I’m a dad of three young boys and a former coach, so I’ve spent a lot of time working with youth, helping them achieve success in the classroom and on the field.
Last month, I was back on the gym floor, but for a reason other than athletics.
In a joint effort with staff and volunteers from Junior Achievement of Oklahoma, Rotary Club of Tulsa, Compudopt, and some of my colleagues from AT&T, we distributed 165 refurbished laptops to children in Tulsa who have limited access to technology. The computers were given during a special event at Celia Clinton Elementary School of Tulsa Public Schools.
Tulsa Deputy Mayor Krystal Reyes joined us for the event and helped distribute the laptops. She talked to the students about the importance of education and internet connectivity. She also said the donation “is a powerful step toward closing the digital divide and advancing our city’s collective commitment to putting more children on a path to economic mobility. By equipping students with the tools they need to learn and grow, we’re investing in a future where opportunity is within reach for every young person.”
Oklahoma State Representatives Mark Lawson and Michelle McCane also took part in the event and the team at Junior Achievement was a great collaborator on this project.
Brian Jackson, a member of the Rotary Club of Tulsa, talked about the power of partnerships and collaboration, saying: “Together, our community partners envision a world where young people have the skillset and mindset to build thriving communities. We are thankful for AT&T and Compudopt for bringing generous resources to the students we serve at Celia Clinton.”
We are proud to continue to collaborate with organizations like the Rotary Club of Tulsa and Junior Achievement to help close the digital divide in Tulsa. Programs like this, along with our infrastructure investments in Oklahoma, are among the many ways we’re providing the resources necessary to accomplish our mission in Oklahoma.
Coach Coulter came back for a few minutes that day. I wanted to make sure that the kids were as excited to receive the gift as we were to give to them. I wanted them to know that there are many people in their community who support them, care about them, and are rooting for them. My final message was: “The future is what you make it. Go make it awesome.”
It was a great day in Tulsa. It’s our hope that the students and their families will connect to greater possibility thanks to the laptops and other tools we’re making available.
Check out local news coverage of the event here and photo gallery here.
The effort is part of AT&T’s initiative to help address the digital divide through internet accessibility, affordability and safe adoption. We committed $5 billion to help 25 million people get and stay connected to high-speed internet by 2030. Here in Oklahoma, we’ve provided financial support to organizations across our state, and we’ve distributed more than 600 computers to students and their families since 2021.
Learn more about AT&T’s investments in Oklahoma at attconnects.com/Oklahoma.
