Pasadena Educational Foundation Announces $300,000 Grant from AT&T for Next Generation Careers Program

Supporting excellence in education at the public schools of Altadena, Pasadena and Sierra Madre, the Pasadena Educational Foundation has been selected to receive a $300,000 grant from AT&T’s Aspire Program. The Pasadena Educational Foundation is committed to providing its students with access to high quality education, opportunity for higher learning, and support for success in school, college, and beyond. By spring 2013, students within College & Career Pathways in Pasadena Unified School District high schools will participate in at least one work-based learning opportunity to demonstrate the importance of career exploration.

“I applaud AT&T for the Aspire program and recognizing the importance of 21st Century learning. As educators, we need to provide our students with the skills to compete in the global workforce,” said Jon R. Gundry, Pasadena Unified School District Superintendent. “This grant to the Pasadena Educational Foundation will allow us at PUSD to continue offering high quality programs that prepare students for college and career even in these difficult budgetary times.”

The Pasadena Educational Foundation will use the contribution from AT&T to support the Pasadena Unified School District’s (PUSD) College and Career Pathways as part of their Aspire program. The funds, to be awarded over the course of two years, will support PUSD’s high school programs that prepare students for successful careers and higher learning opportunities in specialized fields. One pathway is the App Academy, which features courses and projects in mobile applications, web applications, and game development. The App Academy teaches students exceptional problem-solving techniques, the ability to properly manage their time in a rigorous educational program, collaborate with their peers, and enable them to have the self-belief to succeed in future academic and professional aspirations in any field.

“We are honored to partner with the Pasadena Educational Foundation as their commitment has made a tremendous impact on preparing students for their future careers,” said Ken McNeely, President of AT&T California. “Now more than ever, organizations like PEF are needed to help students become better prepared for their future. This grant is one way that we can work with educators to help ensure the success of students and the success of our economy.”

Because of its solid record of proven results and its innovation, the Pasadena Educational Foundation is one of 47 recipients nationwide that will share in nearly $10 million from AT&T. With more than one million students impacted since its launch in 2008, the AT&T Aspire program is one of the largest corporate commitments focused on helping more students graduate from high school ready for college and careers. AT&T announced an additional quarter-billion-dollar expansion to the program earlier this year, bringing the total commitment to $350 million.

“We are proud to serve our students and provide innovative programs that will best serve them for successful careers,” said Erik Dreyer, Director of Pasadena Educational Foundation’s STEM Programs. “Thanks to AT&T, we can continue to work with PUSD in enhancing instructional programs, like the App Academy, to inspire the minds of young engineers, technicians, and innovators. The App Academy will strive to do for computer science education what Microsoft, Google, Apple and Facebook have done for computing: make it undeniably accessible, useful and fun, all at the same time.”

Educators in schools and non-profits across the country have a unique understanding of the challenges students face in their communities. Through a competitive process, 47 schools and non-profits, including the Pasadena Educational Foundation, were selected from thousands nationwide. To learn more about all of the organizations that were selected, please visit www.att.com/local-impact.

Applicants were evaluated based on their accomplishments in serving students at risk of dropping out of high school and their ability to use data to demonstrate the effectiveness of their work. After a rigorous and competitive process, the Pasadena Educational Foundation was identified as making a real difference in their community by supporting and motivating traditionally underserved students to stay in school and prepare for the next step in life.

About Pasadena Educational Foundation

Pasadena Educational Foundation is a nonprofit organization that advocates for public education, engages the community, and develops resources to support excellent education for every Pasadena Unified School District student. For more information call (626) 396-3625 or visit www.pasedfoundation.org.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company and one of the most honored companies in the world. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation’s largest 4G network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile Internet, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse® and AT&T | DIRECTV brands. The company’s suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world.

Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com. This AT&T news release and other announcements are available at http://www.att.com/newsroom and as part of an RSS feed at www.att.com/rss. Or follow our news on Twitter at @ATT.

About Philanthropy at AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is committed to advancing education, strengthening communities and improving lives. Through its philanthropic initiatives, AT&T has a long history of supporting projects that create learning opportunities; promote academic and economic achievement; and address community needs. In 2011, more than $115 million was contributed through corporate-, employee- and AT&T Foundation-giving programs.