On Saturday, April 21, more than 2,000 Comcast employees and their families, friends and community partners will “make change happen” as they volunteer at more than a dozen project sites across the Twin Cities metro area and in Independence, Missouri, as part of the 17th annual Comcast Cares Day. This year’s volunteers will also be part of a significant milestone of Comcast Cares Day – reaching 1 million volunteers since the program began in 2001.
Comcast Cares Day is more than just a day – it is a celebration and opportunity to spotlight our year-round commitment to volunteerism that began with our founding 55 years ago. From using technology to create positive change, such as teaching digital literacy skills and wiring community centers and libraries, to mentoring youth, to beautifying parks, Comcast NBCUniversal employees volunteer on this day, and throughout the year, to make a lasting impact. This year, the company expects more than 100,000 volunteers to participate in some- 1,000 projects across the country and around the world. To date, volunteers have contributed more than 5 million volunteer hours at 8,800 projects.
Comcast Twin Cities volunteers in their signature green-and-white T-shirts will work on a wide array of projects, including painting, general clean-up and maintenance, re-furbishing storage spaces, sorting and organizing donations, and more. In the Kansas City area, swarms of Comcast volunteers will descend upon the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Kansas City in Independence to help renovate the complex by painting the gymnasium, hallways, teen lounge, basketball court stripes, fixing the raised garden beds and spreading mulch.
“As we celebrate our 17th annual Comcast Cares Day, we are delighted to partner with a variety of great organizations to give back to our communities,” said J.D. Keller, regional vice president, Comcast Twin Cities Region. “It’s humbling and inspiring to see how we can drive positive change when our employees, their family and friends, and our agency partners rally together to make a lasting difference in our communities. I am very thankful for the participants who help to make this effort a success today and throughout the year.”
Greater Twin Cities United Way has played a key role in helping Comcast coordinate its many volunteer project locations across the Twin Cities, working with organizations like Phyllis Wheatley Community Center, Pillsbury United Communities, The ARC Minnesota, Neighborhood House and many more.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with Comcast and its employee volunteers to help give back to the Twin Cities community on both Comcast Cares Day and all year long,” said Sarah Caruso, president and CEO of Greater Twin Cities United Way. “The good work of Comcast’s dedicated employees will make a lasting impact for years to come.”
“Comcast and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City have a strong, on-going relationship, and we’re excited to have their employee volunteers help beautify our Independence location Unit,” remarked Dave Smith, president of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City. “We have such dedicated Club members and families that want to see their children succeed and grow using the tools we have to offer, and these Comcast Cares Day volunteers are helping to make that dream a reality.”
The Comcast Foundation will also provide grants to local community partner organizations across the country on behalf of everyone who volunteers on Comcast Cares Day. The grants will help Comcast’s community partners continue their mission of serving the community throughout the year. To date, the Comcast Foundation has awarded more than $22 million in grants to local non-profit organizations who have served as partners on Comcast Cares Day.
Additionally, Comcast will once again fold in the broad support and amplification of Global Citizen and Red Nose Day, organizations working to end extreme poverty globally and in the United States. These organizations use the universal language of music and entertainment as a vehicle to engage people around the world to make a difference. By amplifying our support of these initiatives on Comcast Cares Day, Comcast NBCUniversal is providing additional ways to help drive positive change in our communities.
For more information on Comcast NBCUniversal volunteer and community investment initiatives, visit http://comca.st/2HMuwsA.
