👤 Who: Derrick Brooks Charities, AT&T, Compudopt, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast, Shervin Rassa
📄 What: Distribution of 250 laptops and internet access for local kids and families
🗓️ When: Dec. 16–17, 2025
📍 Where: Emerald Coast Boys & Girls Club (Fort Walton Beach) and Boys & Girls Club of Escambia County (Pensacola)
❓ Why: To address the digital divide and provide devices and connectivity to underserved children and families
PENSACOLA & FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. (Dec. 18, 2025) – Derrick Brooks Charities, in partnership with AT&T and Compudopt, led two back-to-back laptop distributions this week, placing a total of 250 refurbished laptops directly into the hands of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast members (“club kids”) and their families across Escambia, Okaloosa, and Walton counties.
At each site, 125 laptops funded through a generous contribution from AT&T were distributed to preselected recipients through local Boys & Girls Clubs. Eligible households receiving devices may also qualify for up to one year of AT&T Fiber at no cost through a philanthropic program administered by Compudopt, providing both the hardware and connectivity to help students fully engage in online learning and digital activities.
“Tonight, you could see what opportunity looks like on a child’s face,” said Shervin Rassa, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast. “For many of our club kids, this is the first laptop that’s truly theirs — not one borrowed from a school, library, or relative. From the earliest grades through high school, a device at home is now essential to keep up with assignments, connect safely with friends and teachers, and explore what’s possible. Thanks to Derrick Brooks Charities, AT&T, and Compudopt, we’re closing a gap we all saw so clearly during COVID and opening doors for families across the Emerald Coast.”
The laptop distributions directly address the digital divide, which continues to create challenges for families and students with limited access to reliable internet service and connected devices. By prioritizing households with the greatest need, the program ensures that children can participate fully in online education, explore extracurricular digital opportunities, and develop skills for the modern workforce.
“AT&T is committed to bridging the digital divide and ensuring all students and families have the tools they need to thrive in a connected world,” said a representative from AT&T Philanthropy & Social Innovation. “Through our ongoing partnership with Derrick Brooks Charities and Compudopt, we are proud to provide not only laptops but also internet access to underserved communities, helping to level the playing field for students and families across the Emerald Coast.”
This initiative is part of AT&T’s larger $5 billion commitment to connect 25 million people nationwide by 2030. Since 2021, the company has distributed more than 4,000 computers across Florida to ensure that students, older adults, and un- or underemployed individuals can participate fully in the digital age.
About Derrick Brooks Charities:
Founded by Pro Football Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks, Derrick Brooks Charities is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing opportunities for youth and families through programs that focus on health, education, and personal development. The charity has a long history of supporting initiatives that uplift underserved communities in Florida.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast:
The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast is a registered IRS 501(c)(3) charity whose mission is to promote and enhance the development of boys and girls by instilling a sense of competence, usefulness, belonging, and influence through programs focused on academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. The organization receives support through contributions, special events, grants, and donors, including the Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation and local United Way agencies in Escambia, Okaloosa, and Walton counties.
About Philanthropy & Social Innovation at AT&T:
AT&T’s corporate responsibility initiatives are dedicated to bridging the digital divide nationwide. The company works to provide people of all ages and from every community with the essential resources they need to thrive in the digital era. Since 2021, AT&T has committed $5 billion to initiatives enhancing connectivity, promoting digital literacy, and improving access to high-speed internet, particularly for underserved students, older adults, and un- or underemployed individuals.
Through partnerships like this, Derrick Brooks Charities, AT&T, and Compudopt are not only providing devices and connectivity but also empowering families across the Emerald Coast with the tools to succeed in school, work, and life.
Pro Communi Bono
St. Francis De Sales, Ora Pro Nobis!
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