HOUSTON (December 21, 2011) – The Comcast Foundation proves that the road to success is always under construction. HoustonWorks USA announces a $12,500 grant investment from Comcast to benefit the YouthBuild Houston program. YouthBuild Houston, a program administered by HoustonWorks USA in partnership with United States Department of Labor and YouthBuild USA, simultaneously addresses core issues facing low-income communities: housing, education, employment, crime prevention and leadership development.
“We are grateful to Comcast for their continuous support and investment in YouthBuild,” Larry V. Green, CEO, HoustonWorks USA, said. “We are not only building homes, we are building a future for our youth while tackling multiple community concerns that face our city. The program provides participants with a second chance to complete their education, learn the necessary skills to become gainfully employed, and build a hopeful future for themselves and their families.”
YouthBuild Houston recruits at-risk youth, ages 18-24, into construction training and education. In YouthBuild, students train with Houston Habitat for Humanity and other partners to construct housing for low-income residents and earn nationally recognized certifications. Additionally, students participate in educational programs to earn their GED and life skills from partners including The Council on Alcohol and Drugs Houston and the Houston Area Women’s Center.
Since 2009, YouthBuild Houston formed strategic service learning partnerships with organizations including: Keep Jacinto City Beautiful, Historic Houston, Windsor Village Park and Rebuilding Together Houston. The YouthBuild students have performed hundreds of hours of serving learning with such tasks as environmental cleanups and minor home repairs for elderly residents. YouthBuild Houston students have also entered full-time employment or secondary education programs.
“The Comcast grant for HoustonWorks USA and YouthBuild Houston provides multiple solutions to challenges facing our most vulnerable and underserved communities.” Gayle Kinnie, HoustonWorks USA Board Member, said. “Comcast has made a solid investment in our city’s youth and has greatly improved their potential to compete in a global economy.”
This grant from the Comcast Foundation is in recognition of Comcast’s commitment to the communities where its customers and employees live and work. Since its founding in 1999, the Comcast Foundation has distributed more than $90 million in cash support of programs implemented locally in Comcast communities. Comcast has served as a year-round partner of YouthBuild Houston, in addition to supporting agency-wide initiatives of HoustonWorks USA.
“This is a really exciting and extremely important initiative for Comcast. Developing these job skills in young people is essential to their future,” Ray Purser, Vice President of Government and Public Relations, Comcast Houston, said. “Along with this education, these at-risk youth will experience a unique opportunity to improve their lives and the lives of others by cultivating leadership skills, impacting their neighborhoods through community service and preparing for their bright futures in the workforce.”
ABOUT HOUSTONWORKS USA:
Founded in 1984, HoustonWorks USA is the leading provider of services focusing on job placement, continuing education and vocational training. Serving more than 1 million annually, HoustonWorks USA provides job seekers with a variety of workshops including job search techniques, interviewing skills and resume writing, and use of the resource library with internet access and postings of local, state and national job openings. Training is also available in career fields such as healthcare, business, computers and education. HoustonWorks USA manages several of the largest Workforce Solutions offices in Houston and the surrounding region for the Houston-Galveston Area Council. These offices offer a wide range of services for job seekers as well as employers looking for trained workers. HoustonWorks also provides numerous youth programs including internships, scholarships, summits and summer camps. HoustonWorks is a 501(c) 3, tax-exempt organization. Visit www.houstonworks.org for additional information.
ABOUT COMCAST CORPORATION:
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) (www.comcast.com) is one of the world’s leading media, entertainment and communications companies. Comcast is principally involved in the operation of cable systems through Comcast Cable and in the development, production and distribution of entertainment, news, sports and other content for global audiences through NBCUniversal. Comcast Cable is one of the nation’s largest video, high-speed Internet and phone providers to residential and business customers. Comcast is the majority owner and manager of NBCUniversal, which owns and operates entertainment and news cable networks, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, local television station groups, television production operations, a major motion picture company and theme parks.
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