Comcast today announced a donation of $25,000 to the YMCA Greenleigh Learning Cottage along with the opening of a new Lift Zone at the center, which will provide free, high-speed Wi-Fi to residents of the Greenleigh Mobile Home Park. An event and ribbon-cutting ceremony will commence at 2 p.m. ET today at the YMCA Greenleigh Learning Cottage located at 14006 B Stevenhurst Drive in Chester, Virginia.
At the event, Comcast will donate free backpacks containing school supplies and hygiene items, and provide information on its Internet Essentials program along with the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB), a temporary benefit program from the federal government designed to help qualified low-income households with a credit of up to $50 per month toward their internet service until the program’s funding runs out.
“We are beyond thrilled about Comcast’s generosity and commitment to digital equity,” said Abigail Farris Rogers, President and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Richmond, which includes the YMCA Greenleigh Learning Cottage. “Our community was hit hard by the pandemic and the combination of the grant plus free Wi-Fi in our center will ensure those who need it most have the resources and digital skills they need to succeed in today’s digital world.”
Comcast Lift Zones provide free, high-speed Wi-Fi and hundreds of hours of digital skills training to community centers – allowing more students, seniors, veterans and others to connect to fast, reliable internet service for distance learning, job hunting, telehealth services and more. Lift Zones complement Comcast’s Internet Essentials program, which has connected a cumulative total of more than 10 million people in need to the internet at home since 2011 – including 360,000 individuals in Virginia. The YMCA Greenleigh Learning Cottage is one of seven Lift Zones in Virginia.
“Ensuring equitable internet access is a key priority for us at the state level and thanks to the partnership with Comcast, the YMCA Greenleigh Learning Cottage Lift Zone will help bridge the gap and offer families much needed support when at-home Wi-Fi connectivity may not be available,” said Virginia Delegate Carrie Coyner.
“We’re proud to expand our partnership with the YMCA Greenleigh Learning Cottage and participate in today’s event to help drive awareness of the free and low-cost internet options available today to Richmond-area residents,” said Misty Allen, Vice President of Government and Regulatory Affairs for Comcast’s Beltway Region. “Our ultimate goal is to connect as many individuals and families as possible to the internet to ensure they can fully participate in educational opportunities and the digital economy.”
