AT&T Foundation Grant of $400,000 Helps High School Success Program in Hampton

HAMPTON, Va., May 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AT&T* today joined Communities In Schools (CIS) of Virginia, CIS of Hampton and Hampton City Schools to kick off its partnership with CIS' Performance Learning Center® in Hampton.  The AT&T Foundation - the corporate philanthropy organization of  AT&T - awarded a High School Success grant for $400,000 over four years to Communities In Schools of Virginia to help launch the new Performance Learning Center® (PLC) in Hampton and to open the second of three in Richmond. Students, educators, Governor Robert F. McDonnell and AT&T representatives will hold a kick-off event to announce the initiative on May 20, 9-10 a.m., at the PLC, 300 Butler Farm Road, Hampton.

Performance Learning Centers® are non-traditional learning environments attended by students who are not succeeding in traditional school settings and are at risk of dropping out. At these centers, Communities In Schools of Virginia and its local CIS affiliates partner with the local school division and community to work with students on individual development plans that outline their academic, career and personal goals. Each PLC student is paired with a trained mentor to help them meet these goals. In the first year at the PLC in Hampton, 77 youth were served; by year four the PLC expected to serve over 300 students. Students for the Performance Learning Centers® are identified by guidance counselors and teachers as being 1-2 years behind with little chance of catching up, but having a desire to obtain a high school diploma.

 "A good education is the foundation that leads to future job opportunities for our youth," said Governor Bob McDonnell who joined the celebratory event. "I commend Communities In Schools of Virginia for its work with the Commonwealth's teachers, students, members of the community and companies like AT&T who invest in preparing the next generation of our workforce. CIS is an excellent example of a strong public/private partnership that is successful in helping our students succeed."  

AT&T's competitive High School Success grants are part of the company's signature initiative, AT&T Aspire, which helps address high school success and workforce readiness.

"We're committed to working with the local community to give at-risk youth the resources they need to be successful in society and the job market," said J. Michael Schweder, President, AT&T Mid-Atlantic Region. "A lot of this work must be done with groups like Communities In Schools of Virginia and their affiliates who have the expertise to help kids graduate from high school."

"Last year, Virginia's CIS Performance Learning Centers added 101 graduates to the Commonwealth's roles, and nearly all of these students were slated to drop out," said Dr. Mark Emblidge, Founding Director of CIS of Virginia.  

Communities In Schools surrounds students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. Through a school-based coordinator, Communities In Schools connects students and their families to critical community resources, tailored to local needs. Working in more than 3,200 schools, in the most challenged communities, in 27 states, and the District of Columbia, Communities In Schools serves nearly 1.4 million young people and their families every year. Communities In Schools has become the nation's leading dropout prevention organization, and the only one proven to both decrease dropout rates and increase graduation rates.

For more information about the AT&T Aspire initiative, please visit www.att.com/education-news.  

*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 and partnerships, AT&T has a long history of supporting projects that create learning opportunities; promote academic and economic achievement; and address community needs. In 2009, nearly $155 million was contributed through corporate-, employee- and AT&T Foundation-giving programs.

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 nation's fastest 3G 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(SM) and AT&T | DIRECTV(SM) 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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