Tech Citizenship

Comcast Corp. believes philanthropy is part of its business in the same way that cable, clients, partners or sales are. The company even calls the department in charge of its charitable efforts “community investment” — not “community relations,” as many other companies do.

“It is not about what we do, but it is a statement on who we are,” said Nick Leuci, vice president of community investments and government relations.

As a national company, Philadelphia-based Comcast considers it important to get involved in local communities across the country.

“It is important to have a local presence. It is where our employees work and live and where we do business,” said Leuci.

The company works with organizations that focus on education, youth development, diversity and volunteerism, and in Massachusetts it has teamed up with more than 200 organizations.

Leuci believes it is important for youth to have resources available to them, and Comcast wants to help by providing free services to those who need it.

Some of the donations Comcast has given include computers, high-speed Internet products and free cable. It also provides public service announcements across 41 cable networks to a variety of nonprofits.

The principal recipients of its charitable activities last year were City Year, United Way, the Boston Public Library and Sport in Society.

With most of the organizations, Comcast has deep relations that include volunteer work for its employees. Last year, volunteers in New England did nearly 10,000 hours of community services.

Another initiative nationwide is the National Day of Volunteerism. Every first Saturday of October, employees and their families are encouraged to participate in volunteer works in their local community.

In Massachusetts, more the 2,000 people joined this year’s celebration helping cleaning parks, painting buildings and assisting the homeless.

“These (employees) are folks that are used to getting involved and enjoy being part of the community,” said Leuci.

As an example, last year when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, the company sent financial support and the employees organized their own fund-raiser, sending clothes and money.

Last year, the company contributed

$10 million nationwide in cash and $90 million worth of in-kind contributions of equipment and services.

Company executives are also involved in a wide range of charitable activities and some of them sit on nonprofit boards, including City Year, Boys & Girls Clubs, and Girls Inc.

Citizenship Facts

Comcast Corp.

Total cash contributions in New England in 2005: $650,000

Number of volunteer hours in New England in 2005: 10,000

In-kind contributions of equipment and services in New England: $6.35M

Principal recipients of charitable activities in 2005: City Year; United Way; Boston Public Library; Sport in Society

Interesting philanthropic activities: Comcast employees are encouraged to participate in the National Day of Volunteerism. Every first Saturday of October, employees and their families are encouraged to participate in volunteer works in their local community. In Massachusetts last year, more than 2,000 people joined in, helping clean parks, paint buildings and assist the homeless.

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