House Republican Press Release

January 19, 2006

Press Office: 860-240-8700

Rep. DelGobbo Thanks AT&T Foundation for Technology Funding to Howard Whittemore Memorial Library in Naugatuck

$5,000 in AT&T Excelerator Funding Will Help with Enhanced Technology Resources

State Rep. Kevin M. DelGobbo, R-70th, Naugatuck expressed his thanks to the AT&T Foundation for $23,000 in AT&T Excelerator technology grants to five local nonprofit organizations. The funding includes $5,000 for technology upgrades at the Howard Whittemore Memorial Library in Naugatuck.

“I am very grateful to AT&T for the wonderful support that they have once again shown our community," remarked Rep. Kevin DelGobbo, a longtime advocate for increased access to technology resources for Connecticut’s needy citizens. 

AT&T Excelerator technology grants are designed to address shortfalls by providing the funding needed for critical infrastructure, such as communications systems, computer networks, client management databases and Internet access.

AT&T Excelerator is a major philanthropic initiative that connects the nation’s neediest residents, including at-risk youth and underserved urban families, to important community resources. The program also empowers nonprofits to use technology to expand the reach of services and to heighten the impact those services have on people in the community.

The AT&T Foundation provided over $275,000 in 2005 AT&T Excelerator competitive grants to 52 nonprofit organizations throughout Connecticut.  On a national scale, $6 million in AT&T Excelerator competitive grants were given to 513 nonprofit organizations throughout the United States. The competitive grant program is part of an overall $7 million 2005 AT&T Excelerator initiative. Now in its fourth year, AT&T Excelerator (formerly known as SBC Excelerator) has provided $33 million to more than 2,000 nonprofit organizations around the country to build stronger communities and improve lives through improved technology infrastructure and service enhancements.

“The Waterbury area is home to an array of nonprofits, each one with a variety of technology needs,” said John Emra, Executive Director, External Affairs for AT&T’s Connecticut arm. “Representative DelGobbo has led the way in identifying the nonprofits that need this funding to assure members of the community that these organizations will continue to provide assistance day-in and day-out.”

The 2005 AT&T Excelerator grants provide nonprofit organizations with the necessary tools to better equip the communities they serve through:

• Interactive, Web-based applications that support activities such as service delivery, volunteer recruiting and e-fundraising.
  
• Technology training programs for nonprofit staff members.
  
• High-speed access to the Internet and e-mail.
  
• Network connectivity enabling easy sharing of database applications and information systems.

The AT&T Excelerator program is the largest special grants program ever undertaken by the AT&T Foundation, one of the top corporate foundations in the nation, according to The Foundation Center. Since 1984, the SBC (now AT&T) family of companies has contributed more than $1 billion to nonprofit organizations across the country.