Eagle Pass HEROES Awarded $45K Donation from AT&T Foundation to Support Digital Literacy
By: Coral Cantu, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2024
The AT&T Foundation awarded and presented a $45,000 donation to Eagle Pass HEROES, a local non-profit organization, on Wednesday, July 17, 2024 at a ceremony held at the Eagle Pass International Center for Trade to support digital literacy in underserved communities, announced J. D. Salinas, III, Vice-President of External and Legislative Affairs of AT&T. Salinas presented an oversized check for $45,000 to Eagle Pass HEROES at the ceremony.
Eagle Pass HEROES will use these funds to help a diverse population of Maverick County residents with a disability to connect and thrive in a digital society. Eagle Pass HEROES plans to serve up to 1,000 residents with the program.
In addition to the $45,000 donation, AT&T and Human I-T are providing Eagle Pass HEROES with 50 refurbished laptops and backpacks to support the local residents in need.
Eagle Pass HEROES is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides resources to individuals with disabilities in Maverick County and whose goal is to provide the diverse disability population with an improved quality of life. The primary focus of the organization is to provide training and education to self-advocates, families, educational leaders, and the community. The organization’s mission is to provide children with special needs resources for educational success and development and improve their opportunities to become successful citizens in society.
Present at the AT&T donation ceremony were leaders of Eagle Pass HEROES, including Catrina Purcell-Longoria, Eagle Pass City Council Member Elias Diaz, and Wendy Maurer, State Representative Heriberto Morales, Jr., local dignitaries, clients of the organization, family members, J. D. Salinas, III, AT&T Vice-President of External and Legislative Affairs, and Carlos Martinez, External Affairs Director of AT&T Texas.
The donation is part of a broader AT&T employee effort to help bridge the digital divide and equip 20,000 students across the country with essentials before they return to school. In addition to supplies like notebooks, pencils, and headphones, the backpacks included cards of encouragement written by AT&T employees.
According to the U. S. Census Bureau, approximately 2.8 million households in the United States and 7 million in Texas lack broadband access, an issue recognized as the digital divide. This effort is part of the AT&T Connected Learning initiative to help address the digital divide through internet accessibility, affordability and safe adoption.
Eagle Pass Mayor Rolando Salinas, Jr. stated “AT&T’s support of Eagle Pass HEROES and laptop distribution will help our community close the digital divide in Eagle Pass, especially for residents Ving with a disability.”
Texas State Representative Heriberto Morales, Jr. stated “For many people, including persons with disabilities, the internet has proven to be truly life-changing, increasing access to education, online health resources, and work-from-home opportunities.”
“AT&T is proud to collaborate with organizations like Human I-T and Eagle Pass HEROES to help close the digital equity gap in Maverick County,” Carlos Martinez, AT&T Texas External Affairs Director, said. “Access to computers and digital training is vital in helping to bridge the digital divide, and we are glad we can assist in providing these resources to those that need them the most,” added Martinez.
Eagle Pass HEROES representative Catrina Purcell-Longoria thanked the AT&T Foundation, AT&T employees, and Human I-T for their generous contribution to the organization and its special needs clients in the community.
Eagle Pass City Council Member Elias Diaz stated AT&T Foundation’s donation to Eagle Pass HEROES is greatly appreciated and much needed to serve the diverse disability population in Maverick County.
At the July 17th ceremony, AT&T Vice-President of External and Legislative Affairs J. D. Salinas, III presented an oversized check for $45,000 payable to Eagle Pass HEROES, 50 laptops, and school backpacks to pre-selected economically challenged clients of the organization from Maverick County.
