During the past several years, we’ve been working with organizations in Arkansas and across the country to help close the digital divide and connect more people to greater possibility.
This summer, we teamed up with organizations across the state to help equip our young people with the tools and technological skills they need in a fast-paced, digital-first world. And what a busy summer it was!
In June, we joined AT&T colleagues and other friends – including Human-I-T, the Toad Suck Daze Foundation, and Toad Suck Daze mascots Dazey and Croaker W. Toad – in Conway to distribute 120 refurbished laptops and 250 backpacks filled with school supplies to students in Faulkner, Conway, and Perry Counties.
“These laptops will empower our students by giving them the tools they need to succeed academically and stay connected in today’s digital learning environment,” said Mary Margaret Satterfield, the director of Toad Suck Daze. “This collaboration is a crucial step toward fostering opportunities for students in Central Arkansas.”
Senator Mark Johnson acknowledged the importance of the program and said, “Tremendous thanks to AT&T and Human I-T for providing laptops to deserving students in Central Arkansas through the Toad Suck Daze Foundation.”
In July, we opened a new Connected Learning Center inside Positive Atmosphere Reaches Kids (P.A.R.K.) in Little Rock to provide internet access and high-quality educational tools to residents who encounter barriers to online participation. AT&T made a $50,000 contribution to P.A.R.K. for programming support.
Additionally, AT&T* and Human-I-T teamed up to provide 120 laptops for students who participate in programs at P.A.R.K. AT&T employee volunteers assisted with the laptop distribution and provided 250 backpacks with school supplies to students.
“Access to information is an undeniable driver of success for young people,” said Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin. “P.A.R.K. has had a tremendous impact on countless students in central Arkansas for many years, and AT&T’s investment in the Connected Learning Center will give students much greater access to information and help set them up for success down the road.”
“We started P.A.R.K as a way to give young people in our community access to a program that helps them improve academically, grow spiritually, serve their community and have a safe place to have fun,” said Keith Jackson, Founder and President, P.A.R.K. “The technological resources made possible through this Connected Learning Center give our kids another powerful tool to help them learn, grow and give back. We’re excited to team up with AT&T on this project.”
This Connected Learning Center is the first in Arkansas. It offers free access to digital resources, including high-speed AT&T Fiber internet, Wi-Fi and Dell computers. It also provides educational resources such as The AchieverySM, a free digital learning platform by AT&T, and free digital literacy courses in partnership with the Public Library Association. Tutoring and mentoring are also provided by AT&T employees and community leaders.
In August, AT&T* and Human-I-T provided the Bryant Youth Association 120 refurbished laptops to distribute to Bryant area students. The computers were given to local students during a special event at Bishop Park. In addition to the refurbished computers, 300 backpacks filled with school supplies were provided to local students. AT&T employees volunteered to assist with the distribution.
“Thanks to AT&T’s generosity—120 new laptops and 300 backpacks—students in the Bryant Youth Association can log in to tutoring, finish assignments on time, explore STEM, and walk into school prepared and proud,” said Suzanne Passmore, CEO, Bryant Youth Association. For many families, this support is the difference between falling behind and forging ahead. We’re honored to work with AT&T to expand access and opportunity for every child we serve.”
“We’re incredibly grateful to AT&T for investing in our youth and our community. Donations like these do more than provide backpacks and laptops—they open doors,” said City of Bryant Mayor Chris Treat. “When our young people have the tools they need to succeed, it strengthens not only their future, but the future of Bryant as a whole. This relationship is a powerful example of what happens when businesses step up to support the next generation.”
We’ve also made financial contributions to other organizations to help Arkansans of all ages connect to greater possibility.
We made a $23,000 contribution to the Literacy Coalition of South Central Arkansas to support the continuation of the RISE Digital Literacy Mobile Lab that provides low-income adults and their families located in rural communities of Union, Dallas, and Ouachita Counties with basic computer literacy skills to include use of the internet, online safety, email, and Microsoft Word.
Associated Industries of Arkansas Foundation received a $35,000 contribution to support a mobile workshop that provides interactive career exploration with cutting-edge simulators and real-world tools that represent high-demand skilled professions such as fiber optics.
These efforts are 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 more than 700 computers to students and their families across Arkansas since 2023.
We are proud to continue to collaborate with organizations across our state to help close the digital divide in Arkansas. And, we wish the best of luck to the students who returned to class this fall!
