MOUNT VERNON, N.Y. – The Sports & Arts in Schools Foundation (SASF) serving Thornton High School in Mount Vernon will receive a $300,000 grant from AT&T to fund programs aimed at improving graduation rates for students at risk of dropping out.
The foundation was among 30 organizations which were chosen by AT&T to share $12 Million in grants. More than 1,100 organizations applied toward AT&T Aspire, the company’s education initiative.
“The Sports and Arts in Schools Foundation is tremendously proud of the services we’ve been able to offer the students of Thornton High School through AT&T’s generous support,” said SASF board Chairman Ross Sandler. “The mentoring program coupled with SASF’s proven, targeted intervention at the very beginning of a student’s high school career helps to build a better foundation for academic growth for our students.”
A component of AT&T’s collaboration with Sports & Arts in Schools Foundation supports student mentoring. According to a recent report, 76 percent of students are more likely to aspire to enroll in and graduate from college if they have mentors. “AT&T is committed to putting as many students as possible on the path to college and careers,” said Edward Bergstraesser, external affairs director of New York AT&T. “That means ensuring that at-risk students have all the support and resources they need to graduate high school and college.
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