(SANTA ANA, Calif.) — The Santa Ana College Foundation has received a $20,000 gift from AT&T through its AT&T Connected Learning initiative to help bridge the digital divide for Santa Ana College (SAC) students facing educational and economic barriers. The gift will provide laptops and tablets that expand students' access to coursework, online learning, faculty communication, research, and critical academic support services, helping them persist toward certificates, degrees, transfer, and career pathways.
For many community college students, a reliable personal device is the difference between keeping up and falling behind. Students who share a single computer with family members, depend on a phone to complete assignments, or rely on campus computer labs with limited hours face real obstacles to completing their coursework. This gift puts high-quality tools directly in the hands of students who are committed to their studies, allowing them to fully participate in their classes and take advantage of the support services available to them both on and off campus.
The gift reflects a long-standing relationship between AT&T and Santa Ana College. AT&T is locally invested in education throughout Orange County, including the communities served by SAC, and has previously provided significant support to the college's Veterans Resource Center along with other campus initiatives. This latest investment marks a new chapter in that relationship, one focused on innovation and on responding directly to what students need to succeed today.
“Every relationship the Santa Ana College Foundation cultivates is built with the intention of broadening resources for our hardworking, high-achieving students,” said Christina Romero, Executive Director of College Advancement & Foundation. “Providing high-quality tools like laptops to students who are committed to their studies is more than just a gift. It gives them the capital they need to succeed, not only at Santa Ana College but well beyond their time here. We are thrilled by how our relationship with AT&T has grown over the years, and we thank them sincerely for their continued investment in our students.”
Santa Ana College and AT&T On-Campus Laptop Distribution event, February 27, 2025.
“At AT&T, we believe every learner deserves an opportunity to learn and thrive,” said Dan Vozenilek, External Affairs Lead, AT&T. “Through AT&T Connected Learning, we are investing in students at home, in the classroom and at work to help narrow the digital divide. Santa Ana College Foundation shares our goal of empowering learners to reach their highest potential, and we are proud to help put laptops and tablets in the hands of students who are working hard toward their degrees, certificates and careers.”
Through AT&T Connected Learning, AT&T invests in programs that help today's learners access the technology, connectivity, and resources they need to succeed. The Santa Ana College Foundation will distribute the devices to eligible SAC students, prioritizing those for whom the cost of a laptop or tablet would otherwise stand in the way of their education. SAC students can apply for a laptop loan through Digital Dons.
“Our network across Orange County has grown significantly, and AT&T has been a long-standing collaborator that continues to push the limits of how it can support and show up for our students,” said David Valentin, president of the Santa Ana College Foundation Board of Directors. “We are deeply grateful for their generosity, but most importantly, we are grateful for the values we share with Orange County organizations like AT&T that believe in the promise of our students.”
The Santa Ana College Foundation works to ensure that no student is denied educational access due to financial constraints. The Foundation holds more than $16 million in assets, and last year alone it increased its annual giving by more than 33 percent, a reflection of the growing number of community and corporate partners investing in SAC students.
To get involved in Santa Ana College's philanthropy work, please visit www.givetosac.org. For more information on how to become a partner, please contact the Office of College Advancement & SAC Foundation at foundation@sac.edu or 714-564-6091.
About Santa Ana College:
Santa Ana College (SAC), founded in 1915, serves more than 70,000 students yearly for credit and noncredit classes. At present, SAC students can work toward completing an associate degree, university transfer, career/workforce training or a bachelor's degree in occupational studies. In 2025, the college launched a second bachelor's degree in Paralegal Studies. As part of Santa Ana College, the School of Continuing Education located at Centennial Education Center offers free classes throughout the community for adults of all ages and academic backgrounds. Santa Ana College is an award-winning college and was recently ranked as one of the nation's top two-year colleges awarding associate degrees to Latino and Asian students and named one of the best community colleges in California by Intelligent.com for a 2nd consecutive year. The college is also recognized throughout the state for its comprehensive workforce training programs for nurses, firefighters, law enforcement and medical personnel.