What’s the news? Hundreds of St. Louis-area families will soon be directly benefitting from AT&T’s nationwide commitment to help bridge the digital divide.
AT&T, working with Compudopt, will provide 200 refurbished laptops to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis. The computers, funded by an AT&T donation to Compudopt, will be given to St. Louis families with children in grades K-12 who do not have a laptop at home, helping them fully participate in our digital world.
Why is this important?
In St. Louis city and county, it’s estimated that more than nearly 16,000 K-12 students don’t have access to the internet, computers or skills needed at home to benefit from the online world, an issue known as the digital divide.
These efforts are part of the AT&T Connected Learning initiative, created as part of our companywide, $2 billion commitment from 2021- 2023, to help address the digital divide through internet accessibility, affordability and safe adoption.
What are people saying?
”For every child, education is the key to a positive future of opportunity and possibilities,” said Ferguson Mayor Ella Jones. “And, in today’s connected world, technology and connectivity are just as important as textbooks and caring, professional teachers. It is exciting to think how these laptops will impact, not just the students who receive them, but also their families and generations to come.”
“At Boys and Girls Clubs, we believe that every kid has the potential to succeed,” said Dr. Flint Fowler, President of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis. “We are committed to enabling all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. These donations will give families the tools to be active in the digital space.”
“AT&T is proud to collaborate with organizations like Compudopt to help close the digital equity gap in St. Louis,” said Craig Unruh, President of AT&T Missouri & Arkansas. “Many students in the St. Louis area lack the devices needed for online learning. Access to computers is vital in helping to bridge the digital divide, and we are glad we can provide these resources to those that need them most.”
About the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis (BGCSTL) provides after-school, teen, sports and summer programs to youth across the Bi-State Region while also providing a safe place for them to learn and grow. The Clubs serve youth across Mo. & IL, including (Adams Park Club, Boys & Girls Club of Bethalto, Boys & Girls Club of Lovejoy, Hazelwood Elementary School Club, Herbert Hoover Club, Mathews-Dickey Club, O’Fallon Park Club, Riverview Gardens Club, Hazelwood Southeast Middle School Club and the Teen Center of Excellence). We also operate the Mentor St. Louis and St. Louis Internship programs. For more information, go to Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis.
*About Philanthropy & Social Innovation at AT&T
We’re committed to advancing education, creating opportunities, strengthening communities, and improving lives. As part of our companywide $2 billion commitment from 2021- 2023 to address the digital divide, we launched AT&T Connected Learning to invest in connectivity and technology, digital literacy, and education solutions to help today’s learners succeed inside and outside of the classroom. Since 2008 we’ve committed to programs that help millions of students across all 50 states and around the world, particularly those in underserved communities.
