AT&T Continues Long Tradition of Military Support

AT&T Continues Long Tradition of Military Support

From Donating More Than $6 Million in AT&T PrePaid Phone Cards, to Lowering Per-Minute Calling Rates on Almost All U.S. Navy Ships by 50%, AT&T Proudly Supports America's Heroes

MORRISTOWN, N.J., Nov. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- As the holiday season approaches, AT&T encourages our fellow citizens to remember -- and support -- the brave men and women who serve in our armed forces.

When America's servicemen and women are deployed throughout the world, one of their most comforting joys is to stay in touch with loved ones at home. AT&T understands this, and is proud to note that since the onset of hostilities in the Middle East, it has donated more than $6 million in prepaid phone cards to our troops. With the support of the United Service Organizations, Inc. (USO), and other non-profit organizations, these AT&T phone cards are distributed to our troops, allowing them to call home from anywhere, including Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait.

"The USO is grateful to AT&T for the overwhelming support over the last few years in helping our men and women in uniform stay in touch with their families," said Edward A. Powell, USO president and CEO.

AT&T is also pleased to work with the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) to offer the economical AT&T Global PrePaid Card. This phone card is specially designed and optimized for deployed troops and can be purchased directly by them at their local Post Exchange (PX). While deployed in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait, troops can call home from any of the 64 air- conditioned AT&T Call Centers.

Also, for the first time, patriotic consumers on the home front can now send an unlimited number of these phone cards to a loved one or any soldier overseas by easily ordering them online at the AAFES Web site (http://www.aafes.com/). And specifically for our troops, from November 24, 2004, through January 5, 2005 while deployed in Iraq or Afghanistan, AT&T has announced a special holiday calling rate. When our military personnel purchase and use the AAFES 550 Global PrePaid card while in-country, they'll enjoy a low calling rate of 19 cents per minute* on calls to the U.S.

Our troops and their families value being able to stay in touch with each other and are grateful for the support they receive. Mrs. Tara Knezevich notes, "I'm the proud wife of SPC Joshua Knezevich, and believe AT&T's generous donation of phone cards was an answered prayer for myself as well as many others. Not only will my husband be able to call me, but the other 3,600 troops that are stationed with him in Iraq will be able to call their loved ones too. I appreciate AT&T's continuing support for our military heroes. Thank you, AT&T!"

Realizing the many communications benefits of the Internet, and in response to requests from service members and their families, AT&T has developed the CyberZone Holiday Gift Card. This unique card provides military personnel with the gift of access to the Internet at AT&T CyberZones on select U.S. military bases in Germany, Kuwait and the United States. The cards can be purchased online (http://www.att.com/mil-cybercards) in denominations of $10, $20 and $50, and can be sent to a specific service member or to any service member.

To help our men and women serving on the high seas, the Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM), in cooperation with AT&T, this month announced a significant savings of 50 percent on calling from nearly all of the Navy's ships with AT&T Direct Ocean Service(SM). Aboard more than 190 U.S. Navy ships, the per-minute rate to call the U.S. was reduced to 50 cents per minute from $1 per minute. To make calls from Navy ships, AT&T Global Prepaid Ship- To-Shore phone cards are available in any ship's store and are offered in denominations of $20 and $40.

AT&T's support also extends to outstanding volunteer organizations such as Operation Gratitude (http://www.opgratitude.com/), a California-based non- profit that assembles and ships "care packages" to our troops overseas. "AT&T PrePaid Phone Cards are one of the items most requested by our troops," said Carolyn Blashek, founder of Operation Gratitude. "Words cannot describe the joy our troops feel when they can hear the voices of their family and friends, and AT&T has helped make those magical moments happen." Operation Gratitude was brought to AT&T's attention by television personality Wayne Brady and, to date, has received more than 15,000 free AT&T phone cards. This month, Operation Gratitude will provide care packages to more than 25,000 troops. Throughout the year, AT&T contributes to more than 2,500 military events and offers morale-boosting programs worldwide in cooperation with Air Force Services, the Marine Corps Community Services and Army, Navy and Coast Guard Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) programs. As a major corporate sponsor of quality-of-life initiatives for military personnel and their families, AT&T supports Fisher Houses -- homes located near military hospitals that provide housing for the families of recuperating service members. AT&T also supports the Army-Navy football game, U.S. military air shows, Marine Corps athletic competitions -- including the Marine Corps Marathon -- the Air Force Tops in Blue talent show, and the Army Soldier Show.

"At the end of the day, we all realize the tremendous sacrifices made by our troops throughout the world, as well as their loved ones at home," said Bill Baumann, director, AT&T Military Markets. "Like all Americans, the people of AT&T wish our troops the very best and are proud that we're able to do our part for them."

For more information on AT&T support for our troops and how you can help, go to http://www.att.com/mil.

* The calling rate of 19 cents per minute applies only to calls made using the AAFES 550 Global PrePaid card purchased directly by military personnel at their OEF/OIF AAFES-BX/PX, TFE or Imprest Fund site, not to AAFES cards purchased online by consumers.

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.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19991018/ATT )

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19991018/ATT
Source: AT&T

CONTACT: Bob Nersesian of AT&T, +1-908-234-4548, or mobile,
+1-908-410-6026, nersesian@att.com, or Roberto Cruz of AT&T, +1-973-326-5379,
or mobile, +1-201-519-2698, robertocruz@att.com

Web site: http://www.aafes.com/

Web site: http://www.att.com/
http://www.att.com/mil-cybercards


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