Portland, OR. The Comcast Foundation awarded $390,457 in grants to 33 nonprofit community partner organizations in Oregon & SW Washington in 2016. The grants invest in programs that expand digital literacy, promote community service, and build tomorrow’s leaders.
Girls Inc. of the Pacific Northwest was awarded $20,000 for its Eureka! program. This five-year program is focused on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) for girls beginning the summer of 8th grade. It is also designed to empower them to make healthy physical activity choices and to be involved in leadership and volunteer opportunities. (photo: Girls Council member, Hannah, with designer Becky Ross (left) and Purse-o-nality Angela Jackson.)
The Comcast Foundation awarded the Urban League of Portland $25,000 for its 2016 summer youth employment program. The four-week program prepares African-American youth for workforce demands, including technology and digital literacy training, and provides students with job-readiness training and interactive activities to learn about different careers.
The Foundation also awarded a grant of $20,000 to Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland Metropolitan Area (BGCP) to help expand the Club’s My.Future technology initiative, a technology training program to equip Club kids with the skills needed to compete in a 21st century economy. It provides hands-on experience and enables BGCP members to participate in a wide range of activities to help them understand how to safely and productively engage online, and to identify and develop digital interests – from internet basics to robotics, coding, game design, and online journalism for advanced learners.
“With all of the support that we get from Comcast and the technology support they provide, they’re changing the lives of these children,” said Erin Hubert, Chief Executive Officer of Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland Metropolitan Area. “Our whole focus at Boys & Girls Clubs is creating great futures for children, and that’s what Comcast is about.”
“It’s so gratifying to be able to support these important community partners,” said Marc Farrar, Vice-President External Affairs for Comcast Oregon & SW Washington. “I know I speak for the 2,000 Comcasters who live, work, and play here when I say our community partners are critical to the fabric of our communities, and we are proud to help contribute to their success.”
Additional organizations receiving Comcast Foundation grants in Oregon & SW Washington include:
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Comcast Digital Connectors with the Chicas Youth Development program
- Big Brothers Big Sisters Columbia Northwest – Beyond School Walls workplace mentoring program
- Hacienda Community Development Corporation – Expresiones after-school program
- Native American Youth & Family Center – NAYA College and Career Center
- United Way of the Columbia-Willamette – employee giving campaign (cornerstone partner)
Including the support in Oregon & SW Washington, the Comcast Foundation has donated $19 million in 2016 to nonprofit organizations in the communities it serves nationwide. In addition to the grants from the Comcast Foundation, Comcast also responds to community needs through local sponsorships and in-kind support, such as airing public service announcements, employee volunteerism, and providing technology equipment and services to organizations across the country.
About the Comcast Foundation
The Comcast Foundation was founded by Comcast Corporation in June 1999 to provide charitable support to qualified non-profit organizations. The Foundation primarily invests in programs intended to have a positive, sustainable impact on their communities. The Foundation has three community investment priorities—expanding digital literacy, promoting community service, and building tomorrow’s leaders. Since its inception, the Comcast Foundation has donated $195 million to organizations in the communities nationwide that Comcast serves. More information about the Foundation and its programs is available at www.comcast.com/community.
