AT&T donates 200 laptops to Buffalo students

To help more Buffalo students access connectivity and equip them with the digital tools needed for their postsecondary educational journey, AT&T and Say Yes today donated more than 200 laptops to recent public high school graduates and chartered from Buffalo. This distribution of free computers was made possible thanks to a $65,000 donation from AT&T to Say Yes Buffalo.

An estimated 11% of New York households lack access to the internet or connected devices needed to fully participate in the online world, a problem known as the digital divide. Fifty percent of Say Yes Buffalo Scholars come from households with household incomes below $50,000.

AT&T’s support of Say Yes is part of its nationwide commitment to closing 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 the Internet by 2030.

“We work every day at Say Yes Buffalo to eliminate barriers to academic and professional success” said David Rust, CEO of Say Yes Buffalo. “We are beyond grateful to AT&T for joining us on this mission. This gift promises to open many doors for our scholars and give them one less thing to worry about as they make the often difficult transition to postsecondary education.

In addition to free laptops, students received information about educational resources, including The Achievery, AT&T’s free digital learning platform.

“AT&T is proud to partner with Say Yes to help close the digital equity gap in Buffalo. Many students and their families in Buffalo do not have the devices needed for online learning,” said Kevin Hanna, director of external affairs, AT&T. “Access to computers is essential to helping close the digital divide and we are pleased to be able to provide these resources to those who need them most and build on our foundation of helping close the digital divide in Buffalo and across the country. the region.

Students became eligible to receive higher education laptops after attending the Say Yes Buffalo College Kickoff, a one-day intensive course featuring five separate seminars on topics including time management, college life and financial aid. The program is specifically aimed at first-generation college students with the goal of improving persistence outcomes, given the many challenges faced by economically disadvantaged students pursuing postsecondary education. Say Yes Buffalo began helping its scholars bridge the digital divide in 2020, amid the coronavirus pandemic, when many institutions shifted to virtual learning. Since then, the program has continued to bridge the technology gap faced by its scholars. Laptops provided to students include ongoing service and maintenance plans.

AT&T has committed more than $2.1 million from 2021 to 2023 to organizations and initiatives aimed at closing the digital divide in New York. AT&T has also worked with an organization to provide more than 6,300 laptops to students and families across the state since 2021.

Visit here to learn more about how AT&T is working with nonprofits in the region and across New York to help close the digital divide.