[Reprinted with permission from NPS Millenium Newsletter - August/September]

AT&T CARES 4A STYLE

By Mara Spencer

The school, a handsome brick and tan two-story brick structure, lay at the bottom of a small hill. 4A (Asian/Pacific American Association for Advancement at AT&T) Metro DC Chapter has been assisting Annandale Terrace Elementary for three years beautifying the grounds and contributing books to the library. I immediately noticed that all the school signs were multiple languages - English, Hongul, Arabic, Farsi, Vietnamese, and Chinese.

Members of 4A Metro DC researched local schools and selected Annandale Terrace Elementary as having the most diverse student population: 35% Hispanic, 30% Asian, 12% Afro-American, and 23% Caucasian. Most of the Caucasian students are from Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Approximately 85% of the students' families are bilingual. In all, the families and school staff represent 80 countries.

The faculty welcomed about two dozen AT&T Cares volunteers, some returning for their third year on this project, with donuts, coffee and fruit to get us jump started. Some volunteers had recruited spouses and children to assist. The wet, cool summer precipitated a bumper crop of weeds and we fanned out across the beds lining the front of the school and walkways. In the wet soil, the weeds easily relinquished their homes and some of us assaulted the huge piles of mulch, moving the mulch to the weeded areas to be spread. Others planted azaleas and rhododendrons, edged walkways, and trimmed shrubbery.

Taxed muscles made the afternoon more challenging but with teamwork and fun we completed all the beds and spread three dump truck loads of mulch. It looked great and felt very rewarding

I chatted briefly with a gentleman about our AT&T Cares project. He was amazed and when he left, he thanked us for what we were doing. Another highlight was the fascinating life stories of the other volunteers with whom I spoke at lunch.

Driving home, I reflected that I have worked for many companies that make contributions to the community, but never one that invested in the grassroots - people to people.

You can help without getting dirty! 4A Metro DC is raising funds to purchase a flag from each of the 80 countries represented at the school. Can you spare any change?