Spectrum today announced First Corinthian Baptist Church (FCBC) Community Development Corporation has received a $5,000 Spectrum Digital Education Grant for its Senior Connect program.
The grant is part of the company’s multi-year, $6 million cash and in-kind national commitment to digital education in Spectrum communities across the country.
The company doubled its original 2020 commitment to digital education, awarding a total of $1 million to 47 organizations providing broadband education, technology, and training.
The FCBC Community Development Corporation is one of two New York City recipients of the Spectrum Digital Education Grant program. The Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation will also receive a grant.
The Dream Center, based in Manhattan’s Harlem neighborhood and founded by the FCBC Community Development Corporation, will use the funds to expand its Senior Connect program virtually and year-round and upgrade on-site equipment and software.
The Center’s mission is to unlock and cultivate the opportunities of the community through transformative programs centered on creative arts, leadership development, and economic empowerment.
The FCBC Community Development Corporation is a catalyst for transformation, challenging, and empowering individuals to realize their infinite possibilities through education, arts, health awareness, and civic engagement.
“The FCBC Community Development Corporation is instrumental in bringing digital education into the community,” said Camille Joseph-Goldman, group vice president of state government affairs for Spectrum. “Through the Dream Center’s Senior Connect program, we can help and support the FCBC Community Development Corporation to provide those in need with the resources to navigate the challenges of the digital age.”
Desiree Elder, executive director of the FCBC Community Development Corporation and the Dream Center said “The pandemic widened the digital divide as people were forced to quickly adjust to technology or be further alienated from the world. Seniors were disproportionately affected by this. Senior Connect helps close the digital and technological divide by empowering those on the negative side of the divide to receive the skills and support needed to help them better thrive in the digital economy. By making these resources digestible and tangible, we can demystify the fear and stigma around learning new digital-based skills.”
I am proud to play a part in helping Harlem seniors learn technical skills such as navigating email, setting up social media accounts, and even how to pay bills online.
New York State Senator Brian A. Benjamin said, “I am proud to play a part in helping Harlem seniors learn technical skills such as navigating email, setting up social media accounts, and even how to pay bills online. I want to thank Spectrum for understanding the importance of public-private partnerships. That is really what this is all about. Everyone needs to come together. We need to do our fair share and when corporations are doing the right thing we should acknowledge that.”
Through the use of technology, the Senior Connect program aims to inspire seniors and reconnect families, build community, develop self-confidence, and make the world of technology less intimidating.
The program teaches seniors Internet basics such as email and social media set-up, Google and Office 365 training, and setting up online accounts for bills and government assistance programs.
The program teaches seniors Internet basics such as email and social media set-up, Google and Office 365 training, and setting up online accounts for bills and government assistance programs.
With this year’s grants, Spectrum has surpassed its multi-year commitment to award $6 million in cash and in-kind donations to support broadband education across the company’s 41-state service area.
With this year’s grants, Spectrum has surpassed its multi-year commitment to award $6 million in cash and in-kind donations to support broadband education across the company’s 41-state service area.
This year’s recipients are from 15 states and Washington, D.C., and were chosen from 259 eligible applications.
This year’s recipients are from 15 states and Washington, D.C., and were chosen from 259 eligible applications.
Recipients include nonprofits working to empower disadvantaged residents in towns and cities, boost small businesses in rural areas, provide computer assistance to senior citizens, and organizations that meet educational needs for children — including those experiencing homelessness and remote learning challenges.
Since its inception in 2017 through July 2020, Spectrum Digital Education Grants have benefitted more than 41,000 individuals in 17 states and Washington, D.C.
Spectrum Digital Education Grants is one of several philanthropic programs developed by Charter to support the communities in which Charter provides service and where its employees both live and work.
Additionally, Spectrum Housing Assist, launched in 2015 to make homes safer and healthier, surpassed its goal of improving 50,000 homes by the end of 2020.
Charter’s Spectrum Employee Community Grants program, launched in 2019 to support employees’ volunteer activities at local social and human services organizations, has already impacted more than 175 critical services organizations across 25 states.
This year, Charter announced the launch of the Spectrum Community Investment Loan Fund, which will invest $10 million in the capital by the end of 2021, making loans up to $1 million to community development financial institutions (CDFIs) in the company’s footprint.
In June, Charter announced additional investment partnerships with the National Urban League and National Action Network to support Black and other minority-owned small businesses.
The addition of those partnerships increased Charter’s Loan Fund commitment to $13 million.
Finally, this spring, Charter introduced Spectrum Scholars, a two-year educational program for eligible rising juniors in financial need, that will award a total of $400,000 in scholarship aid, provide company mentors for students, as well as connecting them with potential internship opportunities at Charter.
Spectrum is a suite of advanced communications services offered by Charter Communications, Inc., a leading broadband connectivity company and cable operator serving more than 30 million customers in 41 states.
Over an advanced communications network, the company offers a full range of state-of-the-art residential and business services including Spectrum Internet®, TV, Mobile, and Voice.
For small and medium-sized companies, Spectrum Business® delivers the same suite of broadband products and services coupled with special features and applications to enhance productivity, while for larger businesses and government entities, Spectrum Enterprise provides highly customized, fiber-based solutions. Spectrum Reach® delivers tailored advertising and production for the modern media landscape.
The company also distributes award-winning news coverage, sports, and high-quality original programming to its customers through Spectrum Networks and Spectrum Originals.
More information about Charter can be found at corporate.charter.com.
Photo credit: New York State Senator Brian A. Benjamin; Pastor Michael A. Walrond Jr.; Syreena Howard, The Dream Center’s Operation Manager; Desiree Elder, The Dream Center’s Executive Director; Rodney Capel, Spectrum’s Vice President of Government Affairs for the New York City region.
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