ST. LOUIS -- Kids won't be the only ones heading back to school this fall across the country. Adults aged 50 and over who are writing the next chapter in their lives will also be returning to the classroom to sharpen their skills for today's high-tech workplace.

The SBC Foundation, the philanthropic arm of SBC Communications Inc., and OASIS have joined efforts in a new project for people who want or need to continue working in productive roles beyond the traditional retirement age. The project is funded by a $500,000 national SBC Excelerator technology grant to The OASIS Institute, the national nonprofit educational organization designed to enhance the quality of life for mature adults.

Through OASIS classes this fall, individuals in 13 cities throughout the United States can update their technology skills for the workplace with courses in how to use e-mail and word processing, how to create spreadsheets and conduct Internet searches, as well as learn about online security. More new classes planned for early 2006 will help people consider their options for work and life and update their job- search skills in order to take advantage of the many employment resources available online and in the community.

According to a 2003 AARP survey, 80 percent of baby boomers plan to work during their retirement. But many older Americans are postponing retirement, while others are going back into the workforce, driven by personal or financial reasons. Many return to work in order to supplement their retirement income, an important factor because people live longer and retirement benefits can fall short of income requirements. Other motivations include being actively engaged and having purposeful relationships with co-workers.

The trend is evident in the number of older workers. In 2004, the number of people 55 and older in the workforce rose to 22.7 million, up from 22 million in 2003 and 20.7 million the year before that, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

"People over 50 today look at their future in an entirely different way than their parents and grandparents," said U.S. Sen. Jim Talent, R-Mo., a member of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging. "As life expectancy increases, many seniors and baby boomers will need to work to stretch their retirement income over two or three decades. That's why I applaud The OASIS Institute for helping older adults develop the skills they will need to remain competitive in today's job market."

Research from the Employment Policy Foundation (EPF) points to a need for this generation to fill a growing gap in the labor force in the next 20 years. Current college-graduation rates and workforce-participation rates indicate that employers will not be able to offset fully the large-scale retirements of the baby boom generation, as smaller generations seek to fill their place. The EPF projects that there will be 4 million more jobs than workers by 2011. By 2030, there could be 35 million unfilled jobs.

The project will address the needs of people considering new roles, both paid and unpaid. Those seeking new roles as volunteers and people looking for a new job will benefit by asking themselves what skills and talents they want to turn in a new direction and what new skills they want to develop. New courses in the spring will help them with that planning process.

"Changes in life expectancy and other factors impacting retirement income levels have combined to increase the number of seniors that are unemployed or underemployed," said Laura Sanford, president of the SBC Foundation. "The SBC Excelerator program is founded on the idea that technology skills are increasingly fundamental to employability. This project will help more people prepare to compete for meaningful jobs and participate fully in community service activities."

Volunteers from the SBC Pioneers will also participate in the project by acting as instructors, lab coaches and community advocates. The SBC Pioneers form a group of nearly 200,000 current and retired SBC employees who perform community outreach throughout the country.

"By cooperating with community centers, affordable housing sites, churches and libraries, we will make these programs accessible for a broad audience," said Marcia Kerz, president of The OASIS Institute in St. Louis.

Cities that will be involved in the initial project include Albany, Syracuse, Akron, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Chicago, St. Louis, Oklahoma City, San Antonio, Houston, San Diego and Los Angeles.

Registration for fall classes starts in August. Individuals can register online at www.oasisnet.org, or they can contact the OASIS center in their community.

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. For more information, visit www.sbc.com/foundation.

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 51.6 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 offer satellite TV service. Additional information about SBC and SBC products and services is available at www.sbc.com.

OASIS is a national education organization that strengthens communities by providing lifelong learning and service opportunities that inspire mature adults to pursue vibrant, healthy, productive and meaningful lives. For more information visit www.oasisnet.org.

SBC Communications Inc.

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