Earthlink and AARP Washington Launch GenerationLink in Seattle [March 24, 2005]

SEATTLE, March 24, 2005 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- In collaboration with AARP Washington, Ballard High School today will launch an innovative program spearheaded by EarthLink (ELNK), the nation's next-generation Internet service provider, to bring together senior citizens, net-savvy teenagers and the Internet.

GenerationLink is a national classroom-based service-learning program that enlists high school students to teach seniors how to use the Internet. Students will learn valuable lessons about citizenship and community, while seniors will learn how to take advantage of all the Internet has to offer. Developed and launched by EarthLink, GenerationLink seeks to foster multigenerational understanding by using the Internet to forge a connection between teens and seniors.

"What better way to bring people together than through the Internet," said Dan Greenfield, vice president of corporate communications for EarthLink. "GenerationLink gives us the opportunity to create a dialogue between teens and seniors in a way that enriches the lives of both generations."

"The Internet can connect seniors with family and friends, new resources and information, which encourages seniors to participate with others, develop skills and meet their ever-changing needs and interests. It can also provide a critical linkage that reduces isolation, allowing seniors to remain independent and lead satisfying lives," said AARP Washington State Director Doug Shadel.

Beginning today, GenerationLink will bring 10 senior citizens affiliated with the Ballard Family Center, aged 60 and above, to sit side by side with students at Ballard High School. The students will teach the seniors how to send e-mail, surf the Web and download attachments.

The one-hour class will run for six weeks, with the high school students serving as Internet mentors and teachers for the seniors. EarthLink will award a scholarship to the high school student who best captures the essence of the multigenerational experience in an essay contest following the six-week program. In addition, EarthLink has provided the school with its TotalAccess(TM) 2005 software and 10 EarthLink e-mail addresses free of charge, as well as detailed curriculum guidelines and Internet expertise.

"Community service is a very important component of Seattle Public Schools' graduation requirements," said Phil Brockman, Principal of Ballard High School. "Teaching a vital skill like this gives students a sense of accomplishment and furthers their understanding of the seniors' lives and perspectives. There is no doubt that this is an excellent way to build respect for self and others among our youth, and we applaud EarthLink for supporting this partnership."

"As a school district, we realize that our mission is not only to educate the future leaders of our community, but also to prepare better citizens for Seattle, as well as trustworthy and responsible human beings for the world. Collaborations such as this between EarthLink, AARP and Seattle Public Schools are a win-win situation. The students learn about the importance of taking an active role in the community, and our community seniors benefit from the care and technical expertise of our students," said Peter Daniels, Director of Public Affairs, Seattle Public Schools.

To date, EarthLink has launched GenerationLink programs in 10 schools in Atlanta, Orlando, Dallas, Philadelphia, Denver and Boston. As testimony to the program's success, participating seniors continue to use e-mail to stay in touch with faraway children and grandchildren, while others are using the Internet to explore information and hobbies, such as reading a hometown newspaper.

The program was created in part to address a study published in February 2002 by the U.S. Department of Commerce that found teenagers to be the most prolific Internet users, while seniors over age 55 show a sharp drop in Internet use. According to a 2004 Pew Internet & American Life study, only 22% of Americans age 65 or older reported having access to the Internet.

Greenfield noted that plans are underway for launching GenerationLink programs in additional cities nationwide. "We've seen so much enthusiasm for this program in the six cities we've launched -- the seniors are eager to go online and use e-mail, and the students are proud of their role as teacher and mentor. Ultimately we'd like to bring this program to more schools and senior centers across the country," Greenfield said.

About EarthLink
"EarthLink. We revolve around you(TM)." As the nation's next generation Internet service provider, Atlanta-based EarthLink has earned an award-winning reputation for outstanding customer service and its suite of online products and services. According to the J.D. Power and Associates 2004 Internet Service Provider Residential Customer Satisfaction Study(SM), EarthLink is ranked highest in customer satisfaction among high-speed and dial up Internet Service Providers. Serving over five million subscribers, EarthLink offers what every user should expect from their Internet experience: high-quality connectivity, minimal online intrusions, and customizable features. Whether it's dial-up, high-speed, Web hosting, wireless voice and data services, or "EarthLink Extras" like home networking, security or voice over IP, EarthLink provides the tools that best let individuals use and enjoy the Internet on their own terms. Learn more about EarthLink by calling (800) EARTHLINK or visiting EarthLink's Web site at http://www.earthlink.net.

About AARP
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP has over 816,000 members in Washington State and nearly 36 million members nationwide. We produce AARP The Magazine, published bimonthly; AARP Bulletin, our monthly newspaper; AARP Segunda Juventud, our bimonthly magazine in Spanish and English; NRTA Live & Learn, our quarterly newsletter for 50+ educators; and our website, http://www.aarp.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

SOURCE Earthlink