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AT&T Contributes $100,000 to Help San Francisco Students Successfully Transition From Middle School to High School

Posted on: Monday, 11 May 2009, 13:35 CDT

Funding To Support Programs At Gateway High School Designed To Improve High School Success

SAN FRANCISCO, May 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AT&T* today announced a $100,000 contribution to support San Francisco's Gateway High School, a nationally-recognized charter school in the Western Addition that serves a very diverse student population, more than a quarter of which have a learning disability. The contribution was announced this morning during a ceremony at the school's Lisille B. Matheson Theatre.

The funding will support the Freshman Transitions Seminar, reading support, and math-readiness programs to help ensure the academic success and matriculation of incoming Freshman students. The programs reinforce learning skills that are crucial to student success, including understanding school expectations and requirements, and improving students' ability to access and take advantage of school resources. The support programs are helping Gateway High School students successfully transition into, and graduate from, high school.

"At AT&T, our primary area of philanthropic support is education. We believe it's critically important to assure that our young people have the skills they need to be successful in school," said Loretta Walker, AT&T vice president of External Affairs, San Francisco Bay Area. "Because, in today's troubled economy, it is even more crucial that American students are skilled, knowledgeable and ready to hit the ground running when they graduate. Kids who are successful in school are successful in life."

Gateway High School has been recognized as one of eight exemplary charter schools in the country in the book, Charter High Schools Closing the Achievement Gap: Innovations in Education, and is recognized as a model, college preparatory school. The school serves students from over 100 middle schools, with a diverse student population reflective of San Francisco's diversity. Recent student population included 23% African American, 23% Latino, 23% Asian, and 28% White. In addition, more than a third of Gateway students will be the first in their family to attend college.

"Gateway is dedicated to student success - in high school, and beyond," said Sharon Olken, Principal of Gateway High School. "Our mission is to provide a high quality college-preparatory experience and education to a very diverse group of learners, and we couldn't do it without the support of the community, and partners like AT&T."

"Gateway High School is making a real difference in the lives of underserved young people in our city," said San Francisco Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi. "I'm proud that the school's innovative programs designed to ensure the success of their students have been recognized nationally. Congratulations to the school for this tremendous accomplishment, and to AT&T for their generous support."

In the Fall of 2008, AT&T announced its signature initiative, AT&T Aspire, to help address high school success and workforce readiness. 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. AT&T has awarded 35 Aspire grants totaling more than $3.5 million in California, including more than $1.4 million for educational organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area.

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 supports projects that create learning opportunities; promote academic and economic achievement; and address community needs. In 2007, AT&T contributed more than $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 $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. 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 Inc.

Source: PR Newswire

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