Connecting changes everything is more than just a tagline for us. In June, I was able to see that phrase come to life in Harrisburg, Missouri.
Foster families often receive kids with little property. What truly made this event special was the opportunity to provide families and kids with devices that help them reconnect with friends and continue to pursue their educational goals. Hearing a foster parent explain how a laptop can remove a roadblock and reignite the drive these kids have to be successful highlights the profound impact technology can have. These devices not only enable access to learning but also empower children to overcome challenges, build confidence, and stay motivated on their path to success. It’s inspiring to see how such support can transform lives and open doors to new opportunities.
I attended the Coyote Hill Foster Care Family BBQ and delivered 70 laptops to young people supported by Coyote Hill Foster Care. Witnessing the amount of work, dedication, and support the staff and volunteers put into this event helps to understand why attendance annually is over 400 guests. The computers are funded by an AT&T contribution to Human I-T and were presented to the pre-selected recipients.
This 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. Events like this allow us to provide resources and educational tools to help us reach that goal.
Kari Hopkins, the chief operating officer for Coyote Hill Foster Care told me that children in foster care often are a year or more behind in school due to the many moves in their lives. Ensuring each family has a laptop means they have access to the educational resources they need to catch up and thrive in school.
An adoptive mom of a 7 year old and a 9 year old said that “we are going to be using our laptop for behavioral education and prepping for going back to school this fall….Getting this laptop happened to be a godsend.”
A college student in a Coyote Hill foster family who wants to become a teacher said “I started classes about 2 weeks ago and having a computer just for my school work was perfect timing.”
Another former foster child who was adopted by a Coyote Hill foster family excitedly said: “I’m going to be using this laptop to go back to school and finish my HiSET (GED)!”
You can check out some local news coverage here.
It was a great day in Harrisburg. I was glad to be there and to see firsthand how connecting really does change everything, especially for young people who now have more access to all that the internet has to offer.
