AT&T and the Jewish Renaissance Foundation are dedicated to stemming the high school dropout crisis

PERTH AMBOY, N.J., Sept. 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Jewish Renaissance Foundation (JRF) will help more local students graduate from high school ready for careers and college said AT&T President Mike Schweder today.  He presented a check for $100,000 to the Foundation CEO today for its dropout prevention program.

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Because of its solid record of proven results, the Jewish Renaissance Foundation in Perth Amboy has been named as one of 47 recipients nationwide that will share in nearly $10 million from AT&T.  With more than 1 million students impacted since its launch in 2008, the AT&T Aspire program is one of the largest corporate commitments focused on helping more students graduate from high school ready for college and careers.  AT&T announced an additional quarter-billion-dollar expansion to the program earlier this year, bringing the total commitment to $350 million. 

Educators in schools and non-profits across the country have a unique understanding of the challenges students face in their communities.  Through a competitive process, 47 schools and non-profits, including the Jewish Renaissance Foundation, were selected from thousands nationwide.  To learn more about all of the organizations that were selected, please visit att.com/local-impact.

"I congratulate the Jewish Renaissance Foundation for being selected as the recipient for these highly-competitive Aspire funds in New Jersey," said Schweder.  "The JRF School Based Youth Services Program meshes perfectly with the AT&T Aspire program mission of high school dropout prevention.  The dropout rate, along with inadequate training and education, is keeping many high-paying Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) jobs from being filled.  And the situation is expected to worsen as STEM jobs grow a projected 17 percent by 2018.  We need to ensure that we have a workforce that is prepared to tackle the technological challenges of the future."

Applicants were evaluated based on their accomplishments in serving students at risk of dropping out of high-school and their ability to use data to demonstrate the effectiveness of their work.  After a rigorous and competitive process, the Jewish Renaissance Foundation was identified as making a real difference in their community by supporting and motivating traditionally underserved students to stay in school and prepare for the next step in life.

"The Jewish Renaissance Foundation's partnership with AT&T Aspire enhances our mission to help underserved at-risk students prepare for success in high school and beyond," said JRF Chief Executive Officer Alexandra Mansonet-Cross. "With AT&T's generous support, we are able to provide this after school program in which ninth and tenth graders will meet and receive social and educational supports that will dramatically increase their potential for success as young adults."

The Jewish Renaissance Foundation (JRF), under its School Based Youth Services Program early dropout intervention effort will provide afterschool classes to ninth and tenth grade students who are behind or at immediate risk of falling behind in Algebra, Physics, Chemistry or Geometry.  In conjunction with the science and math curriculum at Perth Amboy High School (PAHS) it will employ a mix of enrichment activities and games designed to make learning fun and reward student progress.

"The school based program is all about our success," said Tyra Bonner, a program participant.  "They want you to thrive at anything thrown at you, whatever it may be.  I have grown during my four years at Perth Amboy High School, both mentally and academically.  The Youth Services program contributed to this in many ways including treating me like an adult and helping prepare me for the real world."

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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, AT&T has a long history of supporting projects that create learning opportunities; promote academic and economic achievement; and address community needs. In 2011, more than $115 million was contributed through corporate-, employee- and AT&T Foundation-giving programs.

SOURCE AT&T Inc.