DALLAS, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- AT&T
selected 18 non-profits to share in $10
million through the Aspire Connect to Success
Competition.
Hundreds of organizations applied. It was a rigorous and
competitive process. The awardees support and motivate underserved
students to stay in school and prepare for their next step in
life.
AT&T funds the competition through AT&T Aspire, our
signature philanthropic initiative to help students thrive in
school and beyond.
Today, about 1-in-5 students don't graduate high school on time.
There are persistent gaps for students of color, students with
disabilities, English-language learners and low-income
students.1
"A high school diploma is a ticket to future success for
students and our country," said Nicole
Anderson, assistant vice president, AT&T Social
Innovation and Philanthropy. "We work with the best-of-the-best
organizations, ones that use proven interventions to support
students throughout high school."
We chose the 18 non-profits that will serve students in 14
states and Washington D.C. They
have demonstrated their effectiveness in helping students graduate
ready for college or career. They each use evidence-based
approaches and can prove they make an impact for their
students.
"We measure the non-profits' impact. We know they're moving the
needle on high school graduation rates," said Anderson.
Aspire Connect to Success funding recipients deliver a range of
programs. Their focus includes integrated student supports, college
or career preparation, and mentoring or peer-to-peer
relationships.
For example, the YMCA of Greater New
York will receive $250,000 to
expand Y Scholars. The college access and success initiative
provides services to underserved students in New York City.
Another awardee, Family Connection-Communities In Schools of
Athens, Georgia will receive
$1 million to place site coordinators
in 3 high-poverty high schools. The coordinators will provide
targeted and school wide interventions to increase graduation rates
and improve student achievement.
Previous AT&T Aspire competitive funding recipients are
making a difference.
While the results continue to grow, data from 2014 awardees show
positive outcomes. Aspire students had higher attendance in grades
9-12. And they were more likely to graduate in grades 10-12, than
their peers.
During graduation season, we encourage people to share advice
for this year's graduates. We celebrate learners from all stages of
life – from preschool, high school, college, an online training
program or a professional certification.
Join hundreds of others by sharing advice on social media. Post
on your Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook using
#GradAdvice.
About Philanthropy & Social Innovation at
AT&T
AT&T (NYSE: T) 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. AT&T
Aspire is AT&T's signature philanthropic initiative that drives
innovation in education by bringing diverse resources to bear on
the issue including funding, technology, employee volunteerism, and
mentoring. Through Aspire, we've passed the $250 million mark on our plan to invest
$350 million in education from
2008-2017.
© 2016 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved.
AT&T and the Globe logo are registered trademarks of AT&T
Intellectual Property.
1 2016 Building a Grad Nation Report
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SOURCE AT&T Inc.