DALLAS, Jan. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Florida Diversity Council has honored AT&T* with the Corporate Achievement DiversityFIRST(TM) Award for demonstrating outstanding achievements and a sustained commitment to the pursuit of cultural diversity and inclusion in the community and workplace.

The award will be presented during the first annual Florida Diversity and Leadership Conference, which aims to provide a platform for dialogue on inclusion and diversity-related issues that impact the state of Florida.

DiversityFIRST(TM), as this year's theme indicates, will provide participants the opportunity to share best practices and strategies to formulate integrated diversity initiatives that link business goals to workplace, marketplace and community objectives. The conference will also recognize the contributions of outstanding individuals, corporate leaders and community groups who have championed diversity as a business imperative in the state of Florida.

"Florida's rich mix of different cultural, racial and linguistic backgrounds gives our state a tremendous competitive advantage in the global economy," says Marshall M. Criser, III, president AT&T Florida. "Florida's economic future is dependent on businesses that recognize this distinctive asset and take advantage of the best practices that incorporate diversity and inclusion in their business model. It is a win, win for all Floridians."

This recognition comes on the heels of several recent accolades, including Employer of Choice by the Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA), Top Corporations for Multicultural Business Opportunities by DiversityBusiness.com, and ranking among the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility's (HACR) top 10 Fortune 100 companies.

AT&T's visionary leadership in the areas of diversity and inclusion - and its commitment to enhancing the quality of life in the communities it serves - has contributed to AT&T's national recognition as an employer of choice and a preferred business partner. The DiversityFIRST award is a testament to AT&T's relentless efforts to provide an inclusive work environment and make diversity a priority for the company.

The 2010 Florida Diversity and Leadership conference will feature more than 20 speakers and 12 different concurrent sessions covering a wide range of topics in the areas of workforce diversity, diversity marketing, corporate citizenship and leadership. Among the expected speakers is Jerry Hendrix, vice president of regulatory affairs for AT&T.

The DiversityFIRST Award will be presented during the inaugural Florida Leadership and Diversity Conference, which will be held Friday, January 15, at the University of Central Florida - The UCF Student Union, in Orlando, FL. Hendrix will accept the award on behalf of AT&T.

The Florida Diversity Council is one of eight state councils under the National Diversity Council, a non-profit organization that champions diversity as a business imperative. The National Diversity Council was created in the summer of 2008 following the success of the Texas Diversity Council (TXDC) established in 2004. AT&T will be a supporter of the National Diversity Council in 2010.

* 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.