Comcast helps revitalize Detroit neighborhood with collaborative community volunteer project

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David L. Cohen (L), Senior Executive Vice President and the Chief Diversity Officer of Comcast Corporation awards Kyeshia Bates with a plaque and free trip for her and family to Universal Studios as the One Millionth Volunteer in the 17 year history of Comcast Cares Day. Tim Collins, RSVP of Comcast Heartland Region also stands along side with an Affrimation Center team leader. (Photo by HB Meeks/Tell Us Detroit)

Comcast helps revitalize Detroit neighborhood with collaborative community volunteer project

$25,000 in Grants Awarded to S.A.Y. Detroit and We Care About Van Dyke Seven Mile

DETROIT - On Saturday, April 21, more than 125 local Comcast NBCUniversal employees and their families, friends and community partners “made change happen” as they volunteered to improve the 7 Mile and Van Dyke neighborhood, which surrounds the S.A.Y. Detroit Play Center, as part of the 17th annual Comcast Cares Day. This year, volunteers in Detroit also were part of and celebrated a significant milestone of Comcast Cares Day – reaching 1 million volunteers since the program began in 2001.

Comcast Cares Day is more than just a day – it is a celebration and opportunity to spotlight our year-round commitment to volunteerism that began with our founding 55 years ago. From using technology to create positive change, such as teaching digital literacy skills and wiring community centers and libraries, to mentoring youth, to beautifying parks, Comcast NBCUniversal employees volunteer on this day, and throughout the year, to make a lasting impact. This year, the Company expects more than 100,000 volunteers to participate in about 1,000 projects across the country and around the world. To date, volunteers have contributed more than 5 million volunteer hours at 8,800 projects.

Volunteers spent their morning cleaning up the nearby alley adjacent to the S.A.Y. Center, nearby streets and business areas; revitalizing garages and buildings with fresh coats of paint; beautifying the 7 Mile corridor by cleaning up debris, fixing fences and planting flowers; and cleaning up abandoned lots and painting wooden boards on vacant houses. Also, at the S.A.Y. Detroit Play Center, volunteers painted a mural and added new planters with flowers to freshen up the area for spring. Various government and community leaders, including Mayor Mike Duggan, joined Comcast for the event.

"Comcast has been a great partner in the success of Project Green Light, which has created zones of safety across our city," said Mayor Mike Duggan. "The fact that they have brought in more than 100 volunteers to help clean and beautify the neighborhood near several Green Light businesses shows the even deeper commitment Comcast has to this community."

Comcast employees in Detroit were also joined by local representatives from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Detroit, Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan, City Year Detroit, Cities of Service, Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries, S.A.Y. Detroit, The Youth Connection, Urban League of Detroit and Southeastern Michigan, and We Care About Van Dyke Seven Mile.

“We are thankful for our employees and community partners who volunteer their many talents – from painting and planting to teaching digital literacy skills and holding resume writing workshops – to make a positive, lasting impact on Comcast Cares Day and throughout the year,” said David L. Cohen, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer of Comcast Corporation. “Service as a tool to give back is a deep part of Comcast NBCUniversal’s culture, and Comcast Cares Day, along with our ongoing partnerships with Global Citizen and Red Nose Day, provide many ways to take action and make a difference.”
To kick off the event, Comcast surprised two nonprofit organizations with grants totaling $25,000. S.A.Y. Detroit and We Care About Van Dyke Seven Mile were awarded with $20,000 and $5,000 checks, respectively.

The Comcast Foundation will also provide grants to other local community partner organizations across Michigan and the country on behalf of everyone who volunteers on Comcast Cares Day. The grants will help Comcast’s community partners continue their mission of serving the community throughout the year. To date, the Comcast Foundation has awarded more than $22 million in grants to local non-profit organizations who have served as partners on Comcast Cares Day.

Additionally, Comcast will once again fold in the broad support and amplification of Global Citizen and Red Nose Day, organizations aiming to end extreme poverty globally and in the United States. These organizations use the universal language of music and entertainment as a vehicle to engage people around the world to make a difference. By amplifying our support of these initiatives on Comcast Cares Day, Comcast NBCUniversal is providing additional ways to help drive positive change in our communities.

For more information on Comcast NBCUniversal volunteer and community investment initiatives, visit www.comcast.com/community.