Logan, Greenbrier and Charleston High School Students Participate in High School Success Program
Posted on: Tuesday, 28 April 2009, 05:00 CDT
AT&T Foundation funds mentoring and employability training program for 530 West Virginia high school students
LOGAN, W.V., April 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Jobs for West Virginia's Graduates today announced that it was awarded a $240,000 grant that will be made over three years from the AT&T Foundation to deliver mentoring, employability and life skills training to academically challenged high school students at Logan, Riverside, Greenbrier East and Greenbrier West High Schools and to expand existing training programs in Charleston. Students, educators, and AT&T* representatives will hold a kick-off event to announce the initiative on April 28, 9-10 a.m. at Logan High School.
"It's critical that we work together to provide a pool of high school graduates prepared to enter the job force, launch their own business, or pursue higher education," said Lt. Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin. "I'm pleased to see this public-private partnership initiative that will benefit hundreds of students right here in West Virginia."
"Providing mentoring and life skills to students in West Virginia as preparation to graduate and enter the workforce is a vital tool in helping to ensure that our young people can compete in an increasingly competitive market," said Rep. Nick J. Rahall, II (D-W.Va.). The collaboration of AT&T and local educators is an excellent step in the right direction, and I look forward to seeing the success stories that come from this wonderful partnership."
The AT&T award is part of its competitive High School Success grants and its signature initiative, AT&T Aspire, which helps address high school success and workforce readiness. Additionally, AT&T made a $500,000 contribution to the national office of Jobs for America's Graduates of which Jobs for West Virginia's Graduates is an affiliate.
"Ensuring that young people graduate from high school is a step that prepares them for the future workforce," said J. Michael Schweder, President, AT&T Mid-Atlantic Region. "We're pleased to support organizations throughout the state that motivate kids to stay in school and to strive to learn."
Some 530 14- to 18-year-old students will participate in the program that is designed to reduce barriers to success and help students graduate with the skills they need to transition to the workforce or post-secondary training and educational opportunities.
"Jobs for West Virginia's Graduates is honored to receive this outstanding award from AT&T. The West Virginia program assists students where they need help and support the most. The real winners here are our state's high school students and that's what makes all of us who care about them so thrilled with AT&T's generous award," said Steve Roberts, Chairman of Jobs for West Virginia's Graduates and President of the WV Chamber of Commerce. "We look forward to working with AT&T to focus on high school retention and preparing West Virginia's young people to graduate and begin successful careers here in West Virginia."
Jobs for West Virginia Graduates received one of two AT&T High School Success grants in West Virginia. The Education Alliance - Business and Community for Public Schools Inc., was awarded $389,900 over four years to fund its 'Walk the Talk' program which provides mentoring and academic intervention for students in seven public high schools in Berkeley, Kanawha, Ohio and Raleigh counties.
AT&T has committed $100 million in philanthropy through 2011 to schools and nonprofit organizations that are focused on high school retention and better preparing students for college and the workforce.
For more information about the AT&T Aspire initiative, please visit www.att.com/education-news.
About Jobs for West Virginia's Graduates
Jobs for West Virginia's Graduates assists at-risk youth in West Virginia to stay in school, graduate, and make a successful transition from the educational system to careers. JWVG has served more than 7,500 youth by providing them with Jobs for America's Graduates model programs and services that build competencies in career development, job attainment, job survival, basic academic enrichment, leadership development and personal development. Ultimately, the organization works to build skills that will provide gainful employment and prevent teenagers from dropping out of school. Its services are directed to at-risk and disadvantaged youth between the ages of 12 and 19 identified by their schools as at-risk of dropping out.
*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 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. Among their offerings are the world's most advanced IP-based business communications services, the nation's fastest 3G network and the best wireless coverage worldwide, and the nation's leading high speed Internet access and voice services. In domestic markets, AT&T is known for the directory publishing and advertising sales leadership of its Yellow Pages and YELLOWPAGES.COM organizations, and the AT&T brand is licensed to innovators in such fields as communications equipment. As part of their three-screen integration strategy, AT&T operating companies are expanding their TV entertainment offerings. In 2009, AT&T again ranked No. 1 in the telecommunications industry on FORTUNE(R) magazine's list of the World's Most Admired Companies. 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.
(C) 2009 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.
SOURCE AT&T Foundation
Source: PR Newswire
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