AT&T also donates 200 backpacks filled with school supplies to Club youth
Photo: Jocelyn Rozumny, Boys & Girls Club’s Teen Tech Center Manager, Sarai Garret, AT&T, Cheryl Riley, AT&T, Mary Swingle, Boys & Girls Club’s President & CEO, Mat, Club member, Geri Bechtold, Boys & Girls Club’s VP of Operations.
ST. CLOUD, MN, September 23, 2025
Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Minnesota received a $30,000 contribution from AT&T today as part of the company’s commitment to help bridge the digital divide and connect communities. This contribution will help the Club expand access to digital literacy programming and provide young people with the tools and skills they need to thrive in today’s technology-driven world.
AT&T’s funding will support the Boys & Girls Clubs’ Digital Literacy Essentials curriculum, designed to equip youth with critical skills such as online safety, digital learning, coding, and workforce readiness. By expanding access to these resources, the Clubs will empower young people to use technology as a tool for learning, creativity, and career exploration.
“Digital literacy is no longer optional – it’s essential,” said Mary Swingle, President & CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Minnesota. “Thanks to AT&T’s generous support, we can ensure more young people have equitable opportunities to build the digital skills they need for success in school, in future careers, and in life.”
AT&T also donated 200 backpacks filled with school supplies to Club youth as part of a national backpack drive.
“AT&T is committed to helping close the digital divide and preparing students for success in the digital age,” said Cheryl Riley, President, AT&T Northern Plains States. “We are excited to collaborate with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Minnesota to provide more youth with the essential resources they need to excel academically and achieve their full potential.”
According to U.S. Census Bureau data, millions nationwide, including in Minnesota, still don’t have access to the internet or connected devices needed to fully participate in the online world, an issue known as the digital divide.
This effort is part of AT&T’s initiative to help address the digital divide through internet accessibility, affordability and safe adoption. AT&T is committing $5 billion to help 25 million people get and stay connected to high-speed internet by 2030.
Learn more at att.com.
*About Philanthropy & Social Innovation at AT&T
At AT&T, our corporate responsibility work is dedicated to bridging the digital divide across the country. We are committed to providing people of all ages and from every community with the essential resources they need to thrive in the digital era. For generations, we have supported programs that impact millions of individuals nationwide, and since 2021, we have committed $5 billion to initiatives that enhance connectivity, promote digital literacy, and improve access to high-speed internet. Our efforts particularly focus on uplifting underserved communities, including students, older adults, and those on tribal lands, ensuring everyone can participate in the digital world and benefit from its opportunities.