AT&T has awarded United Way of Southeast Missouri $25,000 to support the agency's family engagement plan for families with students in grades eight through 12 in the Cape Girardeau School District.

United Way of Southeast Missouri was one of 15 local United Ways in the U.S. to receive an initial grant of $50,000 to begin an engagement project in January 2010, and is one of eight local agencies to receive the additional funding. The organization is working with families of at-risk students who have reading and writing scores below the district's grade level expectations.

Nancy Jernigan, executive director of the local United Way, said the agency is proud of its partnership with AT&T.