AT&T Provides Needed Science Equipment for Tampa's Channelside Academy Through Ecomedia's EducationAd Advertising Program

(3BL Media) Tampa, FL - August 23, 2012 - Students, teachers and parents of the Channelside Academy of Math and Science in Tampa celebrated the addition of state-of-the-art science lab equipment and furnishings for the school’s Life, Earth, Physical and General Science curriculums.  The new equipment is now in place for the start of the 2012-2013 school year thanks to financial support from AT&T through the unique EducationAd advertising program offered by CBS EcoMedia. 

AT&T’s Florida Director of Public Affairs Stephanie Smith, Charter School Associates President Michael Strader and CBS EcoMedia Inc. President and Founder Paul Polizzotto hosted the special event on campus showcasing the hands-on science lab materials, including new microscopes, digital multimedia devices and content, scales and charts as well as a marine touch tank with living sea organisms for the students to study and interact with.  Special guests included Channelside students, faculty, parents and community members, as well as Channelside Academy of Math and Science Principal Tiffani Richmond, Channelside Academy of Math and Science Parent Teacher Student Organization President Melissa DiCenzo, Hillsborough County Supervisor of Charter Schools Jenna Hodgens and Hillsborough County Schools Assistant Superintendent Lewis Brinson.

“AT&T has a long-standing commitment to improving educational opportunities for students across America, and science education has been one of our special areas of focus as we work to help young people succeed in school and successfully move on to college and into the workforce,” said Marshall Criser, AT&T Florida State President.  “The opportunity to outfit this science lab at Channelside Academy of Math and Science with the equipment necessary to bring this subject to life and fully engage the kids was one that perfectly aligns with our mission.  And the ability to provide funding through the EcoMedia EducationAd program is an exciting new avenue for us to use our advertising budget to contribute financial support for the education initiatives we care deeply about.”

EcoMedia launched the EducationAd program in April, and AT&T quickly became the first CBS Outdoor advertising client to take advantage of the opportunity to fund educational projects through EcoMedia’s nonprofit partners like Channelside Academy of Math and Science and Ronald McDonald House Charities.  In July, AT&T financial support provided 18 new scholarships for students in the Charlotte area from Ronald McDonald House Charities^® of North Carolina.  Two additional AT&T EcoMedia EducationAd projects to be funded will be announced in coming weeks.

Tiffani Richmond, Principal, and Michael Strader, President of Charter School Associates, Inc., informed those in attendance that the science lab equipment and furnishings made possible by AT&T and CBS EcoMedia would dramatically enhance the teaching and learning experiences available to students attending the school and enable the school to continue its outstanding track record of high performance. Channelside Academy of Math and Science was rated “A” in 2011-2012 by the Florida Department of Education.

“We’re so excited to partner with AT&T and Channelside Academy to put state-of-the-art equipment into the hands of budding scientists,” said Paul Polizzotto, President and Founder of CBS EcoMedia Inc.  “AT&T’s financial support through EcoMedia’s EducationAd program ensures that the young scholars at Channelside have the tools necessary to practice the scientific inquiry, critical thinking, and math skills that form the core of the school’s curriculum. The students at Channelside are the key to America’s science, technology, engineering and math future. For the team at EcoMedia, it’s a privilege to support the innovative program at Channelside; enabling meaningful projects like this is the core mission of our EducationAd, WellnessAd, and EcoAd programs.”

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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 fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile broadband and emerging 4G capabilities, 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.

About CBS EcoMedia Inc.

At EcoMedia, we're propelled by the desire to create positive social change; that's been our mission since we founded the company in 2002.  In 2008, after successfully partnering with CBS on a wide range of environmental projects, EcoMedia became the newest addition to the CBS Corporation portfolio, exponentially scaling our reach across television, radio, interactive, publishing and outdoor media. 

Through our patent-pending EcoAd, WellnessAd and EducationAd programs, an innovative twist on traditional advertising, advertisers are able to support much-needed local projects which in turn creates jobs, saves taxpayer money and improves the quality of life in communities nationwide.  In the process, we’re fundamentally altering the advertising landscape, elevating the ordinary, traditional commercial – and media, in general – into a catalyst for tangible, quantifiable social change.  Please visit ecomedia.cbs.com to learn more. 

By participating in EcoMedia’s EcoAd, WellnessAd and EducationAd advertising programs, EcoMedia’s advertisers agree to provide funding for projects we believe will have a beneficial effect upon the environment, health and/or education within local communities.  EcoMedia’s advertising programs are not certification programs nor are the EcoAd, WellnessAd or EducationAd logos seals of approval. EcoMedia does not in any way certify, endorse or make any representations about EcoMedia program advertisers, their products or services. 

About Channelside Academy of Math and Science 

The Mission of Channelside Academy of Math and Science is to provide elementary and middle school students with a challenging program which emphasizes scientific inquiry, critical thinking, understanding of mathematical concepts and effective communication using innovative, reform-based instructional methods in a stimulating and nurturing environment that fosters maximum student achievement.

Channelside Academy of Math and Science provides a quality and challenging academic education in an environment that allows for the expression of ideas, partnerships for parental involvement in all aspects of the life of the school, private school atmosphere, school-wide disciplinary expectations, and standards designed to foster academic, social and emotional growth.