Why Team Comcast Walks in Seattle … Against Breast Cancer

May 8, 2012 by


Comcast is again a proud sponsor of the Komen Puget Sound Race for the Cure on June 3. This year’s PSA features Seattle Sounder Servando Carrasco, whose mother is a breast cancer survivor. Click on the frame above to see the PSA, which we will be airing on dozens of cable channels throughout May and the first couple days of June.

Comcast also again has a team this year. We asked one of its members, Sara, who works in our Lynnwood call center, to tell us why she participates. Her words speak for themselves. The one reference you might want a little background on is to the former head of customer care here, Cindy Gallanger, who died of breast cancer in 2010. You can learn more about Cindy here. Many, many people here think often of Cindy. We miss her. And we hate breast cancer.

This is why Sara races in the Race for the Cure:

I race for my friends who have been recently diagnosed and triumphed beyond the medical treatments of Breast Cancer. They have now began their emotional healing from such a life-changing experience.  

Sara, at the 2011 Race for the Cure in Seattle Center

I race for Cindy Gallanger, who fought a valiant fight but ultimately lost her life to this disease.

I race because I quit smoking in September of 2009 and can now actually get the oxygen needed to run further than my own street mailbox.  I am a testament of what you CAN accomplish if you set your mind to it.

I race to raise money that will help wipe this disease off the planet, to raise awareness and be an advocate for someone who would not be screened otherwise.  Early detection is key.  Have you or your family members been screened this year?  This cancer doesn’t discriminate. 

I race  as it allows me this type of forum to break down the stereotypes of a diagnosis and treatment.  Breast cancer sometimes can’t be seen; you don’t always lose your hair or have to experience major surgeries.

I race .. well .. look at my shirt.   I am a 10-year survivor.

I race for ME and you.

If you already donate in this area, bless you for doing so. if you did want to donate on behalf of the Komen efforts to study, prevent and eradicate breast cancer, we’d appreciate your donation here. This is a disease that really needs to go.

Filed under 2012 Comcast Washington News Releases, 2012 News Releases, News Releases Tagged with , ,

KING TV’s ‘New Day Northwest’ Highlights Longstanding Partnership of Comcast and El Centro de La Raza in Seattle

May 1, 2012 by

Steve Kipp of Comcast and Estela Ortega of El Centro de La Raza were guests on the May 1 KING TV New Day Northwest program. Click on the picture to go to the program's page and see the segment.

KING TV’s morning talk show, New Day Northwest, featured the subject of Comcast Cares Day during one of its segments today, May 1. KING’s Margaret Larson interviewed Estela Ortega of El Centro de La Raza and Steve Kipp, vice president of communications for Comcast in Washington.

Estela Ortega was very gracious as she described the aftereffects of 200 volunteers:  ”…it was about $20,000 worth of labor. We could not have afforded that. We need the dollars to go directly into the services to the community. So it was a great help. And this was our second year with Comcast. It helps save a lot of dollars.”

Margaret Larson described one of many reasons why companies do need to give back to the community: “ You make a very good point, because all nonprofits, especially these days when dollars are at such a premium, can’t put that money toward capital expenditures, the building, the asphalt. You know you have a whole in your parking lot, but if it’s a choice between that and feeding a family or doing something that’s critical, you have to put your dollars into the program, so this is unbelievably valuable to you.”

Steve Kipp talked about other ways that Comcast enjoys supporting El Centro de La Raza, such as through its youth Digital Connectors program: “We like to think of ourselves as partners, so if Estela needs something, she gives me a call, and we try to figure it out and work with them.”

You can click here to go to New Day’s page and hear what everyone had to say. To see a set of photos on Flickr that capture some of the activity on Comcast Cares Day, click here.

More than 2,200 Comcast employees, friends and family members volunteered throughout Washington. You can read more and see photographs and video of the various 2012 projects here.

Filed under 2012 Comcast Washington News Releases, 2012 News Releases, Community investment, News Releases Tagged with , , , , ,

Comcast Employee Honored as Citizen-Soldier/Airman of the Year in Pierce County, WA

April 24, 2012 by

We’re proud today of one of our own: communications technician Ralph Godinez, also known as Staff Sgt. Ralph Godinez of the 728th Airlift Squadron at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Staff Sgt. Godinez was honored today as Citizen-Soldier of the Year by the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce. Every year, they join with local Kiwanis Clubs to name a Howard O. Scott Citizen-Soldier of the Year. That’s the historic name of the award, though of course the sharp readers out there have already figured that out that someone based at McChord could also be called Citizen-Airman of the Year.

Staff Sgt. Godinez is on leave from Comcast as he serves in the Reserves. As you see in this profile by his one of his colleagues, Master Sgt. Jake Chapelle, Staff Sgt. Godinez is a very, very busy man with his community service.

Comcast, of course, is a big believer in military service. We film and air PSAs for Hire America’s Heroes, an organization that encourages employers to hire veterans. And just a few weeks ago, a Department of Defense agency presented us with an award for supporting another Reservist, this one in Seattle.

I was proud to attend the lunch and hear this accomplished man say these words: “Thank you to Comcast, my civilian employer, and their fantastic treatment and understanding of Reservists. Their flexibility and accommodations go well beyond the requirement of the law.”

Here are comments about Staff Sgt. Godinez and his own comments at the Tacoma chamber event on April 24, 2012.

