Comcast and One Economy Launch Digital Connectors Program at Boys & Girls Clubs of the Blue Ridge

MARTINSVILLE, Va., Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Comcast and One Economy held a special ceremony today to launch the Comcast Digital Connectors program at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Blue Ridge in Martinsville, Va. The Comcast Digital Connectors program will provide 20 youth from the Martinsville area and Henry County with an opportunity to learn about broadband technologies and how to put that knowledge to work in a wide range of community service activities.  

Among those at the event celebrating the launch of the first Comcast Digital Connectors program in the state of Virginia, and recognizing the inaugural class of Digital Connectors students at the Boys & Girls Clubs, were local government officials including State Senator Roscoe Reynolds; Delegate Ward Armstrong, House Minority Leader, Virginia General Assembly; Delegate Don Merricks, Virginia General Assembly; and Martinsville Mayor Kim Adkins, along with representatives from Comcast and One Economy, Boys & Girls Clubs staff and students, parents and family members of the Digital Connectors participants and members of the greater community.  

"At a time when our local unemployment rate is the highest in the state, and one of the highest in the country, it is more important than ever for us to help prepare our students for entry into a competitive workforce," said Mayor Adkins.  "Initiatives like the Comcast Digital Connectors program are equipping our youth with technology skills that are increasingly crucial to job security in today's economy."

At the launch event, Comcast presented a $3,180 grant from the Comcast Foundation to the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Blue Ridge as part of its Comcast Cares Day contributions.  On Comcast Cares Day, the company's annual, nationwide day of service that took place in April, Comcast employees and their friends and families helped make improvements to the Boys & Girls Clubs' Teen Center where the Digital Connectors program will be taking place.  Comcast also donated 20 computers for use by program participants.  

"The Comcast Digital Connectors program is an important initiative for Comcast, and we're pleased to be working with the Boys & Girls Clubs to extend its influence into the state of Virginia," said Fred Graffam, regional senior vice president for Comcast.  "This program exemplifies our commitment to building leadership and digital literacy skills among our youth in order to help them succeed and excel while making a positive impact in their local communities."

Beginning today, Comcast Digital Connectors students will gather at the Boys & Girls Clubs three times per week after school throughout the year to learn digital literacy and other life management skills such as resume writing and interviewing.  The young people will also volunteer 60 hours of their time at community-based organizations, senior centers, churches and even in their own homes to help improve digital literacy.  Participants will also develop a professional portfolio which will include all of the projects that have been completed throughout the year.  Projects will include 10 chapters toward a Cisco certificate of completion, rebuilding a used computer for a needy family, creating professional posters, producing a commercial, hosting a local cable show and more.

"The Digital Connectors program builds upon our initiatives to help local students in education, career, character and leadership development," said Laurie Wardle, executive director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Blue Ridge.  "We are grateful to Comcast and One Economy for their generous support as we aim to provide our students with the resources they need to not only build brighter futures for themselves and their families, but to motivate them to become engaged in the betterment of their local communities."

"One Economy believes that by delivering the power of technology and information to low-income people we can help build better lives," said Karla Ballard, vice president of social Innovations for One Economy.  "Our partnership with Comcast for the Digital Connectors program is helping us to deliver upon that mission by providing youth with access to the tools and skills needed to achieve their full potential and to serve as technology ambassadors throughout their communities."

One Economy founded the Digital Connectors' program and curriculum in 2003. Today there are youth engaged in Digital Connectors programs throughout the United States as well as similar digital literacy initiatives in Ethiopia, Rwanda, Kenya, Cameroon and Nigeria. The One Economy-Comcast partnership aims to double the number of participants in the program and the hours of service they contribute to their communities. In addition to Martinsville, the Comcast Digital Connectors program has been launched at 16 locations nationwide.  To date, nearly 3,000 young people have contributed more than 77,000 hours of community service through the Digital Connectors initiative.  

Comcast powers dreams in the communities it serves by providing access to innovative technology, volunteering time, giving financial support and partnering with organizations to make communities stronger.  The company focuses its community investment initiatives on building tomorrow's leaders, promoting community service and expanding digital literacy.  Since 2001, Comcast has provided $1.8 billion in cash and in-kind support to national and local non-profit organizations in 39 states and Washington D.C.  The company has made a $1.2 million commitment to sponsor the Digital Connectors program for three years, beginning in 2009.

About Comcast

Comcast Corporation (www.comcast.com) is one of the nation's leading providers of entertainment, information and communication products and services. With 23.2 million video customers, 16.4 million high-speed Internet customers, and 8.1 million Comcast Digital Voice customers, Comcast is principally involved in the development, management and operation of cable systems and in the delivery of programming content.

Comcast's Eastern Division serves approximately 5.7 million residential and business customers across Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington, DC. The Eastern Division is based in Oaks, Pennsylvania and employs more than 20,000 people.

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 – promoting community service, expanding digital literacy, and building tomorrow's leaders. Since its inception, the Comcast Foundation has donated more than $77 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.

About One Economy and the Digital Connectors

One Economy is a global nonprofit organization that uses innovative approaches to deliver the power of technology and information to low-income people. More than 17 million people have used One Economy's online tools and resources, including the Public Internet Channel (www.pic.tv), to build better lives. One Economy has launched on-the-ground programs in 42 U.S. states, Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East. The Digital Connectors program is One Economy's flagship initiative that delivers 21st century technology training to young people from low-income backgrounds, who then share what they learn within their own communities. To date, more than 3,000 Digital Connectors have delivered more than 56,000 hours of technology focused community service.  Learn more at www.one-economy.com.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of the Blue Ridge

The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Blue Ridge (BGCBR) provide after-school services to over 730 youth annually ages five to eighteen.  These services include programming in education, career development, character and leadership development, the arts, sports, fitness, recreation, health and life skills, and special events. The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Blue Ridge mission is to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. BGCBR operates four locations in Martinsville and Henry County. Club sites are located at Albert Harris Elementary, Patrick Henry Elementary, Sanville Elementary, and "The Club" Teen Center located at Christ's Church off Spruce Street Ext., which services Martinsville Middle School, Laurel Park Middle School, and Martinsville High School.

SOURCE Comcast