AT&T Supports 2010/11 Global Virtual Classroom Program

USA - English

• USA - English

DALLAS, Sept. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- AT&T* today announced a $25,000 contribution to support the Global Virtual Classroom (GVC) program – a free online collaborative learning project that fosters teamwork, creativity, cross cultural understanding and teaches IT and website design skills amongst students working together from around the world.

Sponsored by the Give Something Back International Foundation (GSBI), and now in its eighth year, the GVC provides an opportunity for primary and secondary school students around the world to work with and learn from students in other countries, as they collaboratively design a website on a topic of their choosing. Over the years, 33,500 students and 1,400 teachers from over 600 schools in 52 countries have participated in the program.

JoAnn Patrick-Ezzell, Chairman and one of the co-founders of the GSBI Foundation said, "We are very grateful for the support AT&T has provided to us over the years. As a global company connecting millions of people every day, AT&T is an ideal partner for the program. Through the use of blogs, an interactive website, and online research and design tools, the GVC helps teachers and students harness the power and benefits of technology to strengthen cross-cultural collaboration."

Each GVC team consists of three primary or three secondary schools from different countries. Once the teams have completed their projects and designed their websites, a panel of international judges evaluates the final work products and determines the winners. Plaques and cash awards are presented to the schools of the winning teams and each student receives a certificate of participation. The Grand Prize award is $3,000 for the winning primary school team and $3,000 for the winning secondary school team. The second place award is $1,500 for each winning team and the third place award is $750 to each team.

More details of the GVC program, the schedule as well as the online application can be found at www.VirtualClassroom.org.

Online applications will be accepted through September 30th, at which time teams of three schools from different countries will be formed and start to work together. Beyond the accomplishment of the website projects, these teams will learn how to collaborate across cultures and form new, first-hand understandings and friendships with those from different lands.

*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. (NYSE: T) is committed to advancing education, strengthening communities and improving lives. Through its philanthropic initiatives, AT&T supports projects that create learning opportunities; promote academic and economic achievement; and address community needs. In 2007, AT&T contributed more than US $164 million through corporate-, employee- and AT&T Foundation-giving programs. AT&T and the AT&T Foundation, the corporate philanthropy organization of AT&T, combine more than US$1.9 billion of historic charitable commitment to communities across the country.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the U.S.'s fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet and voice services. A leader in mobile broadband, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse® and AT&T |DIRECTV brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T Advertising Solutions and AT&T Interactive are known for their leadership in local search and advertising. In 2010, AT&T again ranked among the 50 Most Admired Companies by FORTUNE® magazine.

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SOURCE AT&T Inc.