Comcast Awards $30,000 Grant to Elder Services of Cape Cod and the Islands to Advance Digital Equity

Sandwich, MA – November 19, 2024 – During an event today at the Elder Services of Cape Cod and the Islands center, Comcast announced a $30,000 digital equity grant to support the organization’s technology training and digital navigators programs. The funding will continue support for “Senior Planet,” the organization’s technology training program for seniors and will also enable the 2025 launch of a Digital Navigator program to expand digital skills training to more seniors, including those who require in-home assistance or are homebound.

The grant is part of Project UP, Comcast’s $1 billion commitment to advance digital equity through programs and community partnerships that connect people to the Internet, advance economic mobility and open doors for the next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs, storytellers and creators.

“Thanks to Comcast’s support, we’re empowering more than 300 Cape Cod seniors with tech training and launching Digital Navigator access in 2025, both at Councils on Aging and in-home,” said Maryanne Ryan, Chief Executive Officer of Elder Services of Cape Cod and the Islands. “These initiatives will help improve the well-being of participants by empowering them through digital training and education.”

“We have a longstanding commitment to Cape Cod, and we understand the important role that the Internet and digital literacy play,” said Carolyne Hannan, Senior Vice President of Comcast’s New England Region. “We are particularly proud to support Elder Services of Cape Cod and the Islands to ensure more senior residents have the training and resources they need to thrive in an increasingly digital world.”

In addition to ongoing partnerships with local nonprofits, earlier this year, Comcast turbo-charged its state-of-the-art network in Falmouth, offering 2 gigabits-per-second (Gbps) download speeds and up to 10x faster upload speeds to all customers over the already existing homes and business connections.

Comcast is deeply committed to advancing digital equity in the communities it serves. Over the past three years, the company has provided more than $54 million in cash and in-kind contributions to 238 non-profits in Massachusetts, including the Alliance. This investment includes digital equity programs such as Internet Essentials, Lift Zones and Digital Navigators. Since its inception in 2011, Comcast’s Internet Essentials has connected more than 732,000 low-income Massachusetts residents to broadband service at home. Additionally, Comcast has launched 76 Lift Zones in Massachusetts to provide free, high-speed WiFi and digital skills training at local community centers to promote digital learning.

In Cape Cod, Comcast provides Internet, mobile, and entertainment from Xfinity to residents, and connectivity, networking, cybersecurity, mobile, and managed solutions from Comcast Business to businesses. More information on Comcast’s commitment to Massachusetts, where the company has invested almost $909 million in technology and fiber infrastructure over the last three years, can be found here.

For additional information on Project UP and Comcast’s digital equity initiatives, visit https://corporate.comcast.com/impact/project-up.