The AT&T Foundation — as part of a nationwide effort to help bridge the digital divide and homework gap — announced Tuesday that it is contributing more than $40,000 to two organizations in Camden that prepare teenagers for college and careers and help them overcome the academic challenges they faced in the past year.
The contributions:
- A $25,750 contribution to Hopeworks: This will support the Cohen Technology Center, which provides broadband connectivity, community and equipment for underserved youth to promote high-wage remote jobs.
- A $15,000 contribution to the Rowan University Foundation: This will support the Launch Pad at Camden program, which provides low-income students access to the internet and digital literacy training to promote college enrollment.
The contributions were announced during a special event at Hopeworks’ Cohen Technology Center in Camden attended by Camden Mayor Victor Carstarphen, Camden County Commissioner Director Louis Cappelli Jr. and Joseph Divis, the interim president for AT&T-New Jersey.
“The generosity and foresight that went into these donations is a noble gesture to assist the kids in our city bridge the gap of the digital divide and fight many of the inequities that were exacerbated by the pandemic,” Carstarphen said.
Capelli said these are the types of collaborations that allow the city to improve and enhance the outcomes for residents.
“Ensuring that kids and young adults have the digital tools, access and opportunity is vital for us to take Camden to the next level,” he said. “Both of the programs being funded today by the AT&T Foundation provide these critical initiatives, which will have long-term impacts for many years to come for kids in the city.”
Divis said AT&T was happy to help.
“The pandemic heightened the challenges faced by the millions of students nationwide, including here in New Jersey,” he said. “Underresourced neighborhoods have been hit particularly hard. The AT&T Foundation is proud to continue our collaboration with Rowan and Hopeworks to help equip Camden’s students with tools and experiences they will need for success.”
AT&T is committing more than $2 billion over the next 3 years to bridge the digital divide through affordable broadband offers for both consumers and education institutions, as well as high-quality educational resources and community investment through AT&T Connected Learning, a program to connect students to skills, resources and opportunities for success in school and in life.
