STAMFORD, Conn.—Charter Communications has announced $1.1 million in Spectrum Digital Education grants to 47 nonprofits working to enhance digital education, training and technology in local communities.
The latest round of grants increases Charter’s overall investment in the six-year-old program to $8 million, the company said.
Organizations were selected on the basis of their efforts to educate community members on the benefits of broadband in financially underserved rural and urban areas within the company’s 41-state footprint.
“In our online world, digital skills are critical to navigating everything from finding a job, to going to school, to buying groceries – yet too many families still have not adopted internet at home,” said Rahman Khan, vice president of community impact for Charter. “As one of the largest internet providers in the U.S., we are committed to supporting local initiatives through Spectrum Digital Education that promote digital literacy and inclusion, and help to educate community members about the value of adopting broadband in their lives so they can succeed in today’s connected society.”
Among the nonprofits awarded Spectrum Digital Education grants this year are The Oasis Institute in St. Louis, which offers resources and strategies to help older adults navigate digital technology; Whitmore Economic Development Group, a computer training center for agricultural workers in Hawaii; US Together Inc., which provides digital education to refugees from Afghanistan, Ukraine and the Congo in Northeast Ohio; the LGBT Technology Institute, a Staunton, VA-based initiative to ensure connectivity for disadvantaged LGBTQ+ individuals; Latinitas, a bilingual program for adults looking to improve their technology skills in Austin, TX; and InterFaith Works of Central New York, which helps urban and rural seniors improve their digital skills.
Charter launched Spectrum Digital Education in 2017 and to date has funded 99 nonprofit organizations, supporting more than 95,000 people in 22 states and Washington, D.C., excluding today’s announced awards.
Organizations have used the funding to provide computers to those without digital access and digital literacy training for older adults. Funding also has been used to help expand nonprofits’ online programs, purchase software to make technology more accessible for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and to combat isolation amongst senior citizens, the company explained.
More information about Spectrum Digital Education and Charter’s philanthropic initiatives to support communities is available here.
