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FROM STAFF REPORTS
Spectrum presented the Elizabethton/Carter County Boys & Girls Club with a $6,000 grant check on Friday, part of the Spectrum Digital Education Grant aimed at enhancing digital education resources for youth across Tennessee.
The $6,000 is part of a $30,000 grant, the fifth of its kind, awarded to Boys & Girls Clubs and is earmarked for the development and expansion of Spectrum Digital Connect technology labs at club sites. This latest contribution brings Spectrum’s total support for the organization to $110,000 over the past five years.
Boys & Girls Clubs in Tennessee plan to utilize the funding to equip and furnish these labs with essential equipment and software, serving over 400 youth aged 5 to 18 who regularly participate in afterschool and summer programs at five locations statewide.
T. Ryan Hughes, Executive Director of Boys & Girls Clubs in Tennessee, expressed gratitude for the grant, emphasizing its role in engaging youth through digital arts, STEM activities, and financial literacy classes. “Spectrum’s partnership also allows us to support family members that may need to utilize the technology to apply for jobs or acquire job skills and who may not have access to a computer,” Hughes said.
The significance of expanding access to broadband technologies and education was underscored by Rahman Khan, Group Vice President of Community Impact at Charter, Spectrum’s parent company. Khan emphasized the company’s commitment to creating better opportunities for underserved communities through programs like Spectrum Digital Education.
The event, held at the Boys & Girls Club of Elizabethton/Carter County, saw the presence of Carter County Mayor Patty Woodby.
Boys & Girls Club of Elizabethton/Carter County, located at 104 Hudson Drive, Elizabethton, stands as a testament to the community’s commitment to providing educational resources to its youth.
Spectrum’s commitment to digital education is reflected in its broader initiatives. Since the launch of Spectrum Digital Education in 2017, Charter has awarded 261 grants to 143 unique partners. As of September 2023, the program has facilitated more than 30,000 digital education classes, distributed over 13,000 devices including laptops, and supported the creation of 157 tech labs.
The partnership between Spectrum and Boys & Girls Clubs underscