El Centro de la Raza in Seattle Presents Comcast with Corporate Partner of the Year Award

January 3, 2013 by

Estela Ortega, right, executive director of El Centro de La Raza in Seattle, presented the Corporate Citizen of the Year Award to Comcast in Seattle. Receiving the award was Diem Ly, left, manager of external affairs for Comcast in Washington.

Estela Ortega, right, executive director of El Centro de la Raza in Seattle, presented the Corporate Citizen of the Year Award to Comcast in Seattle. Receiving the award was Diem Ly, left, manager of external affairs for Comcast in Washington.

Talk about the holiday spirit! A Seattle nonprofit gives back to its corporate partner.  After years of support from Comcast  in Washington, El Centro de la Raza, a respected Latino-based civil and human rights organization, recognized the company as its Corporate Partner of the Year.

Estela Ortega, El Centro’s executive director, awarded Comcast during an employee appreciation party held at the organization’s Beacon Hill location.

“2012 has been an exceptional year in terms of the relationship with Comcast,” said Ortega.  Three Comcast Cares Days “brought hundreds of volunteers to El Centro with many things we couldn’t afford to do,” said Ortega who assumed the role in 2009. Comcast Cares Day projects included landscaping, painting, cleaning, and fixing just about every inch of the historic building and property the local Latino American community call home.

“[Comcast] funded our Digital Connectors program which is teaching young Latino kids about technology and was a sponsor of our annual dinner –it was our 40th anniversary,” said Ortega. “And then Comcast has been very generous with other grants and funds to support the organization. No one has been that type of a partner to support the work of El Centro de la Raza. And it isn’t just about the dollars–it’s about the relationships developed with Comcast.”

El Centro offers comprehensive programs and services to empower the Latino community and works to advocate on behalf of its people and raise awareness of its concerns to achieve social justice.

Diem Ly, external affairs manager at Comcast-Washington accepted the award.  “On behalf of Comcast’s nearly 4,000 employees here in Washington, I want to thank you for this award and to let you know we are always here to help. We not only consider you our partners, but our friends as well,” said Ly.

“What can I say other than just an amazing community partner and we’re proud to name Comcast in 2012 our Corporate Partner of the Year,” said Ortega.

Filed under 2013 Comcast News Releases, 2013 News Releases, All 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 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 , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Counting the Days to Comcast Cares Day

April 19, 2011 by

We’re all looking forward to Comcast Cares Day in Washington State on April 30 where thousands of volunteers will cross Washington to help nonprofits with a variety of improvement projects. Here are just two examples of the news releases that our partner organizations send out: from El Centro de La Raza and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Spokane County.

Comcast Cares Day at El Centro de la Raza

 Seattle – Will you be joining us in celebrating the 10th Anniversary of Comcast Cares Day on April 30th, 2011? 300-350 volunteers from Comcast, the community and El Centro de la Raza will be joining forces to tackle countless volunteer projects. This special event has grown to become one of the largest single-day corporate volunteer efforts in the country, and El Centro de la Raza is proud to host it on Saturday, April 30th. 

The day’s projects will save El Centro de la Raza tens of thousands of dollars in maintenance and upkeep that could not have been done otherwise. As a non-profit organization, El Centro de la Raza relies on partnering with volunteers year-round in countless ways to help serve over 22,884 individuals in our 32 human services programs annually. In 2009 Comcast Cares Day volunteers contributed to our total of over 24,000 hours of volunteer work. Gracias!

Projects will take place throughout the day and volunteers can join in for just an hour or up to the entire day and participate in hands-on team or office projects.  Some of the team projects include pruning trees, landscaping the grounds, prepping and painting of the halls and stairwells, window washing, and installing new flood lights and cameras for the safety of participants and the community. Office projects include graphic design opportunities, data entry, Auction item procurement and others.

Lunch will be provided gracias to Comcast. Registration begins at 7:00am and the event lasts until 2:00pm or 3:00pm. Anyone interested in joining the action by volunteering throughout the day should RSVP to volunteer@elcentrodelaraza.org or call 206.957.4602 by Friday, April 15th, 2011.

