$25,000 Contribution From AT&T Launches First Tee Program for Low-Income South Carolina Youth
Columbia Parks and Recreation Education Program Will Teach Youth Life Skills Through the Game of Golf
COLUMBIA, S.C., Aug. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T)has announced a $25,000 contribution to the Columbia Parks and Recreation Foundation to help launch the First Tee Life Skills Program. Low-income students from 11 area schools will learn the game of golf through a curriculum that also teaches them life skills, including goal-setting, interpersonal and self-management skills.
The contribution was presented today by Gregg Morton, president of AT&T South Carolina, at a dedication of the newly renamed James E. Clyburn Golf Center. Today's event also marked the establishment of First Tee Columbia's partnership with Richland County School District One.
"This program has a proven success record, and we are pleased that more students will now have access to it," Morton said. "First Tee helps kids learn critical life skills, such as patience, relationship-building and the importance of exercise. Some skills must be learned outside the classroom,and this program opens up unique educational opportunities to kids who are new to the game of golf."
The World Golf Foundation created First Tee in November 1997. Three years later, the First Tee Life Skills Experience was formed to add a character-building component to the program and was designed with the help of academic, coaching and golf experts.
"The First Tee Columbia program promotes the same ideals that I haveenvisioned this center would stand for," said U.S. Rep. James Clyburn. "Golf is a game with a rich history, and it always offers the opportunity for improvement and success. It is a game to be played with others, as long as there is a place to learn and play the game. First Tee helps make sure that our youth in Columbia will have such a place for years to come."
The AT&T Long Drive Club will honor program participants who reach a level of excellence in the First Tee National School Program, which aims to introduce the First Tee skills to 3.5 million young people during the next five years.
AT&T is a strong supporter of projects that enhance and enable success in education across all age groups. The AT&T Foundation, the corporate philanthropy organization of AT&T, supports initiatives that help students -- especially nontraditional and underserved students -- to: complete high school and/or prepare for and gain access to college; complete college; integrate technology into K - 16 instruction and administration; develop community and civic leadership capacity; and encourage technology-workforce development in areas such as computer science, information technology,math, science and engineering.
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About Philanthropy at AT&T
AT&T Inc. is committed to investing in programs that enhance and enable success in education for students of all ages. Through its philanthropic initiatives and partnerships, AT&T helps build strong communities nationwide by increasing educational opportunities, fostering quality learning and raising student achievement. In 2006, AT&T contributed more than $101 million through corporate-, employee- and AT&T Foundation-giving programs. AT&T and the AT&T Foundation, the corporate philanthropy organization of AT&T, combine more than $1.8 billion of historic charitable commitment to communities across the country.