Reprinted with permission of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Spokane County:
COMCAST FOUNDATION DONATES $25,000 TO MODERNIZE THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB’S TECHNOLOGY CENTER IN MEAD
The Lisa Stiles-Gyllenhammer Club to Dedicate Comcast Technology Center on Dec. 2
SPOKANE, WASHINGTON – One of the biggest academic obstacles facing youth today is access to technology, and it is a challenge that the Boys & Girls Clubs of Spokane County is facing head-on thanks to a $25,000 Technology Grant from The Comcast Foundation. This critical funding will ensure the Lisa Stiles-Gyllenhammer Club (Mead) is able to provide the most current technological resources and software available to help prepare at-risk youth for the 21st Century.
Opened in April 2010 to immediate success, the Lisa Stiles-Gyllenhammer Club Technology Center currently provides more than 20 life-saving programs designed to help at-risk kids find success both in the classroom and in life. Facing the realization that only two in five households in Mead have a home computer, the Club has taken a proactive approach to helping bridge the technology gap between those with access to resources and those without.
“This generation of youth will not only want, but need, technological skills and knowledge to compete for jobs. We owe it to all youth to make sure they’re prepared for the ever-changing environment of technology,” stated Ken Watts, Comcast General Manager in Spokane. “The Boys & Girls Clubs of Spokane County and their Club Tech program offer a perfect partnership to help bring technology into the lives of thousands of future community leaders.”
Thanks to Comcast’s new year-round partnership, this critical funding will provide daily access for the Lisa Stiles-Gyllenhammer Club members to 22 new computers and digital equipment to ensure they are exposed to a broad range of technological programs, software and advancements such as NetSmartz, an Internet safety program. The Comcast Technology Center will provide instruction on how to use photo/digital arts programs, movie making programs, the Microsoft Suite of programs, typing lessons and the creation of PowerPoint presentations.
“We are thrilled to have Comcast’s support in our on-going efforts to make sure that area youth, especially those that need it most, have every available resource and opportunity to get ahead and become a responsible and contributing member of society,” stated Alise Delzell, Operations Director, Boys & Girls Clubs of Spokane County. “Moving forward, we will have a better platform and resources to help our members expand their dreams and explore a future career in the technology field.”
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Spokane County will dedicate the Comcast Technology Center on Thursday, Dec. 2 at 1 p.m. This event will be held at the Lisa Stiles-Gyllenhammer Club located at 12509 N. Market, Mead 99021 and include presentations by key leadership from both Comcast and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Spokane County. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend. Visit www.bgcspokanecounty.org for additional information.
About Comcast Foundation
The Comcast Foundation was founded by Comcast Corporation in June 1999 to provide charitable support to qualified non-profit organizations. The Foundation primarily invests in programs intended to have a positive, sustainable impact on their communities. The Foundation has three community investment priorities – promoting community service, expanding digital literacy, and building tomorrow’s leaders. Since its inception, the Comcast Foundation has donated more than $77 million to organizations in the communities nationwide that Comcast serves. More information about the Foundation and its programs is available at http://www.comcast.com/community. More information about Comcast in Washington State is available at www.comcastinwashingtonstate.com.
About The Boys & Girls Clubs of Spokane County
Since 2001, The Boys & Girls Clubs of Spokane County has been a part of a nationwide affiliation of local, autonomous organizations dedicated to helping young people of all backgrounds develop the qualities they need to become responsible citizens and leaders. Founded in the philosophies of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Spokane County operates multiple Clubs in order to provide a broad range of programs in five Core Areas: Education and Career Development, Character and Leadership Development, Health and Life Skills, The Arts and Sports, Fitness and Recreation.
