AT&T Contributes $60,000 to the Community Organizations to Aid Communities Impacted by California Wildfires

AT&T Blog Team
August 28, 2020
Community Impact, Public Safety


AT&T Contributes $60,000 to the Community Organizations to Aid Communities Impacted by California Wildfires

AT&T will present $60,000 in contributions to four local non-profits and World Central Kitchen as part of its pledge to aid communities impacted by the historic California wildfires and its ongoing commitment to serving the people and communities of Northern California.

“In these times of great need, AT&T is proud to step up.”

Rhonda Johnson – President, AT&T California

“In these times of great need, AT&T is proud to step up and support organizations that are dedicated to helping support our first responders and helping our friends and families as they get back on their feet after the devastation of these wildfires,” said Rhonda Johnson, President- AT&T California.

As part of AT&T’s giving efforts, the company is donating $20,000 to World Central Kitchen (WCK), which activates restaurants and kitchens to feed vulnerable communities in times of need.

After lightning strikes caused wildfires, WCK’s Relief Team was active within hours, first establishing a kitchen in Vacaville, 30 minutes west of Sacramento. During the wildfires, WCK has served thousands of fresh meals to first responders and evacuated families from multiple kitchens across Northern California. AT&T customers can Text FOOD to 80100 to donate $10 to the World Central Kitchen to provide meals to families in this time of need.

“We thank AT&T for their support during these challenging times in Northern California,” said Nate Mook, CEO of WCK. “World Central Kitchen is proud to play our part to help feed first responders and evacuees who were impacted by the wildfires.

In addition, AT&T is making four donations to local organizations: Big Sur Fire Brigade, Community Foundation of Santa Cruz, Napa Valley Community Foundation, and the Redwood Credit Union Community Fund. Each of these organizations is supporting victims of the wildfires in their communities.

AT&T works in close collaboration with California’s first responders to prepare for disasters and help the network be resilient and operational when disaster strikes. With FirstNet*, AT&T is making public safety’s mission the priority. FirstNet is the only nationwide, high-speed broadband communications platform dedicated to and purpose-built specifically for America’s first responders and the extended public safety community. FirstNet stands at the ready to be there to support response and recovery, no matter the disaster or emergency.   To learn more about the value FirstNet is bringing to Public Safety, check out FirstNet.com.

AT&T has a long history of supporting communities before, during and after disasters. The company has invested nearly $8.7 billion in its wired and wireless networks in California from 2017-2019 and has invested more than $650 million in its Network Disaster Recovery program (NDR) in the U.S. and another $15 million invested internationally, making it one of the nation’s largest and most advanced programs.

In September, AT&T will be collaborating with the Arbor Day Foundation (ADF) to support continuing reforestation efforts following 2018’s record-setting wildfire season. Through a $200,000 donation to the Foundation, AT&T is supporting tree planting in Northern California to reforest swathes of land destroyed by the Carr and Camp Fires.

Support for tree planting is part of AT&T’s ongoing effort to mitigate the advance of climate change. As trees grow, they effectively reduce the impact of the greenhouse effect by absorbing and storing carbon dioxide. It is estimated that one tree can absorb as much as 48 pounds of carbon dioxide per year and can sequester 1 ton of carbon dioxide by the time it reaches 40 years old. Without reforestation efforts, communities in the affected areas will continue to face challenges, such as mudslides, degraded soil and lower water and air quality, for years to come.

During the wildfires in Northern California, AT&T supported customers, providing free talk, text, and data to wireless customers in impacted areas, and providing call and message forwarding for our home and business phone customers. AT&T has also activated a text-to-give campaign benefiting the American Red Cross.**

More information on AT&T response and relief efforts during the recent California wildfires is available at: go.att.com/CaliCOwildfires.


* FirstNet® and the FirstNet logo are registered trademarks and service marks of the First Responder Network Authority. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

** Donations will appear on your wireless bill or be deducted from your prepaid balance. All purchases must be authorized by account holder. Must be 18 years of age or have parental permission to participate. Message and Data Rates May Apply. Text STOP to 90999 to STOP. Text HELP to 90999 for HELP. Full Terms and Privacy Policy:hmgf.org/t.

p.after-p sub span { line-height: 20px !important; }