For more information, visit www.elcentrodelaraza.org

THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF SPOKANE COUNTY SELECTED FOR COMCAST CARES DAY ON APRIL 30

 SPOKANE, WASHINGTON (Monday, April 11) – On Saturday, April 30th, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., more than 150 Comcast employees will volunteer their day to give the Boys & Girls Clubs of Spokane County’s Northtown Club location a “make-over” as part of the annual Comcast Cares Day. The day will include cleaning the building, painting and general efforts to beautify the Club that currently serves up to 250 at-risk youth every day. To enhance one of the largest single-day corporate volunteer efforts in the country, friends and families of the Boys & Girls Clubs will also join in the effort to improve the Club’s appearance.  

“Comcast has been a tremendous champion for our organization over the years and to be selected as the site for their annual community outreach efforts is a reflection of the great employees they have and the amazingly impactful work they do in the local community,” stated Boys & Girls Clubs of Spokane County’s Executive Director, Dick Hanlin. “The Northtown Club serves as the center of the neighborhood and we are looking forward to working right along-side their volunteers to ensure it continues to be a safe place for those who need our help most.” 

Comcast Cares Day has become a staple in the local community and by the end of the day April 30, Comcast employees, families and friends nationwide will have volunteered more than 2 million hours of service during the history of Comcast Cares Day. The 2011 Comcast Cares Day holds a special meaning in that it will serve to celebrate the 10th anniversary of both Comcast Cares Day as well as the opening of the first of three Boys & Girls Clubs in Spokane County – the Northtown Club.

“April 30 marks our 10th Comcast Cares Day, which has become one of the largest single-day corporate volunteer efforts in the country. We in Spokane are part of a national day of service that will include over 600 projects in 39 states and Washington D.C. and more than 370,000 hours of community service in one day,” said Ken Watts, General Manager for Comcast in Spokane. “In giving back to and serving communities, we hope to meet their needs for a better future. Comcast will continue its commitment to community service during these challenging times, and we hope to inspire others to volunteer and help their communities.”

To volunteer for Comcast Cares Day at the Northtown Boys & Girls Club, call 509-489-0741. Volunteers are needed from 8am – 4pm. 

About The Boys & Girls Clubs of Spokane County

Since 2001, The Boys & Girls Clubs of Spokane County has been a part of a nationwide affiliation of local, autonomous organizations dedicated to helping young people of all backgrounds develop the qualities they need to become responsible citizens and leaders. Founded in the philosophies of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Spokane County operates multiple Clubs in order to provide a broad range of programs in five Core Areas: Education and Career Development, Character and Leadership Development, Health and Life Skills, The Arts and Sports, Fitness and Recreation.

Currently serving more than 4,000 area youth between the ages of 6 – 18, The Boys & Girls Clubs of Spokane County operates three Clubs year-round from Friday through Monday. For a yearly membership fee of $10, youth have access to all of the Clubs: Northtown Branch (Open 3pm – 7pm); the Libby Teen Center (Open 4pm – 8pm) and the Lisa Stiles-Gyllenhammer Mead Branch (Open 3pm – 7pm).

For more information about the Boys & Girls Clubs of Spokane, visit www.bgcspokanecounty.org

About Comcast Corporation
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq:  CMCSA, CMCSK) (www.comcast.com) is one of the nation’s leading providers of entertainment, information and communications products and services.  Comcast is principally involved in the operation of cable systems through Comcast Cable and in the development, production and distribution of entertainment, news, sports and other content for global audiences through NBCUniversal.  Comcast Cable is one of the nation’s largest video, high-speed Internet and phone providers to residential and business customers.  Comcast is the majority owner and manager of NBCUniversal, which owns and operates entertainment and news cable networks, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, local television station groups, television production operations, a major motion picture company and theme parks.

Comcast has about 3,200 Washington employees, including 1,000 local customer service representatives in three call centers, who serve more than 1.1 million customers in Washington. For more information, visit http://www.comcastinwashingtonstate.com

Filed under All News Releases, Community investment Tagged with , ,

We’re Excited: 12 Projects Throughout Washington Highlight 10th Annual Comcast Cares Day

April 7, 2011 by

More than 2,000 Comcast Volunteers to Volunteer at 12 Community Service Projects Across Western Washington and Spokane for Comcast Cares Day

Volunteer sites include El Centro de La Raza in Seattle, Boys and Girls Clubs of Spokane County

On Saturday, April 30, more than 2,000 Comcast employees and their families and friends will volunteer to improve more than a dozen locations throughout Western Washington and in Spokane as part of Comcast’s “Comcast Cares Day.” 

