AT&T Supports Lafayette Nonprofit Organization; Builds Stronger Communities Through
$9 Million in National Grant Program

Acadiana Outreach Center Receives $25,000 AT&T Excelerator Grant

The AT&T Foundation — the corporate philanthropy organization of AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) — has announced that it has awarded $25,000 to support Acadiana Outreach Center Inc. 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 Louisiana, 22 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.

“Our goal at the Acadiana Outreach Center is to assist our clients by teaching them key skills and helping them find employment, which will enable them to become self-sufficient citizens,” said Valerie Keller, chief executive officer of the Acadiana Outreach Center. “In order to accomplish these goals, we want to create a computer lab that will enable us to teach our clients basic computer-literacy skills, job-search skills and resume preparation. The AT&T grant will enable us to fund the computer lab and these special-education programs.”

“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 state Sen. Donald Cravins Jr., who is a key advocate for the center’s needs. “Personally seeing the benefits that technology can bring to organizations such as the Acadiana Outreach 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 Mandi Mitchell, AT&T regional manager of External Affairs. “The Acadiana Outreach Center and other organizations in Louisiana 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 Senator Cravins for his dedication in assisting nonprofit organizations in this region and for his understanding of the vital role that technology plays in their success.”

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.

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