AT&T and Manchester Mayor Jay Ruais kicked off the new year by announcing a $10,000 community investment in the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Manchester (BGCGM).

Mayor Ruais joined Diane Fitzpatrick, BGCGM CEO, and Ryan Clark, Director of External Affairs for AT&T New Hampshire, to tour the Club and announce the support, which is part of AT&T’s commitment to help bridge the digital divide and connect communities.

“Thanks to this generous grant from AT&T, our Learning Center will be equipped with iPads that expand learning opportunities for our members,” said Fitzpatrick. “For many of our kids who lack internet access at home, these devices provide a critical connection to homework support, educational programs, and digital resources that help them stay on track academically.”

BGCGM will use the contribution to purchase 20 tablets to be used by Club members for a variety of STEM and digital learning programs, homework tools and enrichment resources.

These new devices and associated programming will be part of BGCGM’s Learning Center, the hub for the Club’s academic support programs. On any given day during the school year, 20 to 40 Club members spend time in the Learning Center. The Learning Center provides a range of resources and programs to enhance academic achievement, promote literacy, and build essential skills for future success, offering access to computers, educational software, and other digital tools that support personalized learning experiences.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Manchester is one of the 53 founding organizations of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, established in 1907. They operate three sites in Greater Manchester. Learn more about BGCGM at bgcgm.org.

“We’re committed to helping ensure that every community is able to thrive in the digital age,” said Clark. “AT&T is proud to collaborate with organizations like BGCGM to help connect more families in Manchester with these essential resources.”

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.