At the same time across the country, more than 62,000 Comcast volunteers will participate in this annual day of service, which is one of the largest single days of corporate volunteer efforts in the country.  This is Comcast’s 10th Comcast Cares Day.  Since its inception in 2001, Comcast employees, their families and friends have dedicated over 2 million hours of service.  The Company has also committed more than $10 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.

Comcast’s task lists for the day in Washington state are as varied as the projects, but include massive amounts of painting and landscaping, and unique tasks ranging from building a welcome counter for a building to rebuilding a miniature golf course for a homeless families’ outdoor program.

“April 30 marks our 10th Comcast Cares Day, which has become one of the largest single-day corporate volunteer efforts in the country,” said Len Rozek, Regional Senior Vice President, Comcast Washington Region.  “I’m proud of Comcast’s commitment to improving the quality of life in the local communities where our customers and employees live and work.” 

 Here is a list of projects, by community:

Aberdeen
Rebuilding Together’s Rebuilding Day 2011
Coordinating Comcast office: Aberdeen Field Fulfillment Office
Rebuilding Together believes in a safe and healthy home for every person; it preserves affordable homeownership and revitalizes communities by providing free home modifications and repairs, making homes safer, more accessible, and more energy efficient.  Comcast activities will include:

  • Home maintenance
  • Window repair and replacement
  • Landscaping
  • Energy efficient modification projects

Bremerton
Holly Ridge Center
Coordinating office: Bremerton Field Fulfillment Office
Holly Ridge Center has been serving children and adults with disabilities for nearly 50 years. Comcast activities will include

  • Updating playgrounds and equipment projects
  • Landscaping
  • Pressure washing projects
  • Painting

Custer (near Bellingham)
Custer Elementary School
Coordinating Comcast Office: Bellingham Field Fulfillment Office
Custer Elementary School educates and cares for about 325 elementary school students.  Comcast activities will include:

  • Painting
  • Landscaping
  • Maintenance

Federal Way
Boy Scouts of America Pacific Harbor Council’s Camp Kilworth
Coordinating Comcast office: Auburn Field Fulfillment Office
The 40-acre Camp Kilworth is a youth day and night camp site. Among the Comcast activities:

  • Pressure washing
  • Painting
  • Campsite cleaning projects
  • Landscaping
  • Replacement and equipment repair projects

Kirkland
Peter Kirk Elementary School
Coordinating Comcast office: Redmond Field Fulfillment Office
Peter Kirk educates 545 elementary school students.   Comcast activities will include:

  • Weeding
  • Bush clearing
  • Planting and beauty bark projects

Olympia
GRuB (Garden Raised Bounty)
Coordinating Comcast Office: Olympia Field Fulfillment Office
Garden-Raised Bounty (GRuB) is a grassroots non-profit organization dedicated to good food for people. The organization grows inspired, self-confident and community-minded youth through educational and employment opportunities. The group also helps low-income families and seniors to help themselves by building raised-bed gardens at their homes. Comcast activities will include:

  • Planting and landscaping
  • Painting

Parkland
L’Arche Farms
Coordinating Comcast Office: Puyallup Field Fulfillment Office
L’Arche Tahoma Hope Farm & Gardens strives to offer a safe and welcoming environment that provides meaningful farm and garden work to persons with developmental disabilities. Through the efforts of the workers, L’Arche Farms is able to supply organic produce to the local farmers markets and food banks. Comcast activities will include:

  • Landscaping projects
  • Greenhouse projects
  • Compost projects
  • Chicken coop projects
  • Woodchip creation project

Seattle
El Centro de La Raza (The Center for People of All Races)
Coordinating Comcast Office: Seattle Field Fulfillment Office
El Centro de la Raza provides comprehensive services to the community through 32 different programs and services, including human and emergency services, education and skill-building programs, community building and development, and child and youth programs. Comcast activities will include:

  • Painting
  • Landscaping
  • Wiring
  • General maintenance
  • Special event preparation (for Cinco de Mayo)
  • Security camera and improvements
  • Assistance with community outreach (preparing mailings, auction item procurement, packet preparation, etc…)

Snohomish
The Farm Youth Outreach
Coordinating Comcast office:  Everett Field Fulfillment Office
The Farm Youth Outreach helps homeless children and their families with food and clothing.  In 2008, the American Red Cross of Snohomish County named the organization’s founder, Bruce Karr, as Humanitarian of the Year. Comcast activities will include:

