Comcast said more than 100,000 employees, their families and friends, along with several community partners will participate in the 17th annual Comcast Cares Day, set for this Saturday (April 21).
Comcast noted that Comcast Cares Day, which started in 2001, will reach the 1 million volunteers milestone this year as it sets its sights on another goal -- 500,000 employee volunteer hours on environmentally-focused projects alone by 2020.
Since Comcast Cares Day started in 2001, volunteers have logged more than 5 million hours at 8,800 projects, and have contributed more than $22 million in grants to participating local non-profit community partners, Comcast said.
Comcast said participants at this year’s event will take part in more than 1,000 community improvement projects in about 20 countries around the world, including those focused on revitalizing neighborhood parks and schools and assembling care packages for U.S. military service members. This year’s event also includes a partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation that will plant about 1,000 trees in parts of California, Florida and Texas impacted by last year’s wildfires and hurricanes.
Examples of other organization partners involved in Comcast Cares Day include UnidosUS, National Urban League, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, City Year, Easterseals, and The Arc.
Among activities with a special technology focus, machineQ, a Comcast-owned unit focused on enterprise Internet of Things services, will demonstrate the capabilities of its IoT network at Bartram’s Garden in south Philadelphia.
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In addition to the work on cleaning up and beautifying the area, machineQ has deployed a network of 16 wireless, low-power sensors to monitor moisture, temperature and humidity throughout the gardens. That data will help staff at Bartrams’ Garden make informed decisions on when to water plants and warm up their greenhouses and, generally, help to conserve resources and money.
“Comcast Cares Day started as a way to give back in our hometown of Philadelphia, but I am so proud that our employees have embraced it beyond our imagination, growing it into an event that spans the country and around the world,” Brian Roberts, Comcast’s chairman and CEO, said in a statement. “This year, we will celebrate one million volunteers since Comcast Cares Day started, which really speaks to the heart of our employees and their passion for improving our communities.”
“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,” added David Cohen, Comcast’s senior EVP and chief diversity officer, added. “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.”
