What’s the news? Two New Jersey residents were among only 5 AT&T employees from around the world who won AT&T’s prestigious AT&T Community Impact award.

The award celebrates and reinforces AT&T’s core values by recognizing exceptional employees doing good in their communities. Aligning to the company’s social-good goals, the program recognizes employees making significant impacts volunteering with organizations addressing the digital divide; environment; and other causes. In addition, as part of their recognition, AT&T will contribute $15,000 to nonprofits identified by the winners.

• Jackie Jackson from Somerset County was honored for her work to close the digital divide. Thanks to Jackie’s leadership, Jobs for America’s Graduates New Jersey will receive a $15,000 contribution from AT&T.

• Jay Perez from Bergen County was honored for his work helping to protect the environment and promote sustainability. Thanks to Jay’s leadership, Sustainable Jersey will receive a $15,000 contribution from AT&T.

How it works: A selection committee led by the company’s corporate social responsibility organization narrowed nominations from around the globe to a group of finalists. Employees then were invited to vote for their favorite finalist to determine the five winners who were invited to Dallas in February 2023 for a celebration event that included AT&T’s CEO, John Stankey; Charlene Lake, AT&T’s Chief Sustainability Officer and Senior Vice President, Corporate Responsibility, ESG; other senior executives from AT&T.

What are people saying? “From helping young people prepare for their futures to protecting our environment, Jackie and Jay truly are making a difference in their communities. We are grateful for all they do; congratulate them for winning this prestigious award; and are proud to call them colleagues,” said Joseph Divis, president, AT&T New Jersey.

About Jackie and Jay:

Jackie Jackson is Director, East Region Sales & Distribution. She has worked for AT&T for 25 years and holds 3 patents in wireless voicemail technology and an MBA in Business.

Jackie is the New Jersey AT&T Connected Learning mentor coordinator and is a constant champion of building bridges to possibility outside of work. Jackie’s work in her community has impacted the lives of hundreds of under-resourced students, including the recipients of STEM scholarships she helped raise funds for and the countless students she has mentored through organizations including, Jobs for Americas Graduates of NJ, Junior Achievement, the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey and NAACP/Edison/Meutchen Chapter.

“Volunteering gives me purpose,” said Jackie Jackson, 2022 AT&T Community Impact Award Winner. “Our mentoring programs help connect students to career options and reinforce the value of attending college and studying in science, technology, engineering and math. Connecting changes everything and in this case these mentoring experiences have exposed students to new career opportunities. I enjoy sharing limitless possibilities of education through AT&T Connected Learning to developing our future leaders.”

Jay Perez is Senior Counsel in the Legal Department and supports AT&T’s Global Connections Management and Network organizations. Jay also serves as an Environmental Champion in conjunction with AT&T’s Corporate Social Responsibility unit and has nearly 23 years with AT&T.

Seeing the impact of pollution across the islands of Micronesia ignited Jay’s passion to protect the environment. He now focuses his energy on fighting climate change and educating the public about sustainability as Chair of the Upper Saddle River Environmental Committee in New Jersey. He and his team host seminars on many issues, including programs that educate the community on the benefits of solar power, composting, and recycling. The Committee also hosts Drive Electric Vehicle days that allow attendees to test-drive EVs. To facilitate EV adoption, Jay put his land use law expertise to use and wrote a municipal ordinance to permit the installation of electric vehicle charging stations in his community.

“Act locally to reduce your impact globally!” said Jay Perez, 2022 AT&T Community Impact Award Winner.

*About AT&T
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