BASKING RIDGE, N.J. -- AT&T today announced that it has received an award from the Environmental Careers Organization (ECO) for its commitment to diversity and the environment.

ECO presented AT&T with the Corporate 2002 Excellence in Diversity and Environmental Stewardship Award at its National Roundtable on Diversity in the Environment awards reception in Arlington,Va. ECO recognized AT&T for its accomplishments and dedication in the areas of environmental stewardship and organizational commitment to diversity.

"AT&T understands and demonstrates the importance of developing, maintaining, and nurturing workforces that reflect diversity and its many dimensions," said Jeff Cook, president and founder of ECO. "This honor is awarded to organizations that understand the very fundamental need to be stewards of the environment - to leave as small an environmental footprint on the earth as possible and to participate in and initiate practices and work processes that positively impact where we work, live and play."

"Focusing on the environment and diversity is not only good corporate citizenship, it also makes good business sense," said Frank Ianna, president of AT&T Network Services. "Encouraging diversity brings more viewpoints to the table and results in better decisions. Focusing on environmental programs such as telework saves money, gives employees better life styles, and improves our communities. Our commitment in both of these areas makes AT&T a better place to work."

One of AT&T's goals is to benefit the company, its employees and the community through environment, health and safety programs. In two years, AT&T obtained net revenue of over $14 million through its supplier take-back programs. These programs enable AT&T to return worn-out products, such as carpeting and electronic equipment, to manufacturers when they no longer can be used.

With a 32-year history of focusing on supplier diversity, AT&T actively supports hundreds of thousands of minority-, women- and veteran-owned business enterprises (MWVBE). Through AT&T's Supplier Diversity Program, AT&T helps these businesses achieve successful growth and expansion. In 2000, AT&T received the Pioneer Award from the U.S. Department of Commerce for innovations in implementing large transactions with minority- and women-owned businesses. AT&T was also recognized as one of America's top corporations for women's business enterprises in 2001 by the Women's Business Enterprise Council.

ECO, a 30-year old national non-profit organization, began its Diversity Initiative in 1990, recognizing the need for greater cultural diversity in the environmental field. ECO hosted the National Roundtable on Diversity in the Environment to bring together professionals and leaders from across the country to discuss the issue of the underrepresentation of people of color in the environmental field and to develop strategies and action plans for addressing this critical matter.

For more information about AT&T's environmental, health and safety commitment, visit www.att.com/ehs. For more information about AT&T's supplier diversity program, see www.att.com/supplier_diversity.

About ECO

The Environmental Careers Organization, founded in 1972, is a national, non-profit education, training and leadership development organization committed to the development of environmental professionals. Based in Boston, ECO has three regional offices across the country, an alumni network of nearly 7500 individuals, and provides environmental career information and services to over 50,000 people each year. This is accomplished through their paid internship program, career conferences, and publications. ECO's diversity initiative was developed to address the under-representation of people of color working in the environmental field. Because of this long-standing commitment, over 1700 people from underrepresented groups have been exposed to environmental career opportunities across the nation, making ECO a leader in diversifying the field. For further information about ECO, see http://www.eco.org