AT&T Awards Two Grants

Asheville-Buncombe Community Relations Council and YMI Cultural Center Receive AT&T Excelerator Grants.

The AT&T Foundation — the corporate philanthropy organization of AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) — has announced that it has awarded nearly $30,000 to support the Asheville-Buncombe Community Relations Council and the YMI Cultural Center through the AT&T Excelerator competitive technology grant program.

Since 2002, the
AT&T Excelerator program has provided more than 2,500 technology
grants – totaling more than $47.8 million – to organizations across the
country. This year, the AT&T Foundation expanded the Excelerator
grant program for the first time to include AT&T Southeast’s
nine-state service area. In North Carolina, 17 regional and local
nonprofit organizations will receive a total of $340,000 through the
competitive program. Nationally, nearly $9 million will be received by
organizations serving diverse ethnic groups, low-income families,
people with disabilities, youth or senior adults.

The
Asheville-Buncombe Community Relations Council will receive $7,130 to
support the creation of a multilingual interactive Web sitethat will
enable users to identify available services and apply online.

“The
council is so appreciative to AT&T for this technology grant,” said
Bob Smith, executive director of the council. “For several years, we
have needed to use the latest innovations in a Web page to reach out to
the underserved populations in our community. This grant will allow us
to do that and to better serve our diverse community.”

The YMI
Cultural Center will receive $22,662 to support a new Web site to
improve communication with local minority populations about events and
programs and enable online donations.

“The
AT&T grant will enable the YMI to build an apparatus to improve
electronic communication and collect constituent information from our
members and community partners,” said Harry Harrison, executive
director, YMI. “This is a huge technological advancement for the YMI.”

“In
today’s fast-paced world, technology is a vital component to the
success of nonprofit organizations that do not always have the funds to
properly use cost-saving technologies,” said Asheville Mayor Terry
Bellamy. “The overwhelming positive impact that technology has on the
lives of clients of organizations such as the Community Relations
Council and the YMI Cultural Center demonstrates the increased need to
properly fund and equip such efforts.”

The
AT&T Excelerator program provides technology access to
organizations working to strengthen underserved communities. Helping
nonprofits integrate technology into their operations and community
outreach, AT&T Excelerator grants also place technology tools in
the hands of the underserved populations that the nonprofits work with
in order to provide resources such as education programs, Internet
access, computer training and job-skills development.

“For the
past six years, the AT&T Excelerator program has demonstrated the
importance of how technology can benefit communities and
organizations,” said LaVoy Spooner, AT&T regional director of
External Affairs. “These two organizations, along with 15 others across
the state, will continue to use technology funded by this program to
empower the community and change the lives of the people whom they
serve on a day-to-day basis. We commend Mayor Bellamy for her
dedication in assisting nonprofit organizations in Asheville and for
her understanding of the vital role that technology plays in their
success.”

Several
of the 2007 AT&T Excelerator grant recipients illustrate the
innovative ways technology can be employed to meet their missions:

•    
Central Piedmont Community College (Charlotte) will use grant funds to
expand the educational opportunities for disabled students, with
additional assistive-technology equipment to meet the growing needs at
all campus locations in the county.

•    
KidSenses Children’s InterACTIVE Museum (Rutherfordton) will use grant
funds to support a collaborative effort to bring Web-based science
education to rural elementary students.

•    
Trinity Oaks Retirement Community (Salisbury) will use grant funds to
support a unique intergenerational training activity, pairing
computer-savvy middle school students from Salisbury Academy with
retirees interested in learning computer basics, such as how to use the
Internet, digital photography and e-mailing.

2007
AT&T Excelerator grants will help nonprofit organizations across
the state and the U.S. improve their operations and build stronger
communities through:

•     Internet Access – networked, high speed access to the Internet and e-mail.

•     Data Networking – network connectivity that enables easy sharing of database applications and information systems.

•    
Online Outreach – interactive, Web-based applications that support
activities such as service delivery, volunteer recruiting and
e-fundraising.

•     Staff Technology Capacity – technology-training programs for nonprofit staff members.

•     Pooled Technology Resources – programs that work to address the technology needs of multiple nonprofits.
In 2006, AT&T Inc. and the AT&T Foundation contributed more
than $101 million to nonprofit organizations across the country. With
its strong giving record, the AT&T Foundation ranks among the most
generous corporate foundations in the United States.

About Philanthropy at AT&T

AT&T
Inc. (NYSE:T) is committed to advancing education, strengthening
communities and improving lives. Through its philanthropic initiatives
and partnerships, AT&T supports projects that create learning
opportunities; promote academic and economic achievement; and address
community needs. In 2006, AT&T contributed more than $101 million
through corporate-, employee- and AT&T Foundation-giving programs.
AT&T and the AT&T Foundation, the corporate philanthropy
organization of AT&T Inc., combine more than $1.8 billion of
historic charitable commitment to communities across the country.