In Milwaukee and across the country, healthcare workers and medical personnel are playing a critical role in caring for their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nonprofits that help people facing hunger are experiencing immense challenges with an increased demand for food. And students are struggling with distance learning challenges.
That’s why AT&T and the AT&T Foundation are stepping up to support the Milwaukee community during this difficult time.
“One of AT&T’s core values is to Be There when people need us.”
Scott VanderSanden, President – AT&T Wisconsin
“One of AT&T’s core values is to Be There when people need us,” said Scott VanderSanden, President of AT&T Wisconsin. “Now more than ever, we need to support our healthcare workers on the frontlines, provide assistance to those experiencing hunger, and help support distance learning efforts. We’re proud to do our part to support the Milwaukee community.”
“As we face the most significant public health crisis of our time, we all need to come together to not only support our healthcare heroes, but also those who are struggling to meet their most basic needs,” said Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett. “I applaud companies like AT&T that are stepping up with generous funding to support our community when we need it most.”
AT&T and the AT&T Foundation have contributed to the following organizations:
- Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Foundation: A $91,000 grant from the AT&T Foundation will support the purchase of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Ascension Wisconsin frontline caregivers, including masks, gowns and gloves, so they can provide critical services in a safe environment during the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding will help purchase 6,600 sets of PPE for Ascension Wisconsin’s six major hospitals in the Milwaukee region.
- “This AT&T Foundation grant will help protect our frontline caregivers as we face the most significant public health crisis of our time,” said Bernie Sherry, Senior Vice President, Ascension, Ministry Market Executive, Ascension Wisconsin. “Ascension Wisconsin is grateful for the generous support of our nurses, doctors, caregivers, associates and patients during this crisis.”
- Friedens Community Ministries: A $25,000 contribution from AT&T will support Friedens as it works around the clock to get much-needed food to Milwaukee families through its network of food pantries in the city. The demand for emergency food assistance has risen to historic levels due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding will allow Friedens to give out additional, nutrient-dense fresh foods, as well as much needed supplies, infant items, bilingual resources, and PPE. Not all community members are able to stock up on emergency supplies at this time, and Friedens is committed to remaining a stabilizing presence for those in need.
- “We know food-insecure families are experiencing heightened levels of anxiety since this pandemic began in March,” said Sophia Torrijos, Executive Director of Friedens. “We are so grateful to receive this AT&T contribution to help us feed those individuals and families facing hunger in Milwaukee.”
- Fiveable: A $125,000 Aspire Investment* from AT&T will support Fiveable, an innovative ed-tech startup in Milwaukee, as it makes its study resources free to AP students across the country. Due to COVID-19 school closures and social distancing restrictions, many students have had to forego in-person tutoring and practice test taking for AP exams. Fiveable has stepped up to help these students by making their resources free through livestreams, community discussions and interactive content. Fiveable was also named this week to the 6th annual AT&T AspireAccelerator, and will spend six months receiving the mentoring, resources, services and expertise needed to drive change and help reach more students.
- “This is an unprecedented moment in education as learning has transitioned fully online due to school closures,” said Amanda DoAmaral, Fiveable Founder and CEO. “We are doing our part to help students by providing free online resources. We are excited to be part of AT&T’s Aspire Accelerator class and thankful for AT&T’s investment.”
The AT&T Foundation also announced yesterday $50,000 in grants to two Madison hospital systems – SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital and the University of Wisconsin Foundation’s UW Health.
AT&T has made a nationwide commitment to provide much-needed support for first responders, medical personnel and others impacted by COVID-19. The effort kicked off with a $1.5 million contribution to World Central Kitchen. We’re supporting Feeding America, The Salvation Army and Team Rubicon. And AT&T has launched a $10 million Distance Learning and Family Connections Fund, created to support distance learning and social development programs.
AT&T will also be collaborating with a host of additional local organizations in communities most impacted by the pandemic. Learn more, including instructions for making individual contributions, by clicking here.
To learn more about how AT&T is supporting communities during the current crisis, visit https://about.att.com/pages/COVID-19.html. The AT&T Foundation’s support is part of AT&T Believes℠ — a company-wide effort to make a meaningful impact in local communities.
* The Aspire Investment includes $100,000 investment and an additional $25,000 to cover costs associated with the program.
