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Pittsburgh Nonprofits Land $375,000 For Digital Literacy

Thirteen nonprofits in the Pittsburgh region have been awarded a total of $375,000 in grants from the Comcast Foundation to fund after school programs.

“Primarily, these are programs that are designed to have a sustainable impact on the communities,” Comcast spokesman Bob Grove said.

The organization awarded a total of $591,000 to 30 nonprofits in the Keystone Region, which includes parts of Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

“And we have three priorities with our funding partners: expanding digital literacy, promoting community service and building tomorrow’s leaders,” Grove said.

Digital literacy is the cornerstone of Comcast’s “Internet Essentials” programs, Grove said, which has helped connect more than 1 million Americans get computers into their homes.

“Digital literacy programs, typically, in the nonprofit communities, are after-school programs where we’re providing either equipment, software or staff funding to make sure there are after school programs for the kids to really compliment what the learning they’re getting in school,” he said.

Since 1999, the Comcast Foundation has awarded nearly $140 million to nonprofit organizations.

Grove said all grants are need-based and have to be long-term programs education programs.

“Once a nonprofit comes to us with a program that fits into those kinds of characteristics that’s going to help make a difference in their community,” he said, “that’s something of interest to us.”

The Erie, PA native has been a fellow in the WESA news department since May 2013. Having earned a bachelor's degree in print journalism from Duquesne University, he is now pursuing an M.A. in multi-media management. Michael describes his career aspiration as "I want to do it all in journalism."