New training at club’s WiFi-connected “Lift Zone” will help kids build the skills they need to succeed in school, prepare for the workforce
June 22, 2023 – Comcast announced today that it has awarded the Boys & Girls Club of Pekin a $10,000 grant to support digital skills training through the club’s MyFuture technology initiative. MyFuture is designed to teach club members about the digital world, ignite their passion for technology and help bridge the digital divide. The grant is part of Project UP, Comcast’s 10-year, $1 billion initiative to advance digital equity and help build a future of unlimited possibilities.
The new training will be housed in the organization’s Lift Zone, which Comcast opened onsite in April 2021. Lift Zones are WiFi-connected spaces where children can get online to do schoolwork and adults can get online to learn new digital skills and access an array of services.
“We thank Comcast for its continued support in helping us to serve our community and deliver on our mission, which is to ‘enable all young people to reach their full potential,’” said John Denning, CEO of Boys & Girls Club of Pekin. “Digital skills along with access to the Internet and technology are essential to excel in today’s ever-increasing digital world. We are very thankful for this grant.
The Boys & Girls Club of Pekin Lift Zone is one of more than 1,250 Lift Zones throughout the country, more than 90 in this region alone. Other Peoria-area Lift Zones are located at Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Peoria locations at the Caho/Becker Unit and East Bluff Community Center in Peoria, George Washington Carver Community Center in Peoria, Nannie M. Johnson Community Center in Peoria and Richland Farms Community Center in East Peoria. The Lift Zones complement Comcast’s Internet Essentials program, a low-cost Internet adoption program for low-income families, which has helped more than 10 million people in America – 1.6 million in Illinois – connect to the Internet at home since it was launched in 2011.
“Through Internet Essentials, Comcast has helped hundreds of thousands of Illinois households cross the digital divide,” said Carl Jones, Jr, Comcast’s Regional Vice President of Government and External Affairs. “I’m proud that Comcast was a pioneer in closing the digital divide early on and continues to make investments and offer solutions that further our commitment to the communities we serve through Project UP.”
Jones also noted that the “Affordable Connectivity Program” (ACP), a federal digital equity initiative, provides eligible low-income households a credit of up to $30 a month toward the cost of Internet and/or mobile phone service, including all of Comcast’s Xfinity Internet and Xfinity Mobile plans, as well as Internet Essentials. For more information, visit www.xfinity.com/acp.
About Boys & Girls Club of Pekin
Since 1960, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Pekin have provided the youth in the Pekin area opportunities which they may not all have provided to them to become caring, responsible, and productive citizens. The Boys & Girls Club of Pekin is dedicated to providing facilities, services, and support necessary to instill a sense of achievement, cooperation, leadership, and self-esteem in the youth of our community. The depth of this commitment guarantees an improved quality of life for each child served and insures a strong foundation for the future of our community, our nation, and our world. The commitment of the Club extends to all youth regardless of nationality, religion, race, creed, or sex.
About Comcast Corporation
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company. From the connectivity and platforms we provide, to the content and experiences we create, our businesses reach hundreds of millions of customers, viewers, and guests worldwide. We deliver world-class broadband, wireless, and video through Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky; produce, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through brands including NBC, Telemundo, Universal, Peacock, and Sky; and bring incredible theme parks and attractions to life through Universal Destinations & Experiences. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information.
About Comcast Greater Chicago Region
With around 5,000 local employees, Comcast’s Greater Chicago Region (https://chicago.comcast.com) serves customers in central and northern Illinois, including the Chicago area, northern Indiana and southwest Michigan. “Like” Comcast’s Greater Chicago Region on Facebook by visiting @Comcast. “Follow” Comcast’s Greater Chicago Region on Twitter at @ComcastIllinois.
