AMD and Boys & Girls Clubs of America to Hundreds of Youth Club Members

Innovative Club Tech: Game Tech program teaches how to create computer games, while encouraging the development of valuable STEM skills

SUNNYVALE, Calif. - AMD (NYSE: AMD) and Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) today announced that the AMD Foundation has awarded a $115,000 grant to BGCA to implement Club Tech: Game Tech, a digital game development program, in four new Boys & Girls Clubs across the country. AMD also will provide $60,000 to install four technology centers in these same Clubs in Washington, D.C.; Orlando, Fla.; Bellevue, Wash.; and Sunnyvale, Calif.

The grant supports AMD’s signature education initiative, AMD Changing the Game, a program that encourages teens to learn critical STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) skills and become more globally conscious citizens by developing digital games with social content. By the end of 2012, AMD and the BGCA plan to implement the Club Tech: Game Tech program at 14 Clubs, located primarily in AMD site communities in the United States.

BGCA enables young people, especially those who need Clubs most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today, some 4,000 Boys & Girls Clubs serve more than 4.2 million children and teens through Club membership and community outreach. Through BGCA’s Club Tech initiative, and the Game Tech program in particular, the organization provides Club members the opportunity to experience the digital arts and enhance their technology skills in order to develop creative and marketable workforce skills. Hundreds of Club members are expected to participate in the Game Tech program, and thousands of Club members will benefit from the technology center installations.

“Technology programming offers a unique opportunity to extend learning and encourages youth to be actively engaged in determining their successful futures. There are clear indications this occurred during our Game Tech pilots,” said Judith J. Pickens, BGCA’s senior vice president, Program & Youth Development Services. “It was only natural to seek to expand this gaming program to new Clubs, and we’re grateful to AMD for helping us broaden this activity to reach more youth across the nation.”

“Boys & Girls Clubs of America is a well-respected organization that positively impacts the lives of millions of children,” said Allyson Peerman, president, AMD Foundation. “AMD is proud to expand our relationship with BGCA, helping them bring the Club Tech: Game Tech program to new Club sites. Not only will Game Tech help enhance educational and life skills for participating Club members, but it will also contribute further to BGCA’s legacy of providing hope and opportunity to America’s youth.”

Game Tech is a multi-unit program that guides Club members through the design process of creating computer games, and is led by local Boys & Girls Club professionals using a platform called Scratch. Club members gain valuable STEM skills in the process. In addition to the Game Tech program implementation, the grant provides ongoing site support for Boys & Girls Clubs that previously piloted the Game Tech program in Boxborough, Mass., and Ft. Collins, Colo. AMD’s grant also funds targeted training and technical assistance for Club professionals.
AMD Changing the Game

AMD Changing the Game is designed to take gaming beyond entertainment by inspiring teens to create digital games on important social issues, such as energy or the environment. As a result, they enrich their educational experience by learning critical science, technology, education and math (STEM) and life skills. The initiative is rooted in AMD’s commitment to and experience in supporting education, and the company’s passion and expertise in the graphics processor and gaming industries.

Since its launch in June 2008, AMD Changing the Game has funded 18 programs by organizations that enable youth game development, including:

* Funded the development of a youth game development curriculum with PETLab and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA).
* Funded the development of the World Wide Workshop Foundation’s Globaloria game-design program for the Southwest Key’s East Austin College Prep Academy in 2009 and 2010.
* Co-sponsored the Malaysian Cybergames Festival 2010, including the “Dare to Create” digital game design and development workshop.
* Funded the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers new video game design category for the 2010 and 2011 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards.
* Funded Schmahl Science Workshop’s program to develop a sustainable fishing video game to communicate “the danger of over fishing to long-term human survival.
* Co-sponsored the 2008, 2009 and 2010 Games for Change Festival. The 2010 sponsorship includes a day-long workshop the AMD Foundation is sponsoring to teach educators about the various tools available for youth game development.

About the AMD Foundation

The AMD Foundation connects and empowers individuals with knowledge, thereby opening doors to opportunity. The Foundation’s signature program, AMD Changing the Game, supports initiatives designed to help youth harness the power of digital games with social content, while learning critical Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) skills and life skills. The Foundation also funds the AMD Employee Giving Program which supports AMD employees’ community interests by matching their personal donations of time and money to local organizations and schools.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of America

For more than 100 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (www.bgca.org) has enabled young people, especially those who need Clubs most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today, some 4,000 Boys & Girls Clubs serve more than 4.2 million children and teens through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs can be found throughout the country and on U.S. military installations worldwide, providing young people 6-18 years old with guidance-oriented character development programs conducted by trained, professional staff. Key programs emphasize leadership development; education and career exploration; community service; technology training; financial literacy; health and life skills; the arts; sports, fitness and recreation; and family outreach. In a Harris Survey of alumni, 57 percent said the Club saved their lives. National headquarters are located in Atlanta.
About AMD

Advanced Micro Devices (NYSE: AMD) is an innovative technology company dedicated to collaborating with customers and technology partners to ignite the next generation of computing and graphics solutions at work, home and play. For more information, visit http://www.amd.com
AMD, the AMD Arrow logo, and combinations thereof are trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. Other names are for informational purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners.