Comcast Grants $30,000 and 100 Laptops to The Welcoming Center

Comcast announced it has awarded a $30,000 grant and donated 100 laptops to The Welcoming Center (TWC) in Philadelphia to help advance digital equity.

The first of the 100 laptops donated by Comcast were given to 15 participants of TWC’s Google Docs and Slides for English Learners class during their graduation ceremony last month. The month-long class teaches digital literacy skills to help immigrants adapt and thrive in a digital world.

“Having foundational digital literacy skills is as essential as becoming comfortable and proficient in English,” said Anuj Gupta, The Welcoming Center President. “We are grateful to Comcast for the support and partnership to ensure our participants have the skills they need to succeed in a digital world, so they can ultimately fulfill the American dream.”

TWC will distribute the remaining laptops to future participants of their ESOL & Digital Skills program, as well as to participants in their Entrepreneurship, Community Leadership, and Work Readiness programs. The $30,000 grant will support immigrant participants in TWC’s digital equity programs.

“This class helped me a lot. Having digital literacy skills is very important to me because now I can work on projects from home and take online classes,” said Jude Marius, a participant of The Welcoming Center from Philadelphia. “I was so happy to get a laptop from Comcast. I previously had to use my phone to connect, but now I can use my laptop. I even signed up for my next class with TWC using my new laptop.”

Comcast is proud to support TWC, which works to open doors of economic opportunity for immigrants of all education and skill levels and build immigrants’ individual and collective agency to address barriers to integration and well-being. Since 2020, Comcast has provided TWC with $95,500 in grants and sponsorships.

“We are proud of our longstanding relationship The Welcoming Center, and we understand the role digital literacy plays in ensuring immigrants have the same unlimited possibilities to succeed,” said Stephanie L. Kosta, Vice President of Government and Regulatory Affairs and Community Impact, Comcast Freedom Region. “By supporting TWC, thousands of immigrants across Philadelphia will have access to the tools and resources they need to succeed in an increasingly digital world.”

Comcast is committed to investing in programs and events to further digital equity by developing workforce skills, increasing access to educational opportunities, and removing barriers to build a stronger, more prosperous community. The support is made possible through Project UP, Comcast’s $1 billion comprehensive initiative to advance digital equity and help build a future of unlimited possibilities.

For additional information on Project UP and Comcast’s digital equity initiatives, visit https://corporate.comcast.com/impact/project-up.