(BW) AT&T and the Magic Johnson Foundation announce innovative technology grants to local HIV/AIDS organizations; grants are part of quarter million dollar commitment to Magic Johnson Foundation partnership

BUSINESS WIRE - 44 Montgomery St, 39th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94104; Tel: (415) 986-4422; FAX: (415) 788-5335 - 15 Dec 1995.

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 15, 1995--In a unique effort to bring technology to the battle against AIDS, AT&T and the Magic Johnson Foundation (MJF) announced grants of more than $170,000 to 11 Bay Area nonprofit organizations and $100,000 to Los Angeles/Orange County agencies serving people with HIV/AIDS.

Many of the AT&T funded MJF grants will provide money to help organizations apply communications and information technology to enhance or expand their operations.

One grantee, San Francisco's Project Open Hand, will use its grant to design a home page on the World Wide Web and produce a digital version of its nutrition newsletter, "Positive Nutrition," that will make it available to a broader audience via the Internet.

"Since its founding, the Magic Johnson Foundation has stressed the importance of acquiring partnerships in the corporate community to assist us in the fight against AIDS," said Vincent Bryson, MJF president and chief executive officer. "We are especially pleased that AT&T, a leader in the fight against AIDS and a leading technology company, recognizes the importance of using technology to support education and outreach in communities with special needs."

Another component of the AT&T/MJF program supports new or innovative projects or programs promoting HIV/AIDS prevention and education, particularly among adolescents and young adults, women and people of color.

Although AIDS diagnoses are increasing most rapidly among adolescents and women, in particular women of color, few services are designed specifically to meet their needs. Many of the grants in the Bay Area will fund education and prevention programs that reach out to young people who are beyond the reach of the traditional school environment to include runaways and those in juvenile facilities and jails.

The organizations are striving to reach these audiences through language and culturally specific materials and programs.

"The unique partnership between MJF and AT&T is continuing to focus on HIV/AIDS issues involving women, children and diverse cultures in communities where AIDS is increasing at a frightening rate," said Lois Hedg-peth, AT&T Western Region vice president.

"AT&T has a long history of supporting HIV/AIDS education and prevention programs. But with MJF's guidance and assistance, we are able to extend our reach to many more worthwhile organizations."

The AT&T/Magic Johnson Foundation grant program, a series of grants jointly administered by MJF and AT&T, was launched last year with $105,000 in funding to 12 organizations in Los Angeles. The two year program has awarded more than $375,000 to 35 organizations.

AT&T and MJF convened a panel of local health and education experts to evaluate the grant proposals they received. The final grant package serves a broad cross-section of Bay Area communities through a wide array of programs.

CONTACT: Magic Johnson Foundation Lela Hung, 310/785-0201 (office) or AT&T Kathi Oram, 415/442-2223 (office) 415/721-7124 (home)

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