Hyderabad, September 25, 2020.

The American Tower Foundation, the global philanthropic arm of American Tower Corporation (ATC) has donated to The Akshaya Patra Foundation, a leading humanitarian organization to distribute grocery kits Pan India through ATC CSR Foundation India. The program entails to provide 19 lakh meals across 31 locations to families who have been adversely impacted owing to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. These include daily wagers, contract workers, and migrant population who have been displaced and are out of work because of the pandemic.

The distribution drive in Telangana will be carried out over a period of 5 days, providing around 42,000 meals.

At the beginning of the countrywide lockdown, there was a huge outpouring of support for the displaced and marginalized. These efforts have come down significantly since the country began to restart and reopen. However, there are large swathes of population – especially among migrant workers – that continue to suffer from job losses and depleted savings.

Amit Sharma, EVP and President Asia at ATC said, “As the world takes on the threat posed by COVID-19, the impact has been felt more acutely by people who are facing a challenging economic situation to the extent of being unable to garner two meagre meals for their family.  As an engaged member of the business and broader social community, American Tower Corporation (ATC) is committed to support COVID relief work and provide assistance through its NGO partner Akshaya Patra Foundation by making available grocery and ration kits to the vulnerable communities. We are extremely thankful to the Government of Karnataka and District Authorities for their on ground support in making this drive a success”.

Each food kit comprises rice, wheat flour, sugar, pulses, cooking oil, and salt.

The distribution drive was conducted across various locations of Hyderabad.

According to Shridhar Venkat, CEO, Akshaya Patra Foundation, “We are deeply grateful to American Tower Foundation for collaborating with us in reaching out to distressed and unserved communities. COVID-19 has reinforced that we must collectively help those facing economic hardships. Hunger is a crime against humanity and school going children have been severely impacted by malnutrition due to the absence of mid- day meals. During this entire pandemic phase, we have served 80 million meals to families, thanks to donors such as American Tower Foundation. Truly a corporate with a heart and an empathetic partner that embodies zeal.”

Over the coming weeks, ATC CSR Foundation India along with The Akshaya Patra Foundation will engage with social volunteers and government officials to undertake the distribution drive.

About American Tower Corporation: American Tower is a leading independent owner, operator and developer of wireless and broadcast communication real estate. Our global portfolio includes over 1,81,000 communications sites and is experiencing steady growth. In addition to leasing space on towers, we provide customized collocation solutions through our in-building systems, outdoor distributed antenna systems and other right-of-way options, managed rooftops and services that speed network deployment. Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, American Tower has operations across the United States and 19 countries.

Launched in 2017, the American Tower Foundation’s mission is to focus on education and technology use to empower students, teachers and communities in need worldwide. Through employee-driven grants, the Foundation facilitates partnerships with charitable organizations, such as school districts and youth development agencies, that support technology and education.