AT&T Supports Efforts To Boost Massachusetts Graduation Rates, Awards $200,000 To Six Local Initiatives

BOSTON, Oct. 28, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- It takes caring professionals and a relentless focus on results to put students at risk of dropping out of high school on the path to graduation. Because of their focus on supporting and motivating traditionally underserved students to stay in school and prepare for their next step in life, six Massachusetts organizations will share $200,000 in funding from AT&T to advance their efforts. 

These contributions are a part of AT&T Aspire, the company's signature education initiative focused on school success and career readiness. With an unwavering commitment to data-driven education outcomes, AT&T Aspire has impacted more than 1 million students since its launch in 2008.

Massachusetts organizations receiving AT&T Aspire funding include:

Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston (Boston): $50,000 to support the "Life After the Club" program that provides academic support, college preparation activities and caring adult mentors so that high school students can reach their educational, career and life goals.

Camp Harbor View Foundation (Boston): $25,000 to support a scholarship program that provides low-income students with scholarships of up to $10,000 per year for post-secondary education.

Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education (Boston): $10,000 to support the Future Ready Youth Media Council where high school students develop a media campaign that educates their peers on how best to use their high school years to prepare for college and career.

Merrimack College (North Andover): $25,000 to support the Engineering Scholarship Program that provides scholarships to low-income college students pursuing Engineering degrees.

University of Massachusetts Foundation (Boston): $15,000 to support a program that provides work experiences for individuals with disabilities, along with training and career development counseling.

Year Up (Boston): $66,000 to support the development, implementation, and expansion of the Million Person Model (MPM) Initiative, a research-validated workforce development and education program for disconnected, at-risk urban young adults, through launch of a new site in Philadelphia and expansion of the existing Miami and Baltimore sites over the next 24 months.

"We're committed to investing in efforts that prepare the next generation of Americans for success in the increasingly competitive global economy," said Patricia Jacobs, President, AT&T New England. "We know that boosting high school graduation rates is crucial to that effort, and we applaud these organizations for their passion for the issue and their proven track record of readying local students for success in college and in their careers."

In addition, AT&T is the premier presenter of 100 Grad Nation community summits – including a November 6 summit in Springfield, Mass. – coordinated by America's Promise Alliance, which launched in Fall 2013 and will take place through 2016. 

"The Camp Harbor View Foundation is very grateful for the generosity of AT&T toward our scholarship program," said Jack Connors, Camp Harbor View Co-Founder.  "Our ability to close the gaps in college funding for our camper alumni is dependent on the thoughtfulness of donors like AT&T.  Their contribution to broadening the horizons of deserving young students is significant and impressive."

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SOURCE AT&T