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SBC Foundation Launches 2005 SBC Excelerator Grant Program
SBC Foundation Launches 2005 SBC Excelerator Grant Program
Published 03-15-05
Submitted by SBC Communications Inc.
SBC Excelerator is a major philanthropic initiative that connects the nation's neediest residents - including at-risk youth and underserved urban families - to important community resources, such as Internet access, computer training, math and reading classes, and job skills programs. Since 2002, the SBC Foundation has allocated $27 million through SBC Excelerator grants, supporting more than 1,500 nonprofit organizations across the nation.
"The SBC Excelerator grant has greatly improved the efficiency and effectiveness in all of our small business program areas," said Cynthia Amador, President and CEO of the Los Angeles-area CHARO Community Development Corporation, a 2004 SBC Excelerator grant recipient. "Improving technology has helped us strengthen the services and information management activities that help us help the community."
The SBC Excelerator grant program will award $6 million in competitive technology-related grants, enabling nonprofit organizations to integrate technology into their ongoing operations and community outreach. Interested organizations can apply for this year's grant by downloading a copy of the 2005 request for proposals (RFP) from www.sbc.com/foundation.
SBC Excelerator will provide the remaining $3 million in invitational grants to support exceptional national organizations and programs.
"The SBC Excelerator program is founded on the idea that technology access and resources can improve the lives of people in communities across the nation," says Laura Sanford, president of the SBC Foundation. "SBC Excelerator grants work to connect people to each other and help develop educational and economic opportunities."
SBC Foundation Announces 2004 SBC Excelerator Program/Page 2
2005 SBC Excelerator grants will help nonprofit organizations across the U.S. improve their operations and build stronger communities through:
For example, in Chicago, Illinois a $15,000 SBC Excelerator grant to Junior Achievement supported 30 technology-based programs, allowing the organization's economic education programs to reach 750 new students in Chicago schools. In Houston, Texas, a $20,000 SBC Excelerator grant to the Association for the Advancement of Mexican Americans enabled the organization to purchase computers, software, and web services. The funds also covered installation, training, and technical support for this equipment, allowing Latino Technology Network Alliance partners to collaborate on program services.
To qualify for an SBC Excelerator grant, an organization's major focus and project must emphasize education, community development, health and human services, or arts and culture. Grant funds may be used for data communications services, hardware, software, technology training, personnel, and application development. Grants will range from $2,500 to $25,000 and are one year in length. Collaborations by two or more organizations will be considered for grants up to $50,000 for one year. Grant recipients of the 2004 SBC Excelerator program are eligible to submit a grant application for the 2005 program. Completed applications are due June 15, 2005.
The SBC Excelerator program is the largest special grants program ever undertaken by the SBC Foundation, one of the top corporate foundations in the nation, according to The Foundation Center. Since 1984, SBC Communications and the SBC Foundation have contributed more than $1 billion to nonprofit organizations across the country.
The SBC Foundation is the charitable giving arm of SBC Communications Inc. The SBC Foundation supports efforts that enrich and strengthen diverse communities nationwide, particularly those with an emphasis on education and technology and those that benefit underserved populations. SBC Foundation-backed programs are designed to increase access to information technologies, broaden technology training and professional skills development, and effectively integrate new technologies to enhance education and economic development. The Foundation Center has consistently ranked the SBC Foundation among the nation's top fifteen corporate foundations. In 2002, the SBC Foundation launched SBC Excelerator, a multimillion dollar competitive grants program that funds nonprofit organizations in their efforts to digitally connect communities.
SBC Communications Inc. is a Fortune 50 company whose subsidiaries, operating under the SBC brand, provide a full range of voice, data, networking, e-business, directory publishing and advertising, and related services to businesses, consumers and other telecommunications providers. SBC holds a 60 percent ownership interest in Cingular Wireless, which serves 49.1 million wireless customers. SBC companies provide high-speed DSL Internet access lines to more American consumers than any other provider and are among the nation's leading providers of Internet services. SBC companies also now offer satellite TV service. Additional information about SBC and SBC products and services is available at www.sbc.com.
