Posted on August 10, 2009

AT&T Investing $865 Million in Education, Environment, Volunteerism Programs

Telecommunications company AT&T has announced that it has increased its social and environmental investments during the economic downturn, with commitments totaling $865 million for education, environmental, and volunteerism programs that strengthen communities, stimulate economic growth, and ensure the nation's global competitiveness.

The ongoing efforts, which are outlined in the company's 2008 Citizenship and Sustainability Report, include AT&T Aspire, a $100 million multiyear education initiative designed to help mitigate the U.S. high school dropout crisis; a $565 million commitment to roll out more than 15,000 alternative-fuel vehicles over the next decade; and a continued effort to encourage employee volunteerism. Last year, AT&T employees and retirees volunteered 10.3 million hours, valued at more than $200 million, to improve communities where they live and work.

The company also has made progress in measuring its corporate-wide carbon dioxide emissions and establishing baselines as part of its plan to disclose its domestic carbon footprint by the end of 2009. In addition, the company launched a Web site to provide information to AT&T employees on the company's environmental and conservation efforts.

"America's future depends not only on the investments that companies like ours make in our people and our communities, but also on how well those investments drive us to be more competitive globally," said AT&T chairman and CEO Randall Stephenson. "That's why we're committed to investments with long-term benefits for AT&T and our country. I am proud of our employees, our programs, and our progress as we continue on this journey."