DALLAS, Jan. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AT&T* announced today that it has nearly topped the 2009 index of most inclusive companies for Hispanics by the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility (HACR), one of the most influential advocacy groups in the nation representing more than a dozen Hispanic organizations.

AT&T earned the second highest score - 80 of 100 - on HACR's 2009 Corporate Inclusion Index, which measured Fortune 100 companies and HACR corporate members on their level of commitment to Hispanic inclusion in the areas of employment, procurement, philanthropy and governance.

"We're honored to be recognized by HACR for our commitment to the Hispanic community. Diversity and innovation go hand-in-hand at AT&T; we live and operate on the premise that providing opportunities for people from all backgrounds helps us meet our bottom line," said Cindy Brinkley, AT&T senior vice president, talent development and chief diversity officer. "Investing in our community and future company leaders, whether in the form of contract opportunities for diverse suppliers or development programs for our employees, is key to our success."

A total of 30 companies and HACR corporate members that took part in the survey were evaluated across various areas, including corporate executive leadership, corporate governance, workforce representation, community philanthropy, and supplier outreach and development.

AT&T was evaluated on its Hispanic employee engagement and its commitment to strengthening communities by supporting underserved populations. AT&T has an employee resource group - the Hispanic/Latino Association of AT&T (HACEMOS) - dedicated to supporting the advancement of Hispanics in the workplace and the community. In 2008, AT&T and its employees contributed $169 million - through corporate, employee, and AT&T Foundation giving programs - to various organizations, including Hispanic-led organizations and programs intended to advance education and improve lives.

AT&T was also measured on its outreach to the Hispanic market, which includes ensuring that its products and services fit into Hispanic consumers' lives and aspirations. Because AT&T recognizes the value of Hispanic consumers, it has converted more than 700 of its wireless stores nationwide to a bilingual concept to better serve its Hispanic customer base among many other efforts.

Through the HACR Research Institute, HACR publishes annual studies - including the Corporate Inclusion Index (CII) - that report on the state of the Hispanic community and corporate best practices in employment, procurement, philanthropy and governance. The HACR CII results allow HACR to focus on issues relevant to Hispanics including those associated with inadequate workforce representation.

The 2009 HACR Corporate Inclusion Index is available for download on HACR's website, http://www.hacr.org/. The data collected from HACR's CII was voluntarily submitted by Fortune 100 and HACR corporate member companies.

* AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates - AT&T operating companies - are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's fastest 3G network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet and voice services. AT&T offers the best wireless coverage worldwide, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse(SM) and AT&T | DIRECTV(SM) brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T's Yellow Pages and YELLOWPAGES.COM organizations are known for their leadership in directory publishing and advertising sales. In 2009, AT&T again ranked No. 1 in the telecommunications industry on FORTUNE® magazine's list of the World's Most Admired Companies.

Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com.

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SOURCE AT&T Inc.