AT&T: Marched Onward in Major Support of Military

Contact:

Roberto Cruz

AT&T

(973) 326-5379

robertocruz@att.com

Brian Wesolowski
America Supports You
(202) 414-0779
BWesolowski@susandavis.com

Joins “America Supports You” program, donates prepaid phone cards to Operation Gratitude and sponsors “Rock and Remember” concert to raise funds for the Pentagon Memorial Fund

FOR RELEASE: WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2005

MORRISTOWN, N.J. – AT&T said today it would continue its more than 85 years of support for the U.S. military through a range of activities and contributions designed to benefit America’s servicemen and women.

The company announced it would:

· Join the “America Supports You” program to help build and sustain the morale of U.S. military personnel;
· Donate 8,000 additional AT&T PrePaid Phone Cards to Operation Gratitude, a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization that assembles and sends “care packages” to U.S. troops overseas; and

· Support the Pentagon Memorial Fund through the sponsorship of a Chicago concert featuring noted actor and musician Gary Sinise and his Lt. Dan Band.

“AT&T is proud of our long history of support for the U.S. Military,” said Bill Baumann, director, AT&T Military Markets. “‘America Supports You,’ Operation Gratitude, and the Pentagon Memorial Fund are exceptional programs that express the spirit and generosity of the American people and all that they’re doing to support our troops. The people of AT&T are proud to lend our support to each of these important causes.”

Launched in November 2004 by the Department of Defense, “America Supports You” (www.AmericaSupportsYou.mil) seeks to engage and encourage individual citizens and corporations to continue their volunteer efforts to help build and sustain the morale of U.S. military personnel. The program also conveys America’s recognition and appreciation to military service members for their courage and commitment to our country.

“We’re extremely grateful to AT&T for joining the ‘America Supports You’ family,” said Allison Barber, deputy assistant secretary of defense for Internal Communications and Public Liaison. “AT&T is a long-time supporter of our nation’s armed forces and their ongoing support of all branches of America’s military helps lift the spirits of our heroes on the front lines of freedom.”

AT&T also is once again contributing thousands of phone cards to Operation Gratitude (www.opgratitude.com) a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization that assembles and sends “care packages” of snacks, entertainment items and letters of appreciation to U.S. troops overseas.
“AT&T PrePaid Phone Cards are one of the items most requested by our troops,” said Carolyn Blashek, founder of Operation Gratitude. “AT&T was our first corporate sponsor and this new contribution of 8,000 AT&T phone cards will allow our military heroes to call home and hear the voices of their family and friends.”

To date, Operation Gratitude, also a member of the “America Supports You” team, has sent almost 70,000 care packages to deployed troops and has received 23,000 free AT&T phone cards.

As part of its ongoing support for the Pentagon Memorial Fund, AT&T is underwriting the June 11 “Rock and Remember” benefit concert at Chicago’s Park West Theatre, featuring Gary Sinise and his Lt. Dan Band. The Lt. Dan Band will rock and remember with more than 700 guests in an effort to raise approximately $1 million for the Pentagon Memorial. Special guests will include families of those killed on September 11, active military personnel from the Chicago area, USO representatives as well as local, state and federal officials.

“I’m very proud of the Lt. Dan Band and how we’ve been able to generate awareness of the importance of what the Pentagon Memorial will mean for our nation,” said Gary Sinise. “So many innocent lives were lost on that terrible day in September 2001, 184 of them during the attack on the Pentagon. Building a memorial will not only honor those lives, but will also provide a place for all Americans to remember, reflect and renew our spirit of freedom and hope.

“I’m also very grateful to AT&T and applaud their leadership in support of the Pentagon Memorial Fund and look forward to continuing to work with them to ensure the success of our ‘Rock and Remember’ concert.”

AT&T’s important support for the military has included:

· AT&T’s contribution of more than $6 million in prepaid phone cards to U.S. troops.

· AT&T’s relationship with the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) (www.aafes.com) to offer the economical AT&T Military Exchange Global PrePaid Phone Card, allowing U.S. troops to call the U.S. from phone centers in the regions of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, for as little as 19 cents per minute. AAFES, through its generous “Help our Troops Call Home” program now allows any individual, military or non-military, to easily purchase its phone cards which offer the best value for U.S. troops.

· A holiday donation of 10,000 AT&T PrePaid Phone Cards to recovering military personnel at Walter Reed hospital and other hospitals in the U.S. and abroad.

· AT&T’s support of the USO and other nonprofit groups such as Operation Gratitude.
· AT&T’s collaboration with the Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM) (www.navy-nex.com) for a 50 percent reduction on per minute calling rates from almost all Navy ships via AT&T Direct Ocean Service(sm).

· An AT&T donation of $100,000 to the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation.
· A $25,000 grant for the development of a poster by renowned artist Peter Max to be sold nationally to help raise funds for the Pentagon Memorial.

To learn more about “America Supports You,” visit www.AmericaSupportsYou.mil.

To find out more about Operation Gratitude, visit www.opgratitude.com.

For more information about the Pentagon Memorial Fund, visit www.pentagonmemorial.net and for the Rock and Remember concert, visit www.rockandremember.org.

Additional information on AT&T’s support for our troops and how you can help is available at www.att.com/mil.

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About AT&T
For more than 125 years, AT&T (NYSE “T”) has been known for unparalleled quality and reliability in communications. Backed by the research and development capabilities of AT&T Labs, the company is a global leader in local, long-distance, Internet and transaction-based voice and data services.