Comcast Announces Six Time Olympic Medal Winner Jackie Joyner-Kersee to Serve as National Spokeswoman for Internet Essentials
Joyner-Kersee to Participate in a National Road Show for the 2016 –
2017 Academic Year
PHILADELPHIA–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Comcast Corporation today announced Jackie Joyner-Kersee will serve as a
national spokeswoman for Internet Essentials, the largest and most
successful broadband adoption program in the country. Soon to kick off
its sixth annual back-to-school season, Internet Essentials has helped
close the digital divide for more than 600,000 families, benefitting 2.4
million low-income Americans.
“There is no question that Jackie Joyner-Kersee is one of the greatest
athletes of all time, but she has also distinguished herself in her
post-Olympic career,” said Senior Executive Vice President and Chief
Diversity Officer, David L. Cohen. “Through her charitable foundation,
she has been working on the front lines in her community to serve as a
role model for others, to help those who are less fortunate, and to
inspire a younger generation to dream and lead. We are thrilled to have
Jackie help us to close the digital divide and raise awareness about all
that the Internet has to offer students and families.”
“The mission of my foundation is to inspire young people to develop the
drive and determination to succeed in both academics and athletics,”
said Joyner-Kersee. “In my community, I’ve seen first hand that’s really
hard to do if you’re on the wrong side of the digital divide. So, I’m
excited to go on the road this year with Internet Essentials and help
more kids and families cross that divide and develop to their fullest
potential.”
Joyner-Kersee, winner of six Olympic Medals, is, according to ESPN, one
of the “50 great athletes of the 20th century.” She is the
first woman to win back-to-back gold medals in the heptathlon, the first
African American woman to win an Olympic Medal in the long jump, and the
first woman to score 7,000 points in the heptathlon. Born and raised in
East St. Louis, Joyner-Kersee is committed to ensuring that all children
have access to high-quality after-school programs, safe recreational
places within their communities, and caring adults to help them achieve
their dreams. She launched the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation in Los
Angeles and, in 1995, moved it to East St. Louis. Inspired by the
closing of her neighborhood community center, Joyner-Kersee grew the
Foundation by raising more than $12 million to expand programming and
built a comprehensive youth and sports facility and campus that opened
in 2000.
Internet Essentials Key Investments
From August 2011 through December 2015, Internet Essentials has
connected more than 600,000 low-income families, benefitting more than
2.4 million Americans, to the Internet at home. Also since 2011, Comcast
has invested more than $280 million in cash and in-kind support to help
fund digital literacy training and education initiatives, reaching
nearly 4.4 million people through national and local nonprofit community
partners.
- Provided more than 47,000 subsidized computers at less than $150 each.
-
Distributed for free nearly 51 million Internet Essentials program
materials. -
Broadcast more than 8.3 million public service announcements, valued
at more than $100 million. -
Welcomed 5 million visitors to the Internet Essentials websites in
English and Spanish and its Online Learning Center. -
Fielded more than 3.9 million phone calls to our Internet Essentials
call center. -
Made Internet Essentials available in nearly 48,000 schools in more
than 5,000 school districts, in 39 states and the District of Columbia. -
Partnered with 9,000 community-based organizations, government
agencies, and federal, state, and local elected officials to spread
the word.
About Internet Essentials
Internet
Essentials from Comcast is the nation’s largest and most
comprehensive high-speed Internet adoption program. It provides low-cost
high-speed Internet service for $9.95 a month plus tax; the option to
purchase an Internet-ready computer for under $150; and multiple options
to access free digital literacy training in print, online and in-person.
For more information, or to apply for the program, visit www.InternetEssentials.com
or call 1-855-846-8376. Spanish speakers should call 1-855-765-6995.
About Comcast Corporation
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology
company with two primary businesses, Comcast Cable and NBCUniversal.
Comcast Cable is one of the nation’s largest video, high-speed Internet
and phone providers to residential customers under the XFINITY brand and
also provides these services to businesses. NBCUniversal operates news,
entertainment and sports cable networks, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast
networks, television production operations, television station groups,
Universal Pictures and Universal Parks and Resorts. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com
for more information.
Contacts
Comcast Corporation
Charlie Douglas, 215-264-8020
charlie_douglas@comcast.com
or
Meredith
Wertz, 215-970-8504
meredith_wertz@comcast.com
