2020 has been a year of unprecedented changes and challenges for us all.
As a society, we have had to navigate the uncharted waters of a once-in-a-lifetime global pandemic, while at the same time reckon with the painful and pervasive impacts of racial discrimination. Like so many, we at Comcast have approached these uncertain times by committing our collective resources to help support our residents, businesses and institutions in ways that truly have an impact.
We are proud to stand side-by-side with a variety of local partners in this effort and are grateful for their tireless work in rebuilding our communities and bring healing to those who have been most significantly impacted.
Specifically, Comcast has made many important commitments, both locally and nationally, in addressing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and supporting the relief and rebuilding efforts from the civil discourse in the Twin Cities.
$100 million multi-year program to advance social justice and equality
To help create a more equitable, just and inclusive society, Comcast is developing a comprehensive, multiyear company-wide plan to allocate $100 million to fight injustice and inequality against any race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation or ability. As part of this announcement, Comcast in the Twin Cities immediately allocated a $500,000 cash and in-kind contribution to support the relief and rebuilding efforts in Minneapolis and St. Paul, including:
- A donation of $50,000 each to Sabathani Community Center in Minneapolis and Hallie Q. Brown Community Center in St. Paul to assist with immediate community response needs in impacted neighborhoods.
- Donations totaling $150,000 to help rebuild minority-owned small businesses and assist other local community recovery efforts. The organizations we are supporting include:
- Aurora St. Anthony Development Corporation
- Longfellow Community Council
- Neighborhood Development Center
- We Love St. Paul with the Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce
- West Broadway Area and Business Coalition
- Greater Twin Cities United Way
- $250,000 worth of in-kind support for public service announcements and advertisement airtime to support recovery efforts.
Comcast extends 60-days of free broadband service to new Internet Essentials customers.
- To help provide additional support to students and families, Comcast will continue to provide 60 days of free Internet service to new, eligible Internet Essentials customers through the end of this year. In addition, Comcast will continue to waive, through the end of the year, the requirement that customers not have a past due balance with Comcast to qualify for the free offer. Learn more here.
Comcast extends free public Wi-Fi access for everyone through 2020.
- To help keep people connected, we are extending free access to the 1.5 million public Xfinity WiFi hotspots to anyone who needs them, including non-customers, through the end of 2020. Learn more here.
Our 1,900 Twin Cities Region employees are proud to serve this community and keep it connected to the moments and experiences that matter most. As we move forward, we will continue our long-standing commitment to equity and inclusion while working with a wide range of community partners, leaders, and businesses. We hope you will join us in that effort.