AT&T is contributing $1 million for the 2016-17 and 2017-18 school years to expand Project GRAD’s GRADuation Aspirations program to students enrolled in Aldine ISD schools located on the north side of the district. Project GRAD Houston is an organization that focuses on improving lives in low-income communities by helping students develop and achieve their educational aspirations.
The program is also being offered at the Raul Yzaguirre School for Success on the east side of Houston and the Southwest Charter School’s High School.
As a result of Project GRAD’s success in supporting and motivating underserved students to stay in school and prepare for their next step in life, AT&T has committed a total of $2 million to the program in the last 3 years. The Project GRAD Houston GRADuation Aspirations program currently serves approximately 1,735 predominantly Latino students ranging from grades 9-12 in the city.
“The effects of dropping out of school have serious consequences for society at large,” said Dr. Ann Stiles, President and CEO of Project GRAD Houston. “Project GRAD Houston’s programs have a proven track record with more than 7,000 GRAD Scholars going to college and succeeding at a rate that is triple the success of their peers. We believe additional programs in new schools will increase opportunity for students – for high school graduation and readiness for success in college and careers.”
Project GRAD Houston is an organization that focuses on improving lives in low-income communities by helping students develop and achieve their educational aspirations. Starting in high school and continuing through college graduation, Project GRAD Houston supports students during critical moments of their educational path to ensure they accomplish their goals.
“AT&T is proud to support the expansion of Project GRAD across the Houston area,” said Kerrick Henny, vice president, AT&T External Affairs. “We have made it our goal to invest resources and develop initiatives focused on education to help prepare students for a bright future.”
Through its programs, Project GRAD Houston has already impacted thousands of students in the Houston area, including Houston Community College student David Ruiz. Ruiz, a Project GRAD Houston scholar has plans to major in Chemical Engineering at Texas A&M University.
“Project GRAD makes sure every student feels more than capable of becoming who they want to be,” Ruiz says. “I know for a fact I would not be where I am right now if it was not for the support of this program.”
Project GRAD was selected as one of 18 recipients nationwide that will share in $10 million from AT&T through the Aspire Connect to Success. AT&T Aspire is the company’s signature philanthropic initiative that drives innovation in education— through technology, social innovation and relationships— to ensure all students have the skills they need to succeed in school and beyond. AT&T Aspire has impacted more than 1 million students since its launch in 2008.