From left are Ro’Shaun Bailey, advisory board member, Boys & Girls Club – MVSU Unit; Dr. Kathie Stromile Golden, chair of the advisory board, Boys & Girls Club – MVSU Unit; Dr. William Bynum, MVSU president; Gunner Goad, AT&T Regional Director of External Affairs; David Dallas, CEO, Boys and Girls Clubs of the Mississippi Delta; Michael Walker, executive director of external relations; and Dr. Abigail Newsome, corporate advisory board member and incoming board chair, Boys & Girls Club of the Mississippi Delta.
Efforts to keep local students connected to a positive future got a boost as AT&T, which has been connecting people for well over a century, contributed $22,000 to help support the Boys and Girls Clubs and 21st Century Community Learning Centers of Mississippi Valley State University.
MVSU’s afterschool programming provides academic support for existing school work and exposure to Science, Technology, Education and Math (STEM) related hands-on, computer based projects. The programming is designed to reduce the prevalence of dropouts in grades 9 – 12, helping students develop life and work skills needed by Mississippi employers.
"Mississippi Valley State is dedicated to assisting students reach their potential through holistic endeavors," said Dr. William B. Bynum, Jr., president. "The University is grateful for incredible corporate citizens like AT&T, who give so much of their time, resources and energy to support programs that make a life-changing difference for children.”
“At AT&T, we believe there is no better way to help grow communities and encourage families than by supporting the education of children,” stated Gunner Goad, AT&T’s Regional Director of External Affairs. “Young people are our future, and we are convinced that each has the potential to achieve something great. We are pleased to have the opportunity to participate in a program that positions Mississippi’s youth for success both now and in the future.”