AT&T Foundation Grants $215,000 to Help Close the Digital Divide and Support Student Success in New Jersey
Company also teaming up with libraries and local nonprofits on digital literacy programs and computer distributions

BEDMINSTER, NJ, Jan. 3, 2023 – As part of AT&T’s nationwide commitment to help bridge the digital divide and support student success, the AT&T Foundation granted $215,000 to organizations across the state in 2022. The company also is working with local libraries and other nonprofit organizations in the state to offer digital literacy programs and refurbished computers for students.

“The pandemic heightened the challenges faced by students here in New Jersey and nationwide,” said Joseph Divis, president, AT&T New Jersey. “Under-resourced neighborhoods were hit particularly hard, which is why we’ve teamed up with organizations across the state who share our desire to help students in New Jersey prepare for success in school, on the job and in life.”

“AT&T and the AT&T Foundation’s support of these programs will help New Jerseyans of all ages catch up on learning lost during the pandemic and boost their digital literacy skills in an increasingly connected world. We all have to work together on these issues, and I’m glad to see that AT&T has stepped in to help,” said Speaker Pro Tempore Benjie E. Wimberly (D-35).

The organizations that received AT&T Foundation grants include:

NPower (Jersey City): $25,000 to support NPower NJ Tech Fundamentals program, which serves veterans, veterans’ spouses, and young adults (age 18-26) from underserved communities with IT training, professional development, wrap-around social services, paid internships, and job placement.

Gateway Community Action Partnership (Bridgeton): $25,000 to support youth in achieving and maintaining academic success and personal wellbeing through access to technology, tutoring, mentoring, counseling, and positive social interactions in a safe, reliable, and comfortable setting.

Community Foundation of New Jersey (Newark): $30,000 to support the Newark Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), an established program with years of success, offers a life-changing opportunity for motivated Newark youth to gain workforce skills, financial knowledge, career exposure, and coaching on a pathway to a sustainable career and financial stability.

Boys & Girls Club Mercer County (Trenton): $25,000 to support the afterschool homework help and supplemental education programs for 800 K-8 grade youth participating in the Boys & Girls Club after school program during the 2022-2023 school year at 12 locations in Trenton & Ewing.

New Jersey Community Development Corporation (Paterson): $25,000 to support New Jersey Community Development Corporation’s (NJCDC) afterschool tutoring program, which will help bridge the digital divide for high school students in Paterson.

Boys & Girls Club Hudson County (Jersey City and Bayonne): $25,000 to support the Teen Tech Center, a program specifically designed to teach technology skills, reduce the digital divide, and encourage youth from Jersey City and Bayonne to pursue post-secondary education in STEM fields.

New Jersey Chamber of Commerce Foundation – JAG New Jersey (statewide): $20,000 to support the Jobs for America’s Graduates NJ program, dedicated to helping youth of promise graduate high school and make successful transitions to post-secondary education and meaningful employment.

Puerto Rican Action Board (New Brunswick): $15,000 to support students who may need additional technological resources to address the challenges of internet-based schoolwork.

Hopeworks N Camden (Camden): $25,000 to support the Hopeworks program, which provides digital skills training, digital access, food support, health support, housing support, and other resources to underserved community members.

Boosting Digital Literacy in New Jersey

As part of our support for digital literacy initiatives nationwide, AT&T is helping Public Library Association (PLA) bring free bilingual, in-person digital literacy workshops to nearly 160 libraries across the country, including in New Jersey.

The workshops utilize online digital literacy courses available through AT&T ScreenReady® and PLA Digital Learn. Created in collaboration with PLA, the courses teach skills ranging from technology basics to avoiding scams.

The selected libraries in New Jersey include Long Branch Free Public Library; Montclair Public Library; Paramus Public Library; Parsippany – Troy Hills Public Library; Piscataway Public Library; Somerville Branch of Somerset County Library System of NJ; South Orange Public Library; Wharton Public Library; and Woodbury Public Library.

AT&T is collaborating with Ironbound Community Corporation (ICC) in Newark, NJ and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) on an initiative that assists people in the East Ward section of Newark with digital-skills building and access. Support from LISC and AT&T is helping ICC bring the community up to speed with technology focused on online financial services, state and federal benefits, job training and development, and digital warning signs and safeguarding.

In Jersey City, in collaboration with Digitunity and the Jersey City Housing Authority, young people in the Booker T. Washington housing development received refurbished computers to help them with education. All told, over 300 computers will be provided to JCHA youth over the next year.

And, AT&T also worked with the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey, NJ STEM and the Athletic Arts Academy in Orange to run the NJ Kids4Coding program. The eight-week program introduced school-aged children to the basics of coding and how it can empower their imaginations, enhance their education and catalyze career opportunities.

“We truly appreciate the collaboration with AT&T and our collective efforts to mitigate the digital divide and provide our youth for future careers in technology through our coding program,” said John E. Harmon, Sr., Founder, President & CEO, African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey.

Learn more about AT&T in New Jersey at NewJersey.att.com.

*About Philanthropy & Social Innovation at AT&T
We’re committed to advancing education, creating opportunities, strengthening communities and improving lives. As part of our companywide $2 billion commitment from 2021 to 2023 to address the digital divide, we launched AT&T Connected Learning to invest in connectivity and technology, digital literacy and education solutions to help today’s learners succeed inside and outside of the classroom. Since 2008, we’ve committed to programs that help millions of students across all 50 states and around the world, particularly those in underserved communities.