Originally posted on ATT.com
AT&T employees from the Philadelphia region teamed up with two local organizations that are helping local individuals and families fighting poverty and other challenges this holiday season – and throughout the year – One Day At A Time (ODAAT) and MenzFit.
ODAAT is dedicated to serving low-income and homeless men and women and their families in the Philadelphia area who are in recovery from addiction and HIV/AIDS.
MenzFit provides career guidance, training, and career self-sufficiency resources and attire to participants seeking gainful employment and financial independence.
Our support of each organization is part of a project called Believe PhillySM, which combines the commitment of employees and resources from the company to make a positive impact in the community.
On December 20, volunteers from AT&T participated in the ODAAT 2019 Hope on the Holidays Christmas Toy Giveaway, which was held at Dobbins High School where area families were able to pick out Christmas gifts.
During this event, ODAAT also hosted a community resource fair to help connect families and individuals with other important services available in the community. MenzFit was among the organizations that participated. AT&T employees from the area also are collecting new shoes, belts, ties and grooming products to help prepare MenzFit clients for interviews and jobs. The items will be delivered to MenzFit early in the new year.
AT&T has contributed $30,000 between the two organizations to support their important work assisting low-income families and individuals. Both organizations and their leaders, Mel Wells of ODAAT and Rhonda Willingham of MenzFit, are participating on Philadelphia City Council’s Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention. Philadelphia has the highest concentration of poverty of any major American city.
“My goal this holiday season is not just to provide gifts to people in our community but to fight poverty,” said Wells, president of ODAAT. “Our partnership with AT&T’s Believe Philly initiative will allow ODAAT to expand our reach and impact this year. Together we would like families that are fighting to overcome poverty to save their money on gifts and allow AT&T and ODAAT to provide them with the gifts they deserve that will allow them to put their money into something more important like eliminating debt, paying bills or increasing their savings.”
“Our program and services give a hand up to men in seeking work. A professional appearance and focused training is the boost that men need to adequately compete in today’s job market,” said Willingham, founder of MenzFit.
“Our employees are compassionate people with big hearts. They regularly give their time, talent, and personal financial resources to support their communities. Through Believe Philly, we are able to help brighten the holidays for local families, and we’re supporting nonprofits that are working hard every day to help lift Philadelphians out of poverty and to better lives of self-sufficiency,” said Joseph Divis, assistant vice president, AT&T.
AT&T BelievesSM supports local efforts to improve communities across the U.S.
