AT&T Creates Boston Marathon Digital Tribute To Support One Fund Boston

BOSTON, March 31, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- AT&T*, a proud Boston Marathon sponsor since 2008, is adding a new feature to this year's race to give runners and fans a unique way to show their passion for one of the nation's most beloved marathons – and to provide support for One Fund Boston.

AT&T is curating a digital mosaic showcasing submitted videos and photos of Bostonians, marathoners and fans from around the globe, sharing what Boston, and running this year's poignant race, means to them.

AT&T will contribute $1 to One Fund Boston for each of the first 10,000 submissions. This support builds on AT&T's initial $1 million donation to One Fund Boston at its inception last year.

The #ItsOurBoston social mosaic will be displayed on a screen in the Athlete's Village on Marathon Monday, with each submitted photo and video providing encouragement for runners competing this year. AT&T will begin collecting videos today, by kicking off a Boston-area tour, connecting with running clubs and other community groups. Videos can also be submitted anytime via Twitter using the hashtag #ItsOurBoston and online at www.itsourboston.com.  

"We wanted to create a unifying way for Bostonians and marathon fans around the world to be a part of the Boston Marathon," said Patricia Jacobs, President, AT&T New England. "There's a real sense of community bringing all of us together as we approach Marathon Monday. The digital mosaic is an opportunity for the public to share what Boston and the Marathon means to them and to provide much-needed support for One Fund Boston."

Beginning today, March 31, AT&T will be in Boston's Back Bay and in Cambridge collecting videos for the #ItsOurBoston social mosaic. During the week of April 7 and from April 13 to April 17, AT&T's mobile SMART car will tour college campuses, running clubs, Boston sport events and other local destinations in Marathon route communities and surrounding towns to collect mosaic submissions.

AT&T customers who want to support One Fund Boston can also text BOSTON to 80108 to give $10. The donation will be charged on their monthly AT&T bill.**

As the official wireless provider of the 118^th Boston Marathon, AT&T will again offer a host of mobile features to help keep runners and spectators connected on Marathon Monday. This will include:

• AT&T Athlete Alert: Marathon fans who want to track the progress of their friends and family, or their favorite elite runner, can get updates sent to their mobile phone or email, in real-time. AT&T is once again the Exclusive Sponsor of the popular AT&T Athlete Alert Program. Signing up is easy. Simply text RUNNER to 345678 and get signed up to receive up to six text alerts per bib number for course updates on your runner. AT&T will also provide tablets at the AT&T Athlete Alert Station at the John Hancock Sports & Fitness Expo during race weekend for those who want to sign up for the alerts. You can also sign up for text or email alerts online at www.baa.org. Program sign-up is available now. Online registration closes on Sunday, April 20 at 6 p.m., but AT&T is providing registration via mobile phone throughout the Marathon duration. Updates will be sent when your runner reaches the start, 10K, half marathon, 30K mark, and from the finish line. (Participants in AT&T Athlete Art program will receive up to six texts per bib number. Data and message rates apply.)
• Free calling stations: AT&T will offer five free communication centers for finishers in the family meeting area to help runners contact their loved ones after the race by phone or text. The calling centers will be at Boston Common and on Clarendon, St. James and Stuart streets.
• Free Wi-Fi: AT&T will provide free Wi-Fi to its customers at the start line of the Marathon in Hopkinton, at the finish line on Boylston Street and at Copley Square. AT&T has also boosted 4G LTE network capacity at cell sites near the start and finish lines, and will bring two Cell on Wheels (COWs) to the start and finish lines to accommodate expected increased network demands.

"Our One Fund Boston support and Marathon Monday services are just a few ways we can support an event we love and a city where we live and work," Jacobs said. "Marathon Monday will demonstrate once again to the world that Boston is a truly special place, full of pride and remarkable and resilient people."

* 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.
** Standard transaction fees apply.

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 wireless coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, offering 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.

Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com/aboutus or follow our news on Twitter at @ATT, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/att and YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/att.

Reliability claim based on data transfer completion rates on nationwide 4G LTE networks.  LTE is a trademark of ETSI. 4G LTE not available everywhere.

^© 2014 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies.

About the Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.)

Established in 1887, the Boston Athletic Association is a non-profit organization with a mission of promoting a healthy lifestyle through sports, especially running. The B.A.A.'s Boston Marathon is the world's oldest annual marathon, and the organization manages other local events and supports comprehensive charity, youth, and year-round running programs. Since 1986, the principal sponsor of the Boston Marathon has been John Hancock Financial. The Boston Marathon is part of the World Marathon Majors, along with the international marathons in Tokyo, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City. The 118th Boston Marathon will be held on Monday, April 21, 2014. For more information on the B.A.A., please visit www.baa.org.

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