As Cleveland students prepared for the upcoming school year, AT&T and Human-I-T provided 100 free laptops to students across “Back to School” events at Ashbury Senior Computer Community Center (ASC3) and Esperanza. AT&T also provided backpacks stuffed with school supplies by its employee volunteers.
“These laptops from AT&T will help open doors and unlock a world of learning in our community,” said Wanda Davis, Executive Director, ASC3. “As students prepare to head back to school these backpacks with school supplies and laptops to connect to the internet will help ensure they are ready to learn and take the important next steps in their young lives.”
At Esperanza’s 16th Annual Back-to-School Celebration, where AT&T served as Presenting Sponsor, Margaret Sanchez, President and CEO, emphasized the importance of the event to students.“Today’s celebration was about uniting the community and empowering our students to begin the school year with renewed hope and opportunity,” she said. “For many of our students, who face daily economic challenges, having the right supplies is the first step toward academic success. Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, we equipped hundreds of young minds with the tools they need to pursue their dreams.”
AT&T powers Connected Learning Centers at ASC3 and Esperanza providing students, seniors, and families with free access to high-speed Internet, Wi-Fi, computers and technical resources.
This event is part of a broader AT&T employee effort to help bridge the digital divide and distribute 30,000 backpacks filled with school supplies and laptops to students in qualifying households before they head back to school. The backpacks included supplies like notebooks, pencils and headphones, as well as cards of encouragement written by AT&T employees.
“AT&T is proud to work with Human-I-T and Ashbury Senior Computer Community Center to help Cleveland students prepare to go back to school with backpacks and laptops to help connect them to a world of opportunity,” said Tony Costanzo, Director, AT&T Ohio. “Connectivity is vital for students, and we’re glad we can provide these resources to those that need them most.”
According to U.S. Census Bureau data, millions nationwide still don’t have access to the internet or connected devices needed to fully participate in the online world, an issue known as the digital divide.
This effort is part of AT&T’s initiative to help address the digital divide through internet accessibility, affordability and safe adoption. AT&T is committing $5 billion to help 25 million people get and stay connected to high-speed internet by 2030.
AT&T Bridging the Digital Divide in Ohio — By the Numbers:
- Distributed more than 4,000 free laptops and devices to students and their families across Ohio.
- Opened 3 AT&T Connected Learning Centers in Ohio.
- Offers “Access from AT&T,” our home internet program designed for limited-income households, with speeds up to 100Mbps for $30 per month.
