Girls Inc. Of Orange County Expands "STEM Girls" Program With $20,000 From AT&T

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May 01, 2015, 01:50 ET

COSTA MESA, Calif., May 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Girls Inc. of Orange County will receive $20,000 from AT&T to support and expand their Costa Mesa-based enrichment program aimed at engaging underserved middle and high school girls in the fields of math, science, and technology.

"Our mission is to inspire all girls to be strong, smart, and bold. We do that by empowering and equipping girls to navigate gender, economic, and social barriers so they will grow into healthy, educated and independent women," said Girls Inc. of O.C. CEO Lucy Santana-Ornelas. "We're proud that AT&T recognizes the work we do and has made it a priority to help us expand our reach and get more girls interested in STEM fields."

The Girls Inc. program "STEM Girls" reaches 225 middle and high school students through after-school programs, summer camps, and "mobile STEM lab" visits to local schools. The program provides unique, interactive learning activities that include robotics, food science, and AppJam+, which pairs students with a female computer science undergraduate to program apps for their phones.

"AT&T is committed to empowering girls and young women to enter STEM-related fields and train for careers in tech, so we're thrilled to help Girls Inc. expand their STEM Girls program," said Jeff Morin, AT&T External Affairs representative for Orange County and Girls Inc. of O.C. board member.

This contribution is part of AT&T Aspire, the company's signature education initiative focused on school success and career readiness. With an unwavering commitment to data-driven education outcomes, AT&T Aspire has impacted more than 1 million students since its launch in 2008.

About Girls Incorporated of Orange County

Established in 1954 as the Harbor Area Girls Club, Girls Inc.® of Orange County has been a respected member of the non-profit community for over 60 years. The mission of Girls Inc. is to inspire all girls to be strong, smart, and bold. We put our mission into practice through the Girls Inc. Experience that equips girls to navigate gender, economic, and social barriers and grow into healthy, educated and independent adults. Girls Inc. of Orange County positively changes the lives of over 5,300 girls, ages 4 1/2 to 18, each year, by providing year-round holistic, compensatory, and intentional programming focusing on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math), financial literacy, sound body image, healthy relationships, and college and career readiness. For more information, please visit: www.girlsinc-oc.org.

About Philanthropy & Social Innovation at AT&T

AT&T Inc. is committed to advancing education, strengthening communities and improving lives. Through its community initiatives, AT&T has a long history of investing in projects that create learning opportunities; promote academic and economic achievement; or address community needs. In 2013, more than $130 million was contributed or directed through corporate-, employee-, social investment- and AT&T Foundation-giving programs. AT&T Aspire is AT&T's signature education initiative that drives innovation in education by bringing diverse resources to bear on the issue including funding, technology, employee volunteerism, and mentoring.

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SOURCE AT&T