On Feb. 10, the Comcast Foundation announced that several local agencies dedicated to community service, bridging the digital divide and building tomorrow’s leaders are among this year’s Keystone Region grant recipients.
“The Comcast Foundation is proud to award these grants to our partner organizations to improve the lives of our local neighbors,” said Comcast Foundation President Charisse R. Lillie. “Through this support, we remain committed to closing the digital divide, empowering young people to become leaders and engaging our employees and local citizens in volunteerism.”
Among the recipients were 10 agencies serving Pittsburgh and surrounding communities. The largest single grant, $150,000 went to the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh for its commitment to helping low-income households receive Comcast Internet service.
Other recipients include:
•Best of the Batch Foundation, Munhall—$10,000;
•Big Brothers Big Sisters of greater Pittsburgh—$30,000;
•Boys and Girls Club of Carnegie—$15,000;
•Boys and Girls Club of McKeesport—$15,000;
•Imani Christian Academy—$10,000;
•Stong Women Strong Girls of Pittsburgh—$10,000;
•The Neighborhood Academy—$10,000;
•Poise Foundation—$10,000, and
•Sarah Heinz Boys and Girls Club—$20,000.
Neighborhood Academy Senior Development Officer Sheila Rawlings said, “Our school is specifically designed to meet the needs of low-income youth, so not only does our partnership with Comcast reinforce our educational efforts, it supports our overall effort to nurture and care for our students.”
POISE Vice President of Programs Karris Jackson said the Foundation is using the grant to further its educational outreach.
“POISE Foundation is proud to partner with Comcast Corporation for our Educational Improvement Tax Credit Scholarship Program. The EITC Scholarship Program provides critical tuition assistance to families who send their children to private or parochial schools in Allegheny County,” she said. “In 2014, POISE provided tuition assistance to 150 students. Without the continued support of corporations like Comcast, low-income families would not have access to the many educational opportunities available in our community.”
Additionally, several regional agencies that serve Pittsburgh and surrounding communities also received grants including Boys and Girls Club of Western Pennsylvania—$30,000; Easter Seals of Western and Central Pennsylvania—$15,000, and the Girl Scouts of Western Pennsylvania—$50,000.
This round of grants for its Keystone region, which includes portions of northeastern, central and western Pennsylvania, the Maryland panhandle, eastern Ohio and northern West Virginia, totaled $591,000.
Since its creation in 1999, the Comcast Foundation has awarded almost $140 million in grants to nonprofit groups and programs intended to have a positive, sustainable impact on communities.
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