BERLIN, Conn., Nov. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Executives
from Comcast Corporation and Comcast's Western New England Region,
which serves 300 communities in Connecticut, Vermont, western Massachusetts, western New Hampshire and New York, today held a virtual summit on the
topic of veterans to raise awareness of the impact the digital
divide has on them. As part of the event, Comcast also announced
several donations worth more than $250,000 to support digital inclusion efforts in
Connecticut, Vermont and western Massachusetts.
In partnership with local officials, including Massachusetts Congressman Richard E. Neal and Connecticut Senator James Maroney, as well as several non-profit
partners, the summit featured a panel discussion moderated by
NBC Connecticut Anchor Ted Koppy on how the COVID-19
pandemic and the digital divide have further exacerbated issues for
veterans.
Panelists held a robust and thoughtful conversation that
examined how the use of the Internet, when coupled with social
outreach programs, can help facilitate positive change for veterans
impacted by social isolation, job loss, housing insecurity and
more. Panelists included:
- Dorinda Borer,
Connecticut State Representative and Veterans Affairs Chair
- Alfred Montoya, Chief
Executive Officer & Medical Center Director, VA Connecticut
Healthcare System
- Gumersindo Gomez,
Executive Director, Bilingual Veterans Outreach Centers of Mass
Inc.
- Steve Hackley, Senior
Vice President of Consumer Sales, Comcast Corporation
- U.S. Army Brigadier General (Ret.) Carol Eggert, Senior Vice President of
Military and Veteran Affairs, Comcast NBCUniversal
- Dennis Mathew, Senior
Vice President, Comcast's Western New England Region
- Christina Morgan,
Executive Director, Dodge House
- Josh Salazar, Senior
Director of Military Services and Philanthropy, Easterseals Capital
Region & Eastern
Connecticut
"Home broadband can be a lifeline for connecting with loved
ones, services, news and entertainment," said Connecticut
Senator James Maroney, Chairman of
the Veteran Affairs Committee. "I applaud Comcast for the
efforts it is making to support veteran-focused outreach programs,
as well as its efforts to bring Internet Essentials to even more
low-income veterans in our community, many who live on fixed
incomes."
"We need to unite with the diverse groups in our community to
build a better future and the work Comcast is doing to connect more
veterans to the internet at home is an integral part of this
process," added Connecticut State Representative Dorinda Borer, Chair of the Veterans Affairs
Committee.
Following the panel discussion, Comcast announced four grants to
support digital skills training for veterans and the development or
expansion of technology labs. The grants included:
- $20,000 to the VA Connecticut
Healthcare System;
- $20,000 to Easterseals Capital
Region & Eastern
Connecticut;
- $20,000 to Dodge House in
Rutland, Vermont; and
- $30,000 to the Bilingual Veterans
Outreach Centers of Massachusetts.
"Comcast is committed to supporting the men and women in our
community who have stood up for our country and we are proud to
partner with these organizations that provide veterans with access
to life-changing digital tools and resources, including Internet
Essentials, our low-cost broadband program." said Dennis Mathew, Senior Vice President of
Comcast's Western New England Region.
In addition, Comcast surprised all four organizations with a
total of 500 Dell laptops and 500 opportunity cards, which offer
six-months of internet for free through Comcast's Internet
Essentials program.
Internet Essentials by Comcast offers low-cost, high-speed
Internet service for $9.95 a month
plus tax, provides access to free digital skills training in print,
online, and in person, and includes the option to purchase a
low-cost Internet-ready computer. Since 2011, Internet Essentials
has connected millions of low-income households to the Internet,
most for the very first time. During that period, the program has
grown from focusing on bridging the "homework gap" for school-age
children to addressing digital equity issues for all Americans,
especially veterans and senior citizens.
"At Easterseals, our Veterans Rally Point program serves a wide
generational-range of veterans who are increasingly dependent on
tech-based solutions to manage healthcare and stay-connected with
their support systems," said Josh
Salazar, Senior Director of Marketing and Philanthropy for
Easterseals Capital Region & Eastern
Connecticut. "Thanks to the ongoing dedication and
generosity of Comcast, we have forged a unified front to address
these issues by providing our veterans with access, laptops and a
support system to help them achieve positive outcomes."
Comcast NBCUniversal also has a partnership with Elizabeth Dole
Foundation and the PsychArmor Institute, two of America's leading
veteran-serving non-profit organizations that helps support the
creation of veteran-specific digital skills training videos and
supplementary materials.
About Comcast
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is
a global media and technology company with three primary
businesses: Comcast Cable, NBCUniversal, and Sky.
Comcast Cable is one of the United
States' largest video, high-speed internet, and phone
providers to residential customers under the Xfinity brand, and
also provides these services to businesses. It also provides
wireless and security and automation services to residential
customers under the Xfinity brand. NBCUniversal is global and
operates news, entertainment and sports cable networks, the NBC and
Telemundo broadcast networks, television production operations,
television station groups, Universal Pictures, and Universal Parks
and Resorts. Sky is one of Europe's leading media and entertainment
companies, connecting customers to a broad range of video content
through its pay television services. It also provides
communications services, including residential high-speed internet,
phone, and wireless services. Sky operates the Sky News
broadcast network and sports and entertainment networks, produces
original content, and has exclusive content rights. Visit
www.comcastcorporation.com for more information.
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SOURCE Comcast