AT&T; Awards $500,000 Contribution to After-School All-Stars Program

AT&T; recently announced a $500,000 contribution to After-School All-Stars, which targets at-risk middle school children across the country. The contribution will specifically support after-school programs at the San Antonio, Texas and San Diego, Los Angeles and San Jose, California affiliates. The goal of the program is to offer children positive alternatives to drugs, gangs and violence by providing opportunities for them to focus on technology, education, sports and life skills.

Serving 60,000 youth annually through after-school and summer programs in 14 U.S. cities, After-School All-Stars improves the lives of children by providing a place where they can nurture their minds, bodies and spirits through programs that incorporate independent learning, academics and enrichment activities. The AT&T; contribution will support the organization's efforts to increase the capacity of the national office in order to provide value-added services to the San Antonio, Texas, and three California affiliates. The contribution will also help to implement a best-practices-sharing program to continually increase program quality and capacity. Since 2004, AT&T; has contributed $1,254,000 to the After-School All-Stars program.

In 1990, Arnold Schwarzenegger was appointed to the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports and traveled to schools all over the U.S. to promote physical fitness. The following year, Schwarzenegger was invited to serve as executive commissioner of the Inner-City Games (ICG), a project of the Hollenbeck Youth Center in Los Angeles bringing sports programs and events to at-risk kids. Seeing the potential to serve kids nationwide, Schwarzenegger founded the Inner-City Games Foundation (ICGF) and took the program to cities around the nation. In 2003, the ICGF expanded to include not just sports but also after-school and summer programs focusing on academics, homework assistance, community service and life skills. In 2003, the ICGF changed its name to After-School All-Stars.

More than 15 million children in the United States have no place to go after school. Law enforcement has labeled the hours between 3 and 6 p.m. as the "danger zone"—when kids are more likely to engage in activities that involve drugs, alcohol and gang activity, as well as become susceptible to crime and violence. In many instances, the only time children participate in extracurricular activities like physical education, music, drama and community service activities is in after-school programs.

"AT&T; is committed to providing educational opportunities for youth. Through this contribution, we hope to help strengthen the future for kids and position them for lifelong success," said Lora Watts, AT&T; senior vice president of Customer Events Management and ASAS board member. "We are thankful for the leadership of Governor Schwarzenegger and Governor Perry for supporting programs that build opportunities for our children."

"Education will always be a priority for Texas, and we welcome new ideas and programs that will help all of our youth succeed in the academic arena. We thank the After-School All-Stars organization for bringing this crucial investment to San Antonio and to the many students who will benefit from its after-school programs, tutoring and educational resources," said Texas Gov. Rick Perry. "It takes a community to make a difference in the lives of at-risk students, especially in the teenage years when they are most deeply influenced by the people around them. This program brings those community elements together to do just that."

For more information about the After-School All-Stars program, visit www.afterschoolallstars.org..