BURLINGTON, Vt., 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, the summit featured a panel
discussion featuring Christina
Morgan, Executive Director of Dodge House in
Rutland, as well as several other
non-profit partners, 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
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.
"Many of our veterans experience barriers because they do not
have an internet subscription at home or access to a library or
drop-in center due to COVID-19 or a lack of transportation. Through
the incredible support of Comcast, we will be able to create a safe
space at Dodge House so local veterans can have reliable access to
a computer, the internet, and a volunteer to teach digital skills,"
said Christina Morgan,
Executive Director of Dodge House. "This will enable our veterans
to overcome some of the barriers that may prevent them from
utilizing telehealth programs, virtual job fairs and other digital
services being offered right now to keep people healthy, connected
and productive during these times."
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