Due to Family Connection -Communities in Schools’ of Athens success supporting and motivating underserved students to stay in school and prepare for their next step in life, it has been selected as one of 18 recipients nationwide that will share in $10 million from AT&T through the Aspire Connect to Success Competition. Hundreds of organizations applied to the competition, which is part of AT&T Aspire, our signature philanthropic initiative to help students succeed in school and beyond.
 
The $1 million AT&T grant to Family Connection-Communities in Schools of Athens will fund two site coordinators each at Cedar Shoals and Clarke Central High schools in Athens and one coordinator at Classic City high school, cover salaries and expenses for two years for the coordinators as well as a project manager, equipment and additional support.
 
“We’re grateful to AT&T for their ongoing support of public education in Athens,” said FC-CIS Director Tim Johnson.  “They’re an example of a corporation that not only continues to invest in better network services in Athens. But, they invest in the future of our community which is our youth.”  
 
Aspire Connect to Success funding recipients deliver integrated student supports, focus on college or career preparation, and/or provide mentoring or peer-to-peer supports to help underserved students graduate.  
 
Family Connection-Communities in Schools of Athens surrounds students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. They are a partnership of ninety organizations working with families to research the needs of children and families in Athens, and to work together to address those needs utilizing best practices.  It serves as the official planning and coordinating body for services for children and families in the Athens community. For more information on Family Connection-CIS of Athens, go to http://athens.communitiesinschools.org/about-us/our-mission-vision  
 
Through a competitive request for proposal process, the 18 non-profits, including Communities in Schools of Athens, were selected based on their effectiveness in helping students graduate ready for career or college. Selected programs use evidence-based approaches to serve students and are able to demonstrate quantitative results.
 
“AT&T has an historic commitment to supporting a strong education system, and this commitment is certainly reflected in our ongoing support of the schools – and the many community organizations that support the students and teachers – in Clarke County,” said Bill Leahy, president of AT&T Georgia. “Through Aspire, we support programs that invest in students, especially those who need it the most, so they can walk across the graduation stage better prepared for a promising future.”
 
During graduation season, AT&T is encouraging people to share advice for this year’s graduates.  Whether from preschool, high school, college, an online training program or a professional certification, the #GradAdvice campaign celebrates learners from all walks of life. To participate, individuals can share advice on their social media channels – including Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook – using the hashtag #GradAdvice.