Today, as part of the 18th annual Comcast
Cares Day, nearly 1,000 Northern California Comcast
NBCUniversal employees and their families, friends and community
partners worked alongside Paradise High School students, teachers and
administrators to clean, paint, plant trees, landscape and beautify the
campus ahead of this June’s graduation ceremony, which will be the first
since the devastating Camp Fire in Fall of 2018.
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Over 200 Paradise High School seniors returned to campus today for the first time since the Camp Fire broke and were surprised with laptops as part of the 18th annual Comcast Cares Day. (Photo: Business Wire)
On Nov. 8, 2018, the lives of Paradise residents were changed forever
when the Camp Fire destroyed most of the city, killing 86 people,
destroying nearly 14,000 homes and numerous businesses and burning more
than 150,000 acres. Thankfully, and perhaps miraculously, the structure
of Paradise High School was mostly spared. Still, due to safety hazards
and other concerns, classes were moved to a temporary location in Chico
and plans remain underway for a full return to the Paradise campus in
time for the new school year this Fall.
A signature project on Comcast Cares Day today involved the painting of
a mural by the artist Shane Grammer, whose portrait of a woman on a
friend’s chimney went viral shortly after the fire. When Comcast learned
that the Paradise High School seniors wanted to engage Grammer to create
a mural as a thank you to the school, and as something to remember them
by, the company stepped in to fund the effort.
During a special ceremony at the school this morning, featuring Comcast
executives, Congressman Doug LaMalfa and California State Senator Jim
Nielsen, Comcast also announced that 238 graduating seniors from
Paradise will receive a laptop computer.
Paradise High School students and educators pride themselves on their
resilience. The school’s longtime motto “Rise Up” is a fitting way to
describe the grit, courage and determination displayed throughout the
community. It was in this spirit that Comcast, as part of Cares Day,
approached Paradise High School administrators offering to help
refurbish, restore and renew the campus exteriors, common areas and
school grounds in preparation for June’s graduation ceremony.
“We are grateful for Comcast’s support as we work to provide our
graduating seniors with the celebration they deserve as they embark on
the next stage of their life journeys,” said Michelle John,
Superintendent, Paradise Unified School District. “There is no way to
describe the horror and devastation of the fire. But when the community
comes together like this and we have partners like Comcast so willing to
help – and who truly care – it lifts our spirits and gives us hope. It
sets the exact tone you want for any senior graduating from high school,
let alone these young people – that the future is bright, that anything
is possible and that everyone around you believes in your potential and
is standing by to help make your journey the best it can possibly be.”
“Having gone through two consecutive years of devastating fires in
California, we have experienced the tragedy right alongside the members
of our communities,” said John Gauder, Senior Vice President of
Comcast’s California Region. “Our families, our friends and our Comcast
employees who live and work in Paradise have gone through this together.
So when we ask, ‘how can we help?’ we don’t just mean for today or
tomorrow, although we sought to do everything we could from the moment
the tragedy started. We are here to help in Paradise and across our
service areas throughout California on Cares Day, all year round and
into the future.”
Comcast Cares Day is more than just a day – it is an illustration of the
spirit of volunteerism that Comcast employees bring to life each and
every day. From using technology to create positive change, such as
teaching digital literacy skills and mentoring youth, to stocking food
banks, revitalizing homeless shelters and beautifying parks, Comcast
NBCUniversal employees volunteer during this celebration and throughout
the year to make a lasting impact. To date, more than 1 million Comcast
Cares Day volunteers have contributed over 6 million service hours to
improve local communities at more than 10,000 projects. This year, the
Company expects more than 100,000 volunteers from Comcast, NBCUniversal,
and for the first time Sky, to participate in projects across the
country and around the world.
The Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation will also provide grants to local
partner organizations on behalf of volunteers who contribute their time
on Comcast Cares Day. The grants will help Comcast’s partners continue
their mission of serving the community throughout the year. To date, the
Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation has awarded nearly $25 million in grants
to local nonprofit organizations who have served as partners on Comcast
Cares Day.
For more information on Comcast NBCUniversal and Sky volunteer and
community impact initiatives, visit www.comcast.com/community.
About Comcast Corporation
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology
company with three primary businesses: Comcast Cable, NBCUniversal, and
Sky. Comcast Cable is one of the United States’ largest video,
high-speed internet, and phone providers to residential customers under
the Xfinity brand, and also provides these services to businesses. It
also provides wireless and security and automation services to
residential customers under the Xfinity brand. NBCUniversal is global
and 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. Sky is one of Europe’s leading media and entertainment
companies, connecting customers to a broad range of video content
through its pay television services. It also provides communications
services, including residential high-speed internet, phone, and wireless
services. Sky operates the Sky News broadcast network and sports and
entertainment networks, produces original content, and has exclusive
content rights. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com
for more information.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190504005012/en/