Charter Communications has awarded 66 nonprofit organizations a total of $1.3 million in digital equity grants, the telecom company announced today. The funds were awarded through the company’s Spectrum Digital Education program, which has award more than $10 million to nonprofits since the program’s launch in 2017.
Of the award winners, 27 received funds for the first time.
The new grantees include The Ladder Alliance in Fort Worth, Texas, to offer workforce development and computer skills programs to low-income women and survivors of domestic violence; the Community Development YMCA in Long Beach, California in support of its TECH MASTERS program focused on bringing digital skills to the Cambodian community with courses offered in Spanish and Khmer; and United Fund for Western Orleans County Inc. in Albion, New York to provide free tech tutoring, including scam prevention and internet safety programs, for seniors.
Among others receiving digital equity funding from Charter were:
- Mapunawai Inc, which has been awarded two grants through the program totaling $45,000. It will use this latest funding in support of its Digital Ready Hawaii (DRH) program, which offers rural residents with little to no computer skills language-specific training and free devices.
- Code Girls United in Kalispell, Montana, awarded for the second time with total funding of $30,000, which will continue its after school program that provides free computer science and coding education to girls in rural and tribal communities.
- Central Community House of Columbus in Ohio, a five-time recipient with funding totaling $105,000, which will use its grant to support the Technology Assistance Project (TAP), a program dedicated to preventing social isolation in seniors by teaching them how to safely navigate the internet, send emails and connect virtually with friends and family.
“Connectivity is the foundation for meaningful learning, professional growth and human connection, and helps to build strong, thriving communities,” Rahman Khan, Charter Communications group vice president, community impact, said in a statement about the digital equity grants.
“Spectrum Digital Education supports programs that empower community members to enhance their lives with connectivity, from providing digital literacy training to seniors to connecting students with important resources and tools for their education.”
Charter is among a number of broadband providers offering digital equity and educational grants. T-Mobile recently announced 25 Hometown Grants for digital equity and other needs. And, in July, NTIA announced more than $1 billion in digital equity funding through its Competitive Grant Program.
