I’m thrilled to share that Comcast Corporation today has been named one of America’s most community-minded companies, according to The Civic 50, a comprehensive survey of S&P 500 companies that best use their time, talent, and resources to improve the quality of life in the communities where they do business.
The survey was conducted by The National Conference on Citizenship and Points of Light, leading experts on civic engagement, in partnership with Bloomberg News. Companies were evaluated on several criteria, including how they engage with the communities they serve and institutionalize these practices in their corporate culture.
At Comcast and NBCUniversal, our long-standing values keep us grounded and true. Day-to-day, we focus our energies on improving individual lives and communities through a network of nonprofit partnerships and innovative programs that foster diversity and inclusion, and help keep all of us connected.
One of the programs I continue to be most proud of is Comcast Cares Day – the largest annual day of corporate volunteerism in the United States. In 2013, we celebrated our 12th annual Comcast Cares Day with more than 85,000 employees volunteering along with their friends and families at more than 750 project sites across the nation and in six other countries.
Another significant effort to give back to our communities is through our partnership with United Way. We recently completed our annual campaign with a record 53 percent of Comcast and NBCUniversal employees pledging an historic $6.4 million. Comcast has now surpassed $50 million in total giving to United Way since 2001. This milestone is another reflection of the generosity of our amazing employees.
While we are focused on efforts promoting service and youth leadership, our primary community investment priority is closing the digital divide. Through Internet Essentials, the nation’s largest broadband adoption program, we have connected more than one million low-income Americans, or more than 250,000 families, to the Internet at home. Along with our Comcast Digital Connectors program, our sponsorship of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Club Tech program, and support from our foundations, we are making strides in changing lives for the better.
As Comcast this year celebrates its 50th anniversary, it is a great honor to receive this distinction and be recognized as one of the most community-minded companies in America. To learn more about The Civic 50 and to see the full list visit www.Civic50.org.