AT&T Foundation Awards JoeAbate Charitable Foundation $10K Grant

NORTH BRANFORD, CT — The JoeAbate Charitable Foundation was awarded a $10,000 contribution from the AT&T Foundation to provide scholarships and to support the organization’s academic and career planning program for local high school students.

The JoeAbate Foundation partners with businesses to provide students with hands-on internships and real-life experience in the field of their interest. The grant award will support the foundation's Igniting Talent program.

"This will continue to allow local high school students to gain experience and career readiness through a series of micro internships in a variety of fields through partnerships with local businesses and establishments," founder and President of the JoeAbate Charitable Foundation Meghan Abate said.

The AT&T Foundation funding will support underserved high school juniors and seniors uncertain of their post high school plans. It works to do that by helping them develop interests in specific professions, creating a career-path. And awards each a $1,000 scholarship to help defray training and/or educational costs in their selected fields.

“Now more than ever, it is critical to ensure organizations like the JoeAbate Charitable Foundation have the resources they need to continue making a significant impact on the lives of Connecticut students," AT&T New England President John Emra said. "Every student deserves an opportunity to make their dreams a reality. The team at the JoeAbate Charitable Foundation is helping to do just that, and we at AT&T are proud to support their dedicated efforts."

State Rep. Vincent Candelora, House Minority Leader, R-North Branford, and state Sen. Paul Cicarella, R-North Haven, "played a small role in this award by telling the team at AT&T about the good work of the charitable foundation created in Joe's honor," Candelora said.

“This generous grant award from the AT&T Foundation is a recognition of the inspirational mission of the Igniting Talent program, which I know will pay long-term dividends not just in the lives of young people," Candelora said. "But also in our local and state economies where career readiness and talent pipeline initiatives have become increasingly important."

Cicarella agreed, adding that the JoeAbate Foundation "continues to be a model program for helping young people to realize their full potential."

"Joe was one of my best friends, and his memory lives on through each student who finds a path to a fulfilling career through the Foundation’s Igniting Talent Program," Cicarella said. "This grant funding will go directly to those students who need it most, helping them to access the training or education needed to succeed in their chosen field."