The Urban League of Greater Springfield, the Boys &
Girls Club of Greater Holyoke and
the Western Massachusetts Alliance for Digital Equity
all Receive Grants
SPRINGFIELD, Mass., Sept. 6,
2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Comcast today announced it
is awarding a total of $110,000 to
three nonprofit organizations throughout western Massachusetts to help advance digital literacy
skills. These grants are part of Project UP, Comcast's
$1 billion commitment to advance
digital equity through programs and community partnerships that
connect people to the Internet, advance economic mobility, and open
doors for the next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs,
storytellers and creators.
"We understand the important role that the Internet plays in
helping build a future of unlimited possibilities for everyone in
the community," said Carolyne
Hannan, Senior Vice President of Comcast's Western New
England Region. "We are proud to deepen our partnership with
organizations that are making it easier for people across western
Massachusetts to adopt the
Internet and succeed in an increasingly digital world."
The organizations that will benefit from these grants
include:
- The Urban League of Greater
Springfield will receive $20,000 to support its digital learning lab
and the programs it provides members, including basic digital
literacy and Internet skills training, specialty workshops, hosting
the Urban League's youth Project Ready Mentor and STEM programs,
and more.
- The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Holyoke will receive $20,000 to support its MyFuture digital
literacy program. MyFuture is an interactive platform that provides
kids and teens with hundreds of activities to learn digital skills
in a safe online environment. This grant will also provide the Club
with the ability to purchase 25 desktop computers and five laptops
for students in the MyFuture program to use.
- The Western Massachusetts Alliance for Digital Equity will
receive $70,000 to support
efforts to help residents across the Pioneer Valley get connected
to the Internet at home. This funding will enable the Alliance to
continue the work it started in 2022 with the help of a
$100,000 Comcast grant to conduct
outreach around the Federal Government's Affordable Connectivity
Program (ACP). This grant will also enable the Alliance to provide
laptops to partner organizations that will distribute them to
households lacking the proper technology to get connected to the
Internet.
"Though residents have access to affordable high-speed broadband
throughout Springfield, many of
our members still struggle with both adoption of services and
digital skills," said Yvette Frisby,
Interim President and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Springfield. "Thanks to this grant,
we're able to ensure our members and more residents of Springfield get the support they need to feel
comfortable connecting to the Internet and using it at home."
In addition, Comcast is helping to drive awareness and adoption
across western Massachusetts of
the Federal Government's Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP),
which provides eligible, low-income households with a credit of up
to $30 per month ($75 per month on Tribal lands) toward their
Internet and/or mobile service. Thanks to ACP, eligible Comcast
customers can get home Internet either through Comcast's
Internet Essentials or Internet Essentials Plus at no cost
once the Federal credit is applied. Internet Essentials customers
can also add a line of unlimited 5G cellular data ($45) through Xfinity Mobile for as little as
$24.95/month, after the ACP benefit
is applied.
Comcast is deeply committed to advancing digital equity in the
communities it serves. Over the past three years, the company has
invested $59.7 million in cash and
in-kind contributions to more than 240 non-profits in Massachusetts. This investment includes
digital equity programs such as Internet Essentials and Lift Zones.
Since its inception in 2011, Comcast's Internet Essentials has
connected more than 620,000 low-income Massachusetts residents to broadband service
at home. Additionally, Comcast has launched seven Lift
Zones in western Massachusetts to provide free, high-speed WiFi
service to local community centers to promote digital learning.
For additional information on Project UP and Comcast's digital
equity initiatives, visit
https://corporate.comcast.com/impact/project-up.
About Comcast Corporation
Comcast Corporation
(Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company. From the
connectivity and platforms we provide, to the content and
experiences we create, our businesses reach hundreds of millions of
customers, viewers, and guests worldwide. We deliver world-class
broadband, wireless, and video through Xfinity, Comcast Business,
and Sky; produce, distribute, and stream leading entertainment,
sports, and news through brands including NBC, Telemundo,
Universal, Peacock, and Sky; and bring incredible theme parks and
attractions to life through Universal Destinations &
Experiences. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more
information.
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