Back in May, I joined a few AT&T colleagues in Kansas City for an outstanding event, distributing laptops to young people in the KC MO area as part of our AT&T Connected Learning initiative. 

We teamed up with Camp Fire Heartland to distribute 150 refurbished laptops to students from KIPP Endeavor and Citizens of the World Charter School. The laptops were made possible through an AT&T investment in support of Camp Fire’s Absolutely Incredible Kid Day® annual holiday—a broader national movement that encourages adults to take a meaningful moment and tell a young person just how incredible they are.

The computers were given to students during a special event at the Kauffman Foundation Conference Center. Several other nonprofits supporting digital literacy and digital safety attended the event to provide additional resources to families who attend Camp Fire Heartland’s afterschool programs. 

Founded by Camp Fire in 1997, Absolutely Incredible Kid Day® is celebrated each year on the third Thursday in March as a nationwide tradition that inspires millions of adults to tell a child or teen in their life “you matter,” reinforcing that they are seen, supported, and cared for. This year, AT&T collaborated with Camp Fire to provide 2,500 laptops for students nationwide through this initiative.

Camp Fire has a long history of helping young people learn new skills and achieve their dreams. These laptops, combined with the digital literacy resources available on The Achievery and great supporters from Camp Fire, will put these young people on a path to success.

Erin Balleine, CEO of Camp Fire Heartland told the attendees: “We are delighted to work with AT&T to provide families with digital tools to support summer learning and connection while bridging the digital divide and empowering every household to thrive in a technology driven world.”

This effort 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. This includes distributing nearly 2,600 computers to students and their families across Missouri since 2021. AT&T will distribute 30,000 laptops nationwide in 2026.

Here are excerpts from a follow-up note I received from Megan McMurray, the Senior Director of Programs for Camp Fire Heartland, that best captures the day and the impact on families:

“…Thank you all for the incredible work and dedication you put into supporting our families and community… We’ve already heard stories of families enrolling in school, securing affordable Wi-Fi options, and even discovering new games and activities they can enjoy together at home. Moments like these are a powerful reminder of what strong community partnerships can accomplish. Thank you again for your commitment to making a meaningful difference in the lives of our families…”

Thank YOU Megan, Erin, and the entire team at Camp Fire Heartland for all you do!

Check out photos and videos here.

Learn more about our other connected learning initiatives here. And learn more about Camp Fire at campfire.org