Students at the Bailey Middle School in West Haven are helping U.S. troops connect with loved ones throughout this holiday season by raising money for AT&T's Care to Connect program, which pledges to match — dollar for dollar — individual contributions to go toward providing free phone cards to active duty military members so they can call home.

Over the last three weeks, students at the school have been holding fundraising events and have raised more than $1,000 so far.

"It is truly inspiring to witness the compassion and commitment these students are showing for our troops serving overseas," said Dr. Anthony Cordone, principal of Bailey Middle School. "When the students heard that AT&T's Care to Connect program will match their contribution, they knew it was a great opportunity to include more of our military families this holiday season."

Phone cards purchased through contributions generated by AT&T Care to Connect in Connecticut's 43 AT&T retail stores will be distributed to troops in Iraq, Afghanistan and other overseas regions between now and New Year's Day. This new holiday program, launched in November, builds on AT&T's steadfast commitment to help keep military families connected. In the past two years alone, AT&T has donated prepaid phone cards with a retail value of more than $4 million to help support U.S. military members and their families.

"The students at the Bailey Middle School epitomize the holiday spirit through their gracious generosity and goodwill support for our military families," said Ramona Carlow, president of AT&T Connecticut. "As many veterans will tell you, hearing the voices of loved ones is one of the most precious gifts military members receive when away from home. The students at Bailey Middle School are making these phone calls more precious than ever."

Customers interested in supporting the AT&T Care to Connect program can visit any AT&T retail store and give $1, $5 or $10 toward prepaid phone cards for military members. AT&T will match the total dollars collected by the program through Dec. 21, 2008, doubling the amount of phone cards issued to the troops via customer giving alone.

For more than 85 years, AT&T has remained dedicated to supporting active military personnel, their families and veterans through charitable contributions, sponsorships, the hiring of military veterans and maintaining policies that support reservists who are called to duty. Since 2000, AT&T has donated free prepaid phone cards with a retail value of nearly $8 million to military members and has provided nearly $6 million in grants that support military members and related nonprofit organizations. The company has also built 70 calling centers for military members stationed in Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan, so that they may stay in touch with their families.

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