A Back-to-School event gets an upgrade in one of the most diverse and disadvantaged communities in the state.
Our Impact:
– 4,500 Fair attendees
– 3,000 Backpacks with school supplies to disadvantaged students
– 1,000 More students not turned away
– 70% of Highline students on the National Free and Reduced Lunch Program
On August 15, Comcast was proud to be the Presenting Sponsor of the Highline School District Back-to-School Fair at Valley Ridge Park in SeaTac, which boasted over 4,500 attendees. Comcast helped provide 3,000 backpacks full of school supplies to students (K-12) in need and presented Internet demonstrations at its Netbook stations to families who learned how to navigate the school district website and access its resources.
“Thanks to our partnership with Comcast, we were able to send 1,000 more students home with backpacks and school supplies for the year,” said Ashley Fosberg, Executive Director of the Highline Schools Foundation. “The impact of this on the SeaTac community is enormous. Not only do the public school students of SeaTac now have necessary supplies for the school year, they also feel taken care of, and their families feel more secure in knowing the community is behind them.”
In-language volunteers translated Internet Essentials information and guided the Internet demos. Internet Essentials is Comcast’s effort to provide discounted Internet service to low-income families. For just $9.95/month, families with children on or eligible for the National Free and Reduced Lunch Program can sign up and secure broadband access (www.internetessentials.com).
Over 70 percent of the Highline School District students are on the National Free and Reduced Lunch Program and it is one of the most ethnically diverse communities in the state. Wanting to meet the needs of this demographic, Comcast worked with the HSD to promote both Internet Essentials and the school district website as great resources for families as kids return to school.
“The Comcast internet tent was the perfect addition to the Back to School Fair,” added Fosberg. “Students and parents were shown how to access important resources online to help them throughout the school year. Having the ability to connect with families about this was invaluable‑-and we couldn’t have done it without Comcast’s support.”
“Highline is very fortunate to have partners like Comcast, who understand that schools can’t do it alone,” said Highline Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Susan Enfield. “It takes the whole community to ensure our students succeed. We are grateful for Comcast’s generous support of our Highline Schools Foundation and for expanding access to the technology that our students need. Comcast is leading the way on school community and business partnerships.”
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