  • Rebuilding the miniature golf course
  • Rebuilding table tops and picnic tables
  • Painting
  • Landscaping and weeding
  • Cleaning and pressure washing  

Spokane
Boys and Girls Clubs of Spokane County
Coordinating Comcast office: Spokane Field Fulfillment Office
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Spokane County provides educational programs, mentoring, recreational sports leagues, art and music classes to more than 4,000 at-risk youth a year at three club locations. Comcast activities will include:

•     Painting
•     Cleaning and polishing
•     Power washing
•     Landscaping

Sultan
Volunteers of America’s Sky Valley Resource Center
Coordinating Comcast Office: Lynnwood and Everett Call Centers
Sky Valley Resource Center helps individuals and families with a number of needed services.   Services offered include a preschool, gang and violence prevention for teens, a senior center and a food bank. Comcast activities will include:

  • Cleaning
  • Painting
  • Maintenance
  • Landscaping

Tacoma
Network Services
Coordinating Comcast office: Fife Call Center
Network Tacoma assists homeless families with children by providing transitional housing, resources and a program to help them achieve self-sufficiency.  Comcast activities will include::

  • Painting projects
  • Window weatherizing projects
  • Cleaning projects
  • Landscaping project
  • Raised garden projects
  • Food bank projects

 The Comcast Foundation will also 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. While project volunteer groups are still coming together, Comcast anticipates volunteers from both affiliates of the Urban League and The National Council of La Raza (NCLR).

For more information on Comcast’s volunteer and community investment initiatives, visit http://www.comcast.com/inthecommunity.  For information about Comcast Cares Day in Washington in 2010 please click here.

About Comcast Corporation
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq:  CMCSA, CMCSK) (www.comcast.com) is one of the nation’s leading providers of entertainment, information and communications products and services.  Comcast is principally involved in the operation of cable systems through Comcast Cable and in the development, production and distribution of entertainment, news, sports and other content for global audiences through NBCUniversal.  Comcast Cable is one of the nation’s largest video, high-speed Internet and phone providers to residential and business customers.  Comcast is the majority owner and manager of NBCUniversal, which owns and operates entertainment and news cable networks, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, local television station groups, television production operations, a major motion picture company and theme parks.
Comcast has about 3,200 Washington employees, including 1,000 local customer service representatives in three call centers, who serve more than 1.1 million customers in Washington. For more information, visit http://www.comcastinwashingtonstate.com

About the Comcast Foundation
The Comcast Foundation was founded by Comcast Corporation in June 1999 to provide charitable support to qualified non-profit organizations. The Foundation primarily invests in programs intended to have a positive, sustainable impact on their communities.  The Foundation has three community investment priorities – promoting community service, expanding digital literacy, and building tomorrow’s leaders. Since its inception, the Comcast Foundation has donated over $90 million to organizations in the communities nationwide that Comcast serves. More information about the Foundation and its programs is available at www.comcast.com/neighborhood. More information about the Foundation and its programs is available at www.comcast.com/community.

About NCLR
The National Council of La Raza (NCLR)—the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States—works to improve opportunities for Hispanic Americans.  Through its network of nearly 300 affiliated community-based organizations, NCLR reaches millions of Hispanics each year in 41 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia.  To achieve its mission, NCLR conducts applied research, policy analysis, and advocacy, providing a Latino perspective in five key areas—assets/investments, civil rights/immigration, education, employment and economic status, and health. In addition, it provides capacity-building assistance to its Affiliates who work at the state and local level to advance opportunities for individuals and families.

Founded in 1968, NCLR is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan, tax-exempt organization headquartered in Washington, DC.  NCLR serves all Hispanic subgroups in all regions of the country and has regional offices in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Phoenix, and San Antonio.

About NUL
The National Urban League is the nation’s largest civil rights organization dedicated to economic empowerment in order to elevate the standard of living in historically underserved urban communities. Founded in 1910 and headquartered in New York City, the National Urban League spearheads the efforts of its local affiliates through the development of programs, public policy research and advocacy. Today, there are more than 100 local affiliates in 36 states and the District of Columbia, providing direct services that impact and improve the lives of more than 2 million people nationwide.

Filed under All News Releases, Community investment Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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