Quad County Urban League Receives $10,000 Grant from Comcast to Support Digital Skill-Building and Workforce Development
Latest grant continues Comcast’s longtime partnership with the Quad County Urban League to close the digital divide
Comcast today announced it has awarded the Quad County Urban League (QCUL) with a $10,000 grant to support the organization’s educational and workforce development programs in Aurora and throughout the Quad Counties (DuPage, Kane, Kendall, and Will) of Illinois.
This grant marks the continuation of Comcast’s nearly 15-year partnership with the Quad County Urban League to help close the digital divide. The company’s latest grant will provide continued support of QCUL’s digital literacy programming, which helps students and adults develop the digital skills needed to thrive in the classroom and workplace.
“We are grateful to Comcast for this generous grant, which will allow us to expand our digital literacy and workforce development efforts in the communities we serve,” said Quad County Urban League President and CEO Theodia Gillespie. “By equipping individuals with the tools and training they need to succeed in today’s digital economy, we’re continuing our mission to empower families and build pathways to economic opportunity.”
The digital skills programming will be housed at the QCUL’s Lift Zone, which Comcast opened onsite in 2021. Lift Zones offer free, high-capacity WiFi in community centers where students can get online to do schoolwork and adults can learn new digital skills, search for jobs, and access services. The QCUL Lift Zone is one of more than 1,250 Lift Zones throughout the country and nearly 90 in Illinois alone.
“Comcast is proud to support the Quad County Urban League’s efforts to equip people with the digital skills and workforce training needed to compete and succeed in today’s job market,” said Grace Hong Duffin, Comcast’s Regional Vice President of External and Government Affairs. “Digital skills are essential to unlocking opportunity and economic mobility, and we’re honored to continue our partnership with QCUL to help close the digital divide in Aurora and throughout Chicagoland.”
Over the past five years, Comcast has made a total of $325,000 in cash and in-kind donations to Aurora-area nonprofits. Comcast’s grant is part of Project UP, the company’s $1 billion commitment to advance digital opportunity and help create a future of unlimited possibilities.