Filed under 2012 Comcast Washington News Releases, 2012 News Releases, News Releases

Comcast Employees, Family and Friends Make a Big Difference Throughout Western Washington and Spokane on 11th Annual Comcast Cares Day

April 23, 2012 by


It’s hard to know what to say to the more than 2,200 local Comcast employees and their families and friends who volunteered Saturday, April 21, 2012, at 13 school and nonprofit sites around Western Washington and Spokane as part of Comcast Cares Day.

Comcast’s Steve Kipp was one of several people that KIRO talked to the morning of Comcast Cares Day at our volunteer site of El Centro de La Raza in Seattle. Click on the picture to see the interviews.

Of course, we do say, Thank You. But one thing we like to do is collect photographs and stories from the day, as part of this wonderful scrapbook that we all call the Internet. So if you keep an eye on this post, you will see a gradually growing list of links to photographs and stories about our volunteers’ hard work.

Here is a list of projects and reports:

Aberdeen: Habitat for Humanity of Grays Harbor.

Click on the picture to see a photograph published in the Daily World of Aberdeen, Washington

Bellingham: Whatcom Parks and Recreation Foundationat the Chuckanut Falls Trail

Bremerton: Boys & Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound’s Bremerton Olympia Avenue location

Everett: Salvation Army

Everett: Cascade High School and the Everett School District

Fife: Fife Parks Department at the Lower Hylebos Marsh


Kent: Northwest Harvest Northwest Harvest reports that our people put in $24,000 worth of donated labor. We packed 19,000 meals for the hungry.


Olympia: Rebuilding Together of Thurston County.

Redmond: Eastside Audubon Society at the Audubon BirdLoop at Marymoor Park.

Seattle: El Centro de La Raza

Seattle: Wing Luke Asian Museum

Spokane: Northeast Community Center

Tacoma: Metro Parks STAR (South Tacoma Activity and Recreation) Center  Here, Comcast volunteers worked side-by-side with partners from the Tacoma Urban League and a local Girl Scout Troop.

Here’s a video produced by the Tacoma Urban League’s youth Comcast Digital Connectors and one of their instructors, Yusaf Word:

Filed under 2012 Comcast Washington News Releases, 2012 News Releases, Community investment, News Releases Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , ,

11th Annual Comcast Cares Day on Saturday Mobilizes More Than 2,200 Volunteers in Western Washington and Spokane

April 19, 2012 by

Click on the picture above to see KREM2 TV's report about our Comcast Cares Day project in Spokane.

As we announced in the original post about Comcast Cares Day 2012, it’s time to gear up for one of the biggest days of corporate service in the country! This is the news release we prepared for the occasion. Keep an eye out for frequent updates.  

LYNNWOOD, WA – April 19, 2012– On Saturday, April 21, more than 2,200 local Comcast employees and their families and friends will volunteer to improve 13 school and nonprofit sites around Western Washington and Spokane as part of Comcast Cares Day.

Throughout the country, more than 67,000 Comcast volunteers will participate in this annual day of service.  Since its inception in 2001, Comcast Cares Day has become one of the largest single days of corporate volunteering in the country.

During the day of service, Comcast employees in Washington will take part in a variety of volunteer efforts ranging from finishing the landscaping at a new community center to installing improvements at a house so a 100-year-old lady can continue to live there independently.

Over the previous 10 Comcast Cares Days, Comcast volunteers have dedicated more than 2.1 million hours of service. The Company has also contributed more than $10.5 million in grants to organizations nationwide. Comcast Cares Day is one way that Comcast helps to power dreams and demonstrate a year-round commitment to making a difference in the communities it serves.

“Since Comcast Cares Day began, more than 360,000 employees, their families and friends have contributed their time to improving the communities where we live and work,” said Len Rozek, senior vice president of Comcast’s Washington market, who will be volunteering at El Centro de La Raza in Seattle. “Today, we will surpass 2.5 million total hours of service. I’m grateful to the volunteers here in Washington who will be donating their time to help make such a big difference in the lives of others.”

This is a list of the communities where the projects will take place, and our community partners:

Aberdeen: Habitat for Humanity of Grays Harbor. (Radio station KBKW had a report about the event here)

Bellingham: Whatcom Parks and Recreation Foundation at the Chuckanut Falls Trail.

Bremerton: Boys & Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound’s Bremerton Olympia Avenue location

Everett: Salvation Army

Everett: Cascade High School and the Everett School District

Fife: Fife Parks Department at the Lower Hylebos Marsh. (You can see a nice article in the Fife Free Press here about Comcast Cares Day there)

Kent: Northwest Harvest (The Kent Reporter’s account is here)

Olympia: Rebuilding Together of Thurston County. (ThurstonTalk.com has a really nice story summarizing all that Rebuilding Together does)

Redmond: Eastside Audubon Society at the Audubon BirdLoop at Marymoor Park.

Seattle: El Centro de La Raza

Seattle: Wing Luke Asian Museum

Spokane: Northeast Community Center (KREM 2′s story done in advance of the work is here)

Tacoma: Metro Parks STAR (South Tacoma Activity and Recreation) Center  Here, Comcast volunteers will be working side-by-side with partners from the Tacoma Urban League and a local Girl Scout Troop.

The Comcast Foundation will provide grants to local community partner organizations across the country on behalf of each employee and family member who volunteers on Comcast Cares Day. The grants will help Comcast’s community partners continue their mission of serving the community throughout the year.

For more information on Comcast’s volunteer and community investment initiatives, visit http://www.comcast.com/inthecommunity.  For more information about Comcast Cares Day in Washington, see http://wacomcast.com/tag/comcast-cares-day/

Filed under 2012 Comcast Washington News Releases, 2012 News Releases, Community investment, News Releases Tagged with ,

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