AT&T Steps Up to Fight Teen Dropout Rate

Thursday, December 18, 2008

The Collings West Sacramento Teen Center today announced it has been awarded a $9,000 contribution from AT&T to support the Computers 4 Kids program at the Teen Center. The funds will be used to support programming to connect underprivileged West Sacramento families to the worldwide web.

The contribution's implications run deeper than just the provision of free computers and internet service. Participating families will also receive training on Home Link, a web-based strategy by the Washington Unified School District to increase the critical information flow between parents and schools. Officials on all sides believe that this increased parent connection can help stem the tide of high school dropouts.

"AT&T is doing its part to help address the issue of nearly one-third of U.S. high school students dropping out," said Tim Ray, Executive Director of External Affairs for AT&T California. "We are dedicated to helping our kids succeed in school, and helping students see the connection between education and their best future. One of the best places to foster this is in after-school programs and centers that have the technology they can use to help strengthen student success and workforce readiness."

Since September 2008, Computers 4 Kids (C4K) has placed more than 120 refurbished computers in the homes of underprivileged families in West Sacramento. WUSD identifies the families in its district that can most benefit from the gift of a refurbished computer, and the district will play a similar role in the new programming being sponsored by AT&T and the Collings Teen Center. The selected families of 8th and 9th graders will receive a fully refurbished computer system, a two-year internet connection, and all the training they need.

"We're doing all we can to try and keep kids in school - to be sure they graduate," said Lewis Bair, director of the C4K program. "With the help of the teen center, the school district, and now AT&T, we're in a great position to change some futures here. It's pretty exciting."

A Download of Empowerment

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

One grade-school girl excitedly showed her grandfather how she could control the cursor on the bright computer screen. Nearby, volunteers took another family on its maiden voyage into Windows XP. In every corner of the Collings Teen Center on December 9, similar scenes were repeated.

For the sixth time since September, the Computers 4 Kids program presented underprivileged West Sacramento families with gleaming, refurbished, fully-loaded personal computers. Some 27 families were the beneficiaries at the evening event, which was attended by local dignitaries and co-hosted by the West Sacramento Chamber of Commerce and the Collings Teen Center.

"This is why we do what we do," said C4K program director Lewis Bair. "To see these families walking out of here feeling excited and empowered – it's just tremendous."

As area businesses frequently update their state-of-the-art computer systems, C4K receives donations of the outdated hardware and refurbishes it for use within homes. High-school students are trained in job skills during the refurbishment, and Washington Unified identifies families in its district that could most benefit from the gift of a new computer. CALSTRS, First Northern Bank, and the California State Department of General Services were among the major sponsors on Dec. 9.

"Let me tell you, C4K is the kind of program that we're delighted to partner with," said John Jordan, executive director of the Collings Teen Center, which provides a home for the C4K program. "A lot of kids and families are impacted by what Lewis and his people do, and we're glad to be a part of it."

C4K was founded in 2004 by a collaborative of the West Sacramento Chamber of Commerce, the Collings Teen Center, the Washington Unified School District, the Yolo County Office of Education, Sacramento City College, and local businesses.

For more information about C4K, contact the West Sacramento Chamber of Commerce at (916) 371-7042 or go to www.c4kca.org.