The AT&T Foundation - the corporate philanthropy organization of AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) - has announced that it has awarded $10,000 to support OakBend Medical Center through the AT&T Excelerator competitive technology grant program. 

OakBend, the Fort Bend County’s largest and most comprehensive hospital, will use the grant to purchase dedicated equipment for its mobile health-education programs. More than 1,000 area residents received education last year through their schools, service clubs and other associations. The new audiovisual equipment and notebook computer will expand and improve presentations on strokes, diabetes, cancer prevention, hand-washing, nutrition and other topics.
 
Since 2002, the AT&T Excelerator program has provided more than 2,500 technology grants - totaling more than $47.8 million - to organizations across the country. In 2007, more than a dozen Houston-area nonprofit organizations have benefited from part of nearly $9 million distributed nationally through the competitive program.
 
“Technological excellence is vitally important to OakBend Medical Center as it continually strives to create successful programs that benefit so many.  I have seen first-hand just how effective their programs are and how necessary it is to support them,” said Fort Bend County Judge Bob Hebert. “There is a true need for the community to help non-profits like OakBend by properly funding and equipping them with the latest technology.”
            
"We are constantly looking for solutions to help meet the health care needs of our local community, and programs like those created by OakBend Medical Center really help reach many people in the Rosenberg/Richmond area. That is why we need to continually help nonprofits by helping to upgrade the technology they use for outreach on a daily basis,” said Rep. John Zerwas.  “Our nonprofits here in the surrounding Houston area view technology as a vital component to their day-to-day operations so they can reach as many people as possible, and grants like these make that possible.”
 
“The equipment from this grant will help us take health-care information to the communities that need it most. We look forward to participating in health fairs, screening events and educational opportunities all over the region,” said Joe Freudenberger, acting chief executive officer of OakBend Medical Center.
 
The AT&T Excelerator program provides technology access to organizations working to strengthen underserved communities. Helping nonprofits integrate technology into their operations and community outreach, AT&T Excelerator grants also place technology tools in the hands of the underserved populations that the nonprofits work with in order to provide resources such as education programs, Internet access, computer training and job-skills development.