AT&T Announces $250,000 to Support All Star Code Summer STEM Program

NEW YORK, July 18, 2016 /3BL Media/ – AT&T today announced a contribution of $250,000 for All Star Code (ASC), a tech education non-profit that provides computer science training for qualified young men of color. This significant investment is funding 60 rising high school juniors and seniors participating in this year’s ASC Summer Intensive. This funding more than doubles last year’s $100,000 contribution to ASC through AT&T Aspire, AT&T’s signature initiative that drives innovation in education to support student success in school and beyond.

“AT&T is proud to expand our support of All Star Code and put these 60 exceptional young men on a path to careers in STEM,” said Marissa Shorenstein, New York State President, AT&T. “AT&T places a top priority on narrowing the gender and racial gaps in tech. Programs like All Star Code that introduce young people to these opportunities are an essential part of that effort. We look forward to working with All Star Code and all of the STEM programs that we are supporting this summer to connect high school students to the tech industry.”

"Driven, innovative young men who are ready to create technologies are essential to the future of our nation and our economy. AT&T's donation, our largest single corporate gift, helped us to keep our summer intensive free to this year's class of 80 students,” saidChristina Lewis Halpern, Founder and Executive Director of ASC.

ASC’s 2016 Summer Intensive is a unique six-week program designed to empower young men with the skills, networks, and mindsets they need to create new futures through technology. This year’s program will include site visits as well as exposure to top executives in the industry.

The ASC Summer Intensive has a proven record of success. According to independent research firm WestEd, 70 percent of graduates plan to major in computer science and three quarters say they decided to work harder in school after experiencing All Star Code. The WestEd’s research has also shown that 100 percent of college-age alumni will attend four-year colleges – two-thirds of which will be Top 50 Universities in the United State – and roughly 40 percent received full scholarships to their school of choice.

Along with sponsoring ASC, this summer AT&T is continuing its sponsorship of Girls Who Code and STEM summer education programs in all five boroughs. This includes continued support for the Brooklyn Science Innovation Initiative at Kingsborough Community College and the Summer STEM Collaboratory Program at Pace University, as those programs continue to reach new minds and teach STEM concepts to New York City students.

Also, for the first time this summer, AT&T will be supporting the Young Women’s Leadership School of Astoria’s Tech Explorers Program, which will teach 8th grade through 12th grade girls to design, program, and develop marketing video games and apps for social change. AT&T is also partnering with the College of Staten Island’s Office of Continuing Education to offer its first ever summer STEM program for Staten Island high school students. In addition, AT&T is helping the QSAC STEAM Program to launch its STEM education initiative, which will provide adults with autism in the Bronx with valuable educational tools that will foster the development of tech-related skills.

About All Star Code

All Star Code is a non-profit initiative that prepares qualified young men of color for full-time employment in the technology industry by providing mentorship, industry exposure, and intensive training in computer science. All Star Code is dedicated to closing the opportunity gap between young men of color and the tech industry. Visit AllStarCode.org for more information.

About Philanthropy & Social Innovation at AT&T

AT&T is committed to advancing education, strengthening communities and improving lives. Through its community initiatives, AT&T has a long history of investing in projects that create learning opportunities; promote academic and economic achievement; or address community needs. AT&T Aspire is AT&T’s signature philanthropic initiative that drives innovation in education by bringing diverse resources to bear on the issue including funding, technology, employee volunteerism, and mentoring. Through Aspire, we’ve passed the $250 million mark on our plan to invest $350 million in education from 2008-2017.

Contact Info:

Media Contact: Liz DeBold, 516-287-5208 or ldebold@skdknick.com

AT&T Contact: Kate MacKinnon, km9822@att.com