NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises And Comcast To Donate 2,000 Laptops To Latino Youths

NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises announced the latest efforts in its ongoing national campaign “El Campeón En Ti” to “score goals” in local communities with the U.S. Soccer Foundation in celebration of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. In partnership with Comcast’s Project UP, the company’s $1 billion comprehensive initiative to advance digital equity, the network will give 2,000 laptops to Hispanic youth and community organizations across the country. Additionally, Comcast will partner with Telemundo to help increase awareness of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which provides eligible households with a credit of up to $30/month towards broadband internet service.

“In today’s digital-first world, it’s more important than ever for young Latinos to have the technology and connectivity required to learn, communicate, and maximize their potential,” said Christina Kolbjornsen, senior vice president of corporate and external affairs, NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises. “We’re pleased to work with valuable organizations like the U.S. Soccer Foundation as we continue to bring critical technology resources to inspire Latino youths to nurture and unleash their inner champion.”

The laptops will be distributed nationally to underserved youth and families in: Albuquerque, Boston, Houston, Miami, Orlando, Tucson, Washington, D.C., and other cities through established organizations, including the U.S. Soccer Foundation, D.C. SCORES, Orlando 4-H Youth Development, Boston SCORES, After-School All-Stars, the Hispanic Heritage Foundation, and other nonprofits affiliated with Comcast’s Lift Zones program, which provides free WiFi access at select community centers nationwide.

“We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to close the digital divide for millions of Hispanics,” said Broderick Johnson, executive vice president, public policy and executive vice president, digital equity, Comcast Corp. “By combining free laptops with the federal government’s Affordable Connectivity Program, we can ensure that more households get connected to all that the Internet has to offer for education, jobs, health care and so much more.”

Ed Foster-Simeon, president-CEO of the U.S. Soccer Foundation, said: “Reaching your inner champion means reaching your fullest potential in all aspects of life — both on and off the field. Access to technology is critical to ensuring that kids can thrive in a highly connected world and reach that full potential We are proud to partner with Telemundo and Comcast to ensure that kids from underserved communities can get better connected this holiday season.”

Backed by a $1 billion commitment to reach tens of millions of people, Project UP encompasses the programs and community partnerships across Comcast, NBCUniversal and Sky that connect people to the Internet, advance economic mobility, and open doors for the next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs, storytellers, and creators. Project UP includes digital equity programs such as Internet Essentials and Lift Zones.

Since 2011, Comcast’s Internet Essentials has connected more than 10 million people to low-cost broadband service at home. Comcast also promotes the federal government’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). In 2020, Comcast launched Lift Zones, a program that installs free, high-speed WiFi, powered by Comcast Business, in community centers nationwide. Recently, Comcast has reached and expanded on the goal by opening 1,250 Lift Zones across the country.

Also, as part of the 2022 World Cup, 100 Comcast Lift Zones, which offer free WiFi inside Latino-serving organizations, will receive a World Cup-inspired activity kit to engage Lift Zone users. Comcast will also donate 100 X-Class TVs to these organizations to support their work and connect their users with games, news, and experiences from around the world.