(Photo provided) Children left to right: Dalton Ward, Hazel Runions, Perseus Davis Adults: BJ Smith, Director-External Affairs AT&T Ohio, and Alexis Dalrymple, Youth Development and Marketing Assistant at The Boys & Girls Club of Washington County.

As part of a nationwide commitment to help bridge the digital divide and homework gap, AT&T is supporting Human-I-T to provide the Boys and Girls Club of Washington County (BGCWC) with 75 refurbished computers. The BGCWC will provide the computers to underserved club members and other area youth to help these students get access to the digital resources they need to succeed in online learning.

As part of AT&T’s Connected Learning initiative, the company is collaborating with Human-I-T, a non-profit organization that works to create equitable access to opportunity by providing devices, internet access, digital skills training and tech support for communities on the wrong side of the digital divide. Human-I-T also works to divert technology e-waste from landfills, distributing refurbished devices to selected non-profit organizations.

“The past two years have created both challenges and opportunities for families to maximize innovative, digital learning solutions,” said Washington County Commissioner Kevin Ritter. “By providing students with laptops, we can help increase access to anywhere/anytime learning. We are grateful for the generosity of AT&T and Human-I-T for working with us to help our students succeed and reduce the digital divide.”

According to Human-I-T, nearly 100 million Americans lack access to a personal computer, internet connection, or both. This lack of access to digital technology creates a significant gap between the opportunities unconnected people can access and those available to digitally connected households. The gap in opportunities is known as the digital divide.

AT&T and Human-I-T are working to help bridge that divide, empowering families through equitable access to information and technology in order to achieve their fullest potential.

“Technology-related obstacles to completing schoolwork are big issues for many youth in Washington County,” said Rebecca Johnson, Executive Director of the BGCWC. “This generous gift of laptops from AT&T will help families bridge this homework gap and open more youth to the opportunities that digital connectivity makes possible.”

“Our commitment to helping bridge the digital divide includes providing learners with the connectivity and devices critical to success,” said BJ Smith, External Affairs Director, AT&T Ohio. “Through our work with Human-I-T, we’re pleased to help underserved students and their families in Washington County get access to free computers and digital literacy resources that are vital for online learning.”

According to Johnson, all K-12 children in Marietta are eligible to apply for a free laptop.

Current club members and youth from low-income households will have priority.

Interested families can contact the BGCWC at 307 Lancaster Street in Marietta or (740) 373-4123 for an application.

About the Boys & Girls Club of Washington County

Located on Marietta’s West Side, the Boys & Girls Club of Washington County provides after school programming for children in grades kindergarten through 12 in the areas of education, character building, socialization, arts and crafts and physical recreation — providing a safe and positive place for children to learn, grow and reach their full potential.

About Philanthropy and Social Innovation at AT&T

We’re committed to advancing education, creating opportunities, strengthening communities and improving lives. As part of our companywide $2B commitment from 2021-2023 to address the digital divide, we launched AT&T Connected Learning to invest in connectivity and technology, digital literacy and education solutions to help today’s learners succeed inside and outside of the classroom.

Since 2008, we’ve committed more than $600 million to programs that help millions of students across all 50 states and around the world, particularly those in underserved communities.