Tech Citizenship

Leuci

In 1963, Comcast Corp. co-founder Ralph Roberts made a commitment to give back to the communities in which employees lived and worked. That commitment continues today for the Philadelphia-based cable company. In fact, giving back is described as community “investment,” not community “relations.”

“It’s not just a good PR piece,” said Nick Leuci, vice president of community investments. “It is genuinely an investment in the community — no different than what’s on the cable poles itself.”

Toward that end, Comcast focuses on long-term partnerships and on providing financial, in-kind and in volunteer aid. Full-time employees receive eight paid volunteer hours per year.

“It’s not good enough to just be this high-speed cable, Internet and phone company,” Leuci said. “We feel that because we are members of the community our employees serve on a variety of organizations outside the community.”

In September, Comcast engaged in a project in New Bedford, called “Cradles to Crayons,” giving 1,000 low-income students backpacks with school supplies.

Comcast partners with nonprofit organizations and focuses on education, leadership and youth development. One such group is City Year. Leuci said Comcast has given that nonprofit $23 million nationally since 2003. Comcast also receives suggestions from inside and outside the company.

Comcast has also spent millions of dollars providing free public service announcements, or PSAs, to organizations on a first-come, first-serve basis.

— James Zipadelli is a freelance writer based in Boston.

Citizenship Facts

Comcast Corp.

Total cash contributions in New England in 2006: More than $1 million

Number of volunteer hours in New England in 2006: More than 8,000

In-kind contributions of equipment and services in New England: More than $5 million

Principal recipients of charitable activities in 2006: Boston Parks & Recreation Department; City Year; United Way; Operation Bootstrap (Lynn, Mass.)

Interesting philanthropic activities: One of the most unique things that Comcast provides to its nonprofit partners is the ability to have public service announcements (PSAs) for free, reaching a much wider audience than otherwise would have been possible. Comcast provides millions of dollars’ worth of PSAs alone each year.

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