2020 Values Report
Building Supportive Communities for Veterans and Their Families
Cpl. Adam Garcia was just 20 years old and serving in Iraq when he was fatally wounded. He had once told his parents that he didn’t fear war; he feared not being remembered.
“I promised him that wouldn’t happen,” says his mom, Cynthia Garcia, a Telemundo assignment manager in Dallas-Fort Worth.
In the hours after Adam’s 2006 injury, his family flew to a military medical center in Landstuhl, Germany, where they were given a suite at the local Fisher House, a network of “homes away from home” that provides free lodging and support for military families when a loved one is hospitalized. As his parents sat by his hospital bed, making agonizing decisions with doctors, Adam’s 12-year-old sister, Danielle, stayed behind at the Fisher House with a babysitter. But her mom still recalls the young girl’s boredom: “There’s nothing for kids to do here,” Danielle told her.
Comcast NBCUniversal recognizes that military service impacts more than those who wear a uniform. Parents, siblings, even friends, sacrifice alongside our military. Service to our communities matters, and it’s been amazing to see how our employees rallied behind their colleague to support Fisher Houses in their local regions.
More than a decade later, Cynthia put in motion a solution. As a member of Comcast NBCUniversal’s local Veterans Network (VetNet) Employee Resource Group (ERG), she was searching for a new project to support. Cynthia had an idea that had been percolating for some time: create a child-friendly space at the Dallas Fisher House. Together, the VetNet team set up a cozy nook, complete with beanbags, a small table, a library of donated books and DVDs — and a photo of Adam, in uniform, on the wall. The space was named “Adam’s Corner.”
9.5K
members of the Veterans Network
While attending our annual Military Influencer & Leader Development Symposium, Cynthia shared the story of her tragic loss — and the inspiration for Adam’s Corner — with executives and VetNet champions at Comcast headquarters. With support from the company, other regional VetNet chapters took up the cause. Today, Adam’s legacy lives on in nine Fisher Houses across the country, with more installations planned.
“We are humbled that Cynthia and her family chose to channel their grief into comforting spaces for children who are going through traumatic events,” says Ken Fisher, Chairman and CEO of the Fisher House Foundation. “Comcast NBCUniversal enthusiastically rallied behind Adam’s Corners, and we are grateful for their assistance in helping us scale this program to serve more families.”
Our company has had a longstanding commitment to the military community, which includes current and former service men and women and their families. We are hiring 21,000 members by the end of 2021, supporting military community organizations, expanding broadband adoption for low-income veterans, and delivering special product offers for military customers.
$9.5M
allocated in public service announcements for military community support organizations in 2019
Cynthia often visits the Dallas Fisher House to see if the very first Adam’s Corner needs more supplies.
“I promised Adam he would not be forgotten — and because of the help of a lot of people, his name is living on,” she says. “I’m so grateful for the company I work for and for having such a wonderful ERG group that invests in military community employees.”
40+
military community support organizations and events sponsored
50+
public speaking engagements on veteran issues, including military hiring
13.8K
employees who participated in veteran-related service projects