Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf joined AT&T, Peralta Colleges and other community organizations at City Hall on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2016, to kick off “September Giving,” a four week campaign during the month of September providing more than $400,000 to Oakland nonprofit organizations that are empowering students this “back-to-school” season. Mayor Schaaf and AT&T presented the first of four awardees, Peralta Colleges Foundation, with a $35,000 contribution to support Oakland students as part of the City of Oakland and Oakland Unified School District’s Oakland Promise initiative.
“Oakland’s nonprofit organizations play such a key role in our students’ success,” said Mayor Libby Schaaf. “I so appreciate the contribution AT&T is making to advance the mission of these tremendous local organizations. The important work they’re doing in our community is truly deserving of recognition.”
AT&T will make three additional contributions every week of September to The Hidden Genius Project, Art Works for Change and Black Girls Code. Each week, AT&T will highlight a “September Giving” awardee and their efforts empowering students on Twitter using the hashtag #SeptGivingOAK. Organizations and programs benefiting from “September Giving, ” the first of which included the Peralta Colleges Foundation gift of $35,000. Kevin Kosik, Executive Director of the Peralta Colleges Foundation, pictured, accepted the check from AT&T.
The mission of the Peralta Colleges Foundation is to enhance the intellectual, cultural and educational needs of Peralta students, faculty and staff and the communities in which they work. AT&T’s contribution supports low-income first-semester students at the Peralta Colleges – from high schools in the Oakland Unified School District – by providing student awards to cover the cost of Enrollment Fees, Health Fees, Use Fees and Transit Fees as part of The Oakland Promise initiative.
Kimberly Bryant, Smithsonian American Ingenuity Award Winner and tech education pioneer, will speak on “Black Girls CODE,” 6:30 p.m., Wed., Feb. 24, in BCC’s auditorium. The presentation is free and open to the public but seating is limited. 
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