Comcast NBCUniversal is making $400,000 in contributions to 10 local organizations – including Bucks County Opportunity Council – in the Philadelphia area to support efforts to fight food insecurity during another challenging holiday season.
For the second consecutive year, the company’s headquarters and regional teams are combining resources as COVID-19 continues to have a profound impact on the local community. Food insecurity is particularly acute for the elderly, low-income families, the working poor, those with chronic illnesses, and people experiencing homelessness. In 2020, more than 38 million people in the United States experienced hunger, and half of American families say they fear another hungry holiday season.
“Since the beginning of the pandemic, we’ve worked with our nonprofit partners and local elected officials to understand and respond to the immediate needs of our community members, especially around our hometown of Philadelphia,” said Bret Perkins, senior vice president, external and government affairs at Comcast NBCUniversal. “This is another way we’re showing up for our city and its residents to provide extra support for the tireless work of our community partners.”
Each local organization is receiving $40,000 from Comcast NBCUniversal. In addition to Bucks County Opportunity Council, recipients include Coalition Against Hunger, FulFill, MANNA, Philabundance, Share Food Program, The Chester County Food Bank, The Food Bank of South Jersey, The Food Bank of Delaware and The Food Trust. The funding will support operational measures, including food purchasing, prepping and packaging, and delivery.
In addition to these direct funds, Comcast has worked with its network of partners to address issues caused or exacerbated by the pandemic, resulting in a number of new or expanded programs, including PHLConnectED, the launch and installation of more than 100 regional Lift Zones, support of more than 600 diverse local small business owners through Comcast RISE, and eligibility expansion of Internet Essentials, the nation’s largest and most comprehensive broadband adoption program, to federal Pell Grant recipients. Comcast CEO Brian Roberts and his wife Aileen also donated $5 million at the start of the pandemic to fund almost half of the total cost to purchase laptop computers for every student in the Philadelphia School District to be able to engage in remote learning.
