Groups that Fuel High School Success Receive $12.5 Million From AT&T, Serving 28,000 Students

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3, 2014 — Thirty organizations that serve 28,000 high school students across the country will receive nearly $12.5 million from AT&T*  to strengthen and expand their programs. These evidence-based program help students graduate from high school prepared for college and a career.

Recipient organizations were announced today at an event in the DC Promise Neighborhood, one of the awardees.

“These programs are the best of the best in the country,” said Charlene Lake, Chief Sustainability Officer, AT&T. “They have demonstrated a proven ability to prepare students for future success, and we’re delighted to help them scale.” 

The contributions are part of AT&T Aspire, the company’s $350 million signature education initiative.  Through a competitive process, 30 schools, school districts and non-profits were selected from more than 1,100 applicants nationwide.

Each of the winning programs delivered a quantitative impact, and feature proven methods of helping students succeed in academics and careers, such as  providing integrated services, mentoring or focusing on college or career preparation. The organizations will use the funds to enhance programs and serve additional students. 

In 2012, AT&T Aspire committed $10 million to 47 schools and nonprofits to increase graduation and attendance rates and reduce behavioral and disciplinary problems. Preliminary results from a third party evaluation of the 2012 recipients show that 9th, 10th and 11th grade students who participated in these programs were significantly more likely to end up on-track to graduate than a similarly situated peer group.

The Contribution Recipients

The DC Promise Neighborhood Initiative (DCPNI)

Among the 30 funding recipients is the DC Promise Neighborhood Initiative (DCPNI), which will receive $300,000 for its demonstrated success supporting and motivating traditionally underserved students to stay in school and prepare for their next step in life.

“We are thrilled to have AT&T join hands with us as we seek to be a leading force in ending intergenerational poverty in the Kenilworth-Parkside community,” said Mary Brown, Executive Director, DCPNI.

“Education through and beyond high school opens the doors of opportunity for young people,” said Alma J. Powell, honorary chair of DCPNI and board chair of America's Promise Alliance, the nation’s largest partnership dedicated to improving the lives of children and leader of the GradNation campaign.

 “D.C. Promise Neighborhood is an evidence-based initiative providing the inspiration, opportunities and support young people need to graduate from high school and prepare for college and career.  AT&T Aspire is a great example of how the business community is contributing to better futures for more young people.  With support like theirs, and the extraordinary work of the 30 awardees recognized today, I am confident we will reach our GradNation goal of a 90% national graduation rate by 2020.”

DCPNI will use the funding to support a partnership with the College Success Foundation to provide academic support, mentoring, and college readiness to students at risk of dropping out to prepare them to graduate from high school, enter and succeed at the post-secondary level, and graduate from college ready for the workforce.

The program will serve students at Cesar Chavez Public Charter School in DC's Parkside-Kenilworth neighborhood. At today’s event, the school was recognized for its recent distinction as a high-performing "tier 1" school by the DC Charter Board.

The 30 Awardees

• Academy for Urban School Leadership (Ill.)
• ASPIRA Association, Inc. (Fla., N.Y., N.J., and Puerto Rico)
• Boys & Girls Club of Collier County, Inc. (Fla.)
• California State University East Bay Foundation (Calif.)
• Center for Fathers and Families (Calif.)
• Center for Supportive Schools (Md. and N.Y.)
• ChildNet, Inc. (Fla.)
• College Possible (Minn., Ore., Pa., and Wis.)
• Communities In Schools Delaware, Inc. (Del.)
• Communities In Schools New Orleans, Inc. (La.)
• Communities In Schools of Catoosa County (Ga.)
• Communities In Schools of East Chicago (Ind.)
• Communities In Schools of Kalamazoo (Mich.)
• Communities In Schools of San Antonio (Texas)
• Communities In Schools of the Heart of Texas (Texas)
• Communities In Schools of Washington State (Wash.)
• D.C. Promise Neighborhood Initiative (Washington)
• GPS Education Partners (Wisc.)
• Henderson State University Foundation (Ark.)
• Interfaith Community Services, Inc. (Calif.)
• Jobs for Maine’s Graduates, Inc. (Maine)
• LSU Foundation (La.)
• National Academy Foundation (Ala., Fla., Texas, and Okla.)
• Northwest Alliance for College Access (Wash.)
• Project GRAD Houston (Texas)
• Proyecto Pastoral (Calif.)
• Sampson County Schools (N.C.)
• Sports & Arts in Schools Foundation (N.Y.)
• UCAN (Ill.)
• YMCA of Greater New York (N.Y.)

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

About Philanthropy at AT&T

AT&T Inc. is committed to advancing education, strengthening communities and improving lives. Through its community initiatives, AT&T has a long history of investing in projects that create learning opportunities; promote academic and economic achievement; or address community needs. In 2013, more than $130 million was contributed or directed through corporate-, employee-, social investment- and AT&T Foundation-giving programs. AT&T Aspire is AT&T’s signature education initiative that drives innovation in education by bringing diverse resources to bear on the issue including funding, technology, employee volunteerism, and mentoring

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company and one of the most honored companies in the world. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and internationally. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation’s most reliable 4G LTE network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile Internet, AT&T also offers the best global wireless coverage, based on offering roaming in more countries than any other U.S. based carrier, and offers the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV service with the AT&T U-verse^® brand. The company’s suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world.

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