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Operation Military Family and Comcast Help Close the Digital Divide for Veterans

by | Nov 13, 2023 | Uncategorized

Operation Military Family and Comcast Help Close the Digital Divide for Veterans

  • Operation Military Family and Comcast today announced they are continuing their partnership to bridge the digital divide among veterans, including working with and supporting several other veterans organizations in Washington state. Comcast will donate $20,000 and 100 laptops to Operation Military Family to help address the needs of veterans and their families, including physical and mental health, employment, housing, social support and more.

Comcast’s long-term partnership with Operation Military Family in Washington has:

  • Provided laptops to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, helping more than 5,000 transitioning service members and their families connect to training and employment opportunities.
  • Provided 40 laptops to King County Veterans Program to support low-income veterans with connecting to earned services and resources.
  • Provided local Gold Star Survivors with free laptops, supporting a family of six children in Seattle who had recently lost their father earlier in 2023.
  • Donated laptops to FOB Hope Veterans Village in Tacoma, helping veterans transition out of homelessness.
  • Donated laptops to military families at Heroes Homestead in Spokane.
  • Provided laptops and support to several Disabled American Veterans locations throughout Washington.
  • Worked with the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs to get free laptops in the hands of veterans.

“Our partnership with Comcast is invaluable. It has enabled us to better serve and equip Veterans and their families who need a hand-up in the transition process. The laptops are a gateway to benefits, services, and ongoing connections that help improve both mental health well-being and the financial standings of those who have served our country,” said Mike Schindler, CEO Operation Military Family.

“It’s an honor to work with Operation Military Family and all the other veteran-focused organizations we partner with to advance digital equity with veterans in the Pacific Northwest. Comcast is committed to supporting the military community, and National Veterans and Military Families Month each November is an excellent time to reflect on the importance of that mission,” said Carla Carrell, External Affairs Senior Director for Comcast in Washington.

Comcast was founded by World War II U.S. Navy veteran, Ralph J. Roberts, and has a long history of supporting military families in communities. Since 2015, the company has hired more than 21,000 veterans, National Guard and reserve service members, and military spouses. Through digital equity programs such as Internet Essentials, “Lift Zones” (Wi-Fi enabled community centers), and the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) Comcast helps veterans and active-duty families gain access to resources for career advancement, telemedicine, VA benefits, social connection and more.

Military Times recently ranked Comcast NBCUniversal the No. 2 company on its Best for Vets: Employer list which ranks the nation’s top companies and organizations that prioritize hiring, retaining, and supporting current and former service members, military spouses, and military caregivers. In addition, Comcast has been recognized as a 5 Star Employer by VETS Indexes, a Top 25 Veteran Employer by Military.com.

These efforts by Comcast are part of Project UP, the company’s $1 billion commitment to reach millions of people with the tools, resources, and skills needed to succeed in a digital world. Project UP is Comcast’s company-wide initiative to advance digital equity by connecting people to the internet; opening doors for the next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs, and storytellers; and creating new career pathways in the arts, media, and technology.

Volunteers through Comcast in Washington’s Veterans Network Employee Resource Group recently returned to the City of Pacific and a veteran memorial site the group helped prepare last November to help with beautification efforts before the grand opening of the memorial. The memorial includes three different sites, each honoring the servicemen and women who served in major conflicts such as World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf/Iraq War, and Afghanistan.

Veterans Network is a Comcast employee resource group dedicated to sustaining the company’s veterans & active military & organizing community service. The group is comprised of over 9,000 Comcast employees spread across the United States, many of whom are veterans and military spouses.

About Operation Military Family

Operation Military Family is veteran’s services 501 © (3) committed to helping veterans and their families forge new proven and effective paths that lead to success in family, work, and life. Their flagship program, Discovering Your Post-Service Identity has helped thousands of transitioning service members and Veterans realize their true mission, purpose, and identity in life, leading to happier families and more solid financial standings. Based in Edmonds, Washington, the organization was founded in 2012 and has served over 10,000 veterans and military families the past 10 years.

Since 2012, OMF Community Outreach, dba Operation Military Family, has directly helped thousands of Veterans and their families connect to benefits and forge proven and effective paths that lead to success in family, work, and life through its collaborative WASERVES collective impact initiative and the Discovering Your Post-Service Identity program.