The Sandy Hook Promise Foundation has been awarded a $10,000 contribution as part of an AT&T employee initiative to address community safety.
Earlier this year, AT&T challenged its employees to develop ideas around Community Safety & Revitalization. The winner of the challenge, Jerry Kalinsky, is an AT&T employee in Chicago. Mr. Kalinsky was awarded $10,000 to contribute to the organization of his choice. Mr. Kalinsky focused his submission on gun violence and possible ways to assist teachers and first responders during active shooter situations. He made the decision for AT&T to contribute the $10,000 prize to the Sandy Hook Promise Foundation.
“With my wife working in elementary education and our son accepting a job in law enforcement, Sandy Hook Promise’s mission really resonates with me,” said Mr. Kalinsky. “Addressing the human side of the equation to prevent violence and ultimately save the lives of educators, students, first responders and more is critically important. As a longtime AT&T employee, I’m delighted that we are contributing to such a worthy cause!”
“We are grateful to Jerry Kalinsky and AT&T for this generous gift, which will bring our proven Know the Signs programs into more schools this year,” said Nicole Hockley, co-founder and managing director of Sandy Hook Promise and mother of Dylan, who was killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School. “Whether children are learning in a classroom or remotely, it’s more important than ever that students and teachers recognize the warning signs of someone in crisis and know how to get help before a tragedy can happen.”
To date, more than 12 million people nationwide have participated in Sandy Hook Promise’s proven Know the Signs programs that focus on prevention to help end the epidemic of gun violence by training youth and adults how to identify at-risk behavior and intervene to get help before a tragedy can occur. Through these no-cost programs, Sandy Hook Promise has averted multiple school shooting plots, teen suicides, and countless other acts of violence.
