BOSTON — More than 600 local Comcast NBCUniversal employees and their families, friends and community partners will “make change happen” as they volunteer to improve the Josiah Quincy Elementary School and other Chinatown neighborhood gathering areas as a result of the company’s partnership with the Asian Community Development Corporation as part of the 17th annual Comcast Cares Day. This year, volunteers in Boston’s Chinatown also were part of and celebrated 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 about 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.
In Boston alone, Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh, Comcast Cable President and CEO David N. Watson, Comcast Boston Region Senior Vice President Tracy Pitcher along with more than 600 local employees and City Year Boston corps members will spend the day working to spruce up a variety of areas in Boston’s Chinatown neighborhood. For example, volunteers will be painting hallways and classrooms inside the Josiah Quincy Elementary School, cleaning up adjacent parks and working on murals among other activities.
“Comcast Cares Day is one of the best days of the year and a powerful representation of our year-round commitment to service,” said David N. Watson, President and CEO of Comcast Cable and Senior EVP of Comcast Corporation. “I’m so proud of our employees here in Boston, throughout New England and all over the country as we come together and give back our time to the communities where we live and work.”
“As we celebrate our 17th annual Comcast Cares Day, we are delighted to partner with the Asian Community Development Corporation to give back in Boston,” said Tracy Pitcher, Senior Vice President of Comcast’s Greater Boston Region. “It’s really inspiring how we can drive positive change when our employees, their family and friends, and our community 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.”
“We’re heartened to see so many volunteers come out to Chinatown today to learn about the challenges this community is facing and to roll up their sleeves to pitch in and help us improve and preserve Chinatown,” said Angie Liou, Executive Director of Asian Community Development Corporation. “We are grateful to Comcast for this partnership and look forward to more collaborative opportunities in the future.”
For the 17th year, Comcast employees in Boston will be joined by local affiliates from the City Year as national partners of Comcast Cares Day. “Every year, City Year Boston looks forward to Comcast Cares Day as our opportunity to celebrate our partnership with Comcast NBCUniversal, and our shared commitment to serving local communities,” said Sandra Lopez Burke, Vice President and Executive Director, City Year Boston. “We’re excited to brighten spaces where students learn and play in the Chinatown neighborhood, and ready to roll up our sleeves alongside so many dedicated community leaders and volunteers at this special event.”
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 aiming 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 www.comcast.com/community.
All photos by Bill Brett
