Comcast NBCUniversal's Military-Ready Response to 2020
By Carol Eggert
Today, our company begins its recognition of National Veterans and Military Families Month. November is a special time at Comcast NBCUniversal when we celebrate our commitment to building an inclusive workplace for military community employees while also taking extra care to show our gratitude to military customers and communities.
The pandemic, social unrest, and natural disasters of 2020 called for an unprecedented domestic response by our nation's military, especially among the National Guard and reserve. Since the start of 2020, more than 100 Comcast NBCUniversal employees have answered the call to duty. Over a quarter of these military employees were activated in response to COVID-19, with missions to build critical infrastructure, manage test collection sites, distribute food, and assist medical examiners.
As a military-ready company, we're proud of our systems to ease the transition when our teammates are called to serve. We're committed to ensuring all military employees have the resources and support needed, including paid leave, a Military Concierge Service, and continued health benefits. We want our teammates who serve to know that Comcast NBCUniversal has their and their family's back so they can 100 percent focus on their military duties.
We're immensely grateful to those who are willing to be out on the frontline in service to others. To show our gratitude, we had the chance to put some of our military teammates serving on the frontlines in the spotlight during a NASCAR Xfinity Series race this summer.
We're proud of all our military teammates who work hard to keep people safe and connected at a time when connectivity has never been more critical.
The pandemic has affected how everyone, including military families, goes to work, attends school, and sees family and friends. Our new virtual world has made it crucial to keep military families connected to resources they count on, like telemedicine, education, or access to VA benefits. Comcast NBCUniversal's commitment to digital equity this year has been incredibly strong, most notable with our offer of two free months of Internet Essentials for all new low-income veteran customers and their families.
Recently, the TODAY Show featured over 200 military caregivers from the Elizabeth Dole Foundation and their families receiving a free laptop and Internet Essentials services
Along with working to bridge the digital divide in the military community, we've strived to help military support organizations’ missions of delivering a sense of togetherness in a virtual world. Comcast NBCUniversal was honored to sponsor the Elizabeth Dole Foundation's Summit supporting military caregivers, Student Veterans of America's Virtual Graduation, and Our Community Salutes' celebration for high school students joining our Armed Forces.
We also worked to promote civic engagement among military community members. Just recently, we presented an esports tournament with Gamers.Vote on Twitch to encourage voter registration among military gamers. To help make voting more accessible, we partnered with Paralyzed Veterans of America to host information about accessibility accommodations at voting locations on our X1 Voter Information page.
Despite uncertainties that lay ahead, we'll continue our commitment to keeping the military community connected to the moments that matter. On behalf of Comcast NBCUniversal, thank you to our veterans, active-duty members, and military families for all you've done and continue to do for our country.
