, more than 680 regional and local nonprofit organizations have benefited nationwide from nearly $9 million through the competitive program.
"The Excelerator grant will support the integration of SMART classroom technology in two of our business classrooms," said Harold Jeffcoat, president of Texas Wesleyan University. "This interactive video instruction will encourage at-risk, underserved students to become more engaged in their learning and ideally will improve their retention and graduation rates. The Excelerator grant will also better enable students with high academic potential to become even more engaged in their course work while encouraging faculty to develop a more integrative and innovative curriculum."
"Our local nonprofits are constantly seeking ways to support individuals in their daily lives, and to do that, they need updated technology to create and sustain workforce training and education programs," said state Sen. Kim Brimer. "Organizations in the Fort Worth area will always have a need for the latest technology."
The AT&T Excelerator program provides technology access to organizations working to strengthen underserved communities. Helping nonprofits integrate technology into their operations and community outreach, AT&T Excelerator grants also place technology tools in the hands of the underserved populations that the nonprofits work with in order to provide resources such as education programs, Internet access, computer training and job-skills development.
"For the past six years, the AT&T Excelerator program has demonstrated the importance of how technology can benefit communities and organizations," said David Parker, AT&T vice president of External Affairs in Fort Worth. "Texas Wesleyan University and other organizations in Fort Worth will continue to use technology funded by this program to empower the community and change the lives of the people whom they serve on a day-to-day basis. We commend Senator Brimer for his dedication in assisting nonprofit organizations in Fort Worth and for his understanding of the vital role that technology plays in their success."
2007 AT&T Excelerator grants will help nonprofit organizations across Fort Worth improve their operations and build stronger communities. Fort Worth area recipients illustrate the innovative ways technology can be employed to meet their missions:
- Arlington Chamber of Commerce Foundation will upgrade technology for its Commercialization Infrastructure initiative, which aims to bring about technology-based startup companies that will enable northern Texas to compete in the 'innovation economy.'
- Vietnamese Nationals Community of Greater Fort Worth will use grant funds to support IT workshops to provide basic computer and applications training to Vietnamese immigrants and Viet-Americans for use in their daily lives.
- Fort Worth Chamber Foundation will use grant funds to support and streamline its Job Links employment forum by upgrading its technology and transforming it into Job Links Excelerator, which will enable the foundation to improve its capacity to match underserved individuals to employers in order to better serve the workforce development needs of the community.
- Black Chamber of Metropolitan Fort Worth will upgrade technology for its Contractor Development Program, which will conduct training for minority businesses to grow in the contracting capacity of the construction industry, thereby creating economic growth and development in the community.
In 2006, AT&T Inc. and the AT&T Foundation contributed more than $101 million to nonprofit organizations across the country. With its strong giving record, the AT&T Foundation ranks among the most generous corporate foundations in the United States.
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About Philanthropy at AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is committed to advancing education, strengthening communities and improving lives. Through its philanthropic initiatives and partnerships, AT&T supports projects that create learning opportunities; promote academic and economic achievement; and address community needs. In 2006, AT&T contributed more than $101 million through corporate-, employee- and AT&T Foundation-giving programs. AT&T and the AT&T Foundation, the corporate philanthropy organization of AT&T Inc., combine more than $1.8 billion of historic charitable commitment to communities across the country.
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