COLUMBUS, Ohio – November 16, 2020 – Spectrum today announced Stonewall Columbus has received a $9,000 Spectrum Digital Education Grant for its Center Connections Program, as part of the company’s four-year, $6 million cash and in-kind national commitment to digital education in Spectrum communities across the country.
Stonewall Columbus will use the grant to create a mobile computer lab/cart so it can provide access to technology for members of the community who can’t readily afford equipment or find access to technology in a safe and welcoming environment.
“We thank Stonewall Columbus for being instrumental in helping us provide support for digital education in the Columbus community,” said Rahman Khan, Vice President of Community Impact for Charter Communications, Inc., which operates the Spectrum brand of TV, Internet, Voice and Mobile products. “Through Stonewall Columbus we can continue to provide those in need with the resources to navigate the challenges of the digital age.”
Recipients of this year’s Spectrum Digital Education grant program range from long-standing nonprofits that continue to make a difference in local communities, to newer organizations meeting educational needs for children, including those experiencing homelessness and remote learning challenges.
“Access to free-public Wi-Fi and laptops for check-out will allow members of the community who don’t readily have access to these technologies the opportunity to leverage technology to find information that will support their efforts of personal development,” said Densil Porteous, Interim Executive Director, Stonewall Columbus. “Center Connections allows an individual the ability to develop a sense of self and self-worth.”
“I appreciate Spectrum supporting local organizations like Stonewall Columbus to help them serve the LBGTQ community,” said Columbus City Council President Shannon G. Hardin. “I’m excited to see how this grant can help underresourced LGBTQ folks in Columbus thrive.”
With this year’s grants, Spectrum has surpassed its multiyear commitment to award $6 million in cash and in-kind donations to support broadband education across the company’s 41-state service area. This year’s recipients are from 15 states and Washington, D.C., and were chosen from 259 eligible applications. Recipients include nonprofits working to empower disadvantaged residents in towns and cities, boost small businesses in rural areas, provide computer assistance to senior citizens, and organizations that meet educational needs for children — including those experiencing homelessness and remote learning challenges. Since its inception in 2017 through July 2020, Spectrum Digital Education has benefitted more than 41,000 individuals in 17 states and Washington, D.C.
Spectrum Digital Education is one of several philanthropic programs developed by Charter to support the communities in which Charter provides service and where its employees both live and work. Additionally, Spectrum Housing Assist, launched in 2015 to make homes safer and healthier, has resulted in improvements to more than 44,000 homes to date and is on track to meet its goal of improving 50,000 homes by the end of 2020. Charter’s Spectrum Employee Community Grants program, launched in 2019 to support employees’ volunteer activities at local social and human services organizations, has already impacted more than 175 critical services organizations across 25 states.
This year, Charter announced the launch of the Spectrum Community Investment Loan Fund, which will invest $10 million in capital by the end of 2021, making loans up to $1 million to community development financial institutions (CDFIs) in the company’s footprint. In June, Charter announced additional investment partnerships with the National Urban League and National Action Network to support Black and other minority-owned small businesses. The addition of those partnerships increased Charter’s Loan Fund commitment to $13 million.
Finally, this spring, Charter introduced Spectrum Scholars, a two-year educational program for eligible rising juniors in financial need, that will award a total of $400,000 in scholarship aid, provide company mentors for students, as well as connecting them with potential internship opportunities at Charter.
About Stonewall Columbus
Stonewall Columbus is one of the oldest LGBTQ+ community organizations in the country; founded in 1981, to “fight for tolerance, acceptance, and basic human rights” today Stonewall Columbus’ mission is to increase visibility, inclusion, and connection for the LGBTQ+ community. Stonewall represents more than 15,000 LGBTQ+ and allied community members in the central Ohio region. Stonewall provides an array of programs and services to the LGBTQ+ and allied communities. Stonewall envisions a community where we all thrive.
About Spectrum
Spectrum is a suite of advanced communications services offered by Charter Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHTR), a leading broadband connectivity company and cable operator serving more than 30 million customers in 41 states. Over an advanced communications network, the company offers a full range of state-of-the-art residential and business services including Spectrum Internet®, TV, Mobile and Voice.
# # #
SPECTRUM MEDIA CONTACT
MIKE HOGAN
mike.hogan@charter.com
(614) 981-4202
@CharterNewsroom
STONEWALL COLUMBUS MEDIA CONTACT
KATHY CROWE
kcrowe@stonewallcolumbus.org
(614) 930-2264
