How We Changed 500 Lives in Chicago – in Just Five Days

Eileen Mitchell, President, AT&T Illinois and Midwest States
November 9, 2023
Broadband Access and Affordability


How We Changed 500 Lives in Chicago – in Just Five Days

When we connect a student to the internet, we’re connecting them to greater possibility. At AT&T, it’s what our people do, and we are so proud of it. 

That’s why we just spent a very special week providing more than 500 refurbished iPads and laptops to students and families in Chicago. All for free. We called it “AT&T Chicago Connectivity Week.” 

Five days in a row, a team of AT&T volunteers visited a different local organization and provided refurbished iPads or laptops to 100 students pre-selected by the organizations: 

  • New Life Centers of Chicagoland 
  • Chicago State University 
  • Girls, Inc. of Chicago 
  • Marillac St. Vincent Family Services 
  • Springboard to Success – the nonprofit partner of the Chicago Housing Authority 

“This collaboration will help empower our girls from disinvested neighborhoods on Chicago’s South Side with the essential technology devices they need to enhance and support their educational endeavors,” said Dr. Yani Mason, CEO of Girls Inc. of Chicago. 

AT&T Chicago Connectivity Week is part of the AT&T Connected Learning initiative, created as part of our companywide commitment to help address the digital divide through internet accessibility, affordability and the safe use of technology. The refurbished laptops that are part of this effort are funded by an AT&T donation to Compudopt. 

AT&T is committed to connecting more Americans to reliable, high-quality internet in several ways, including expanding and upgrading our network and participating in the federal Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). 

“AT&T’s support of our agency and families having access to technology has been amazing. The iPads will be an incredible resource for our children and teens,” said Deanna Hallagan, Program Coordinator, Marillac St. Vincent Family Services in Chicago. 

It’s weeks like this that remind me why we do what we do here at AT&T. Connecting really does change everything, and we look forward to continuing to connect more students, families and neighbors across Illinois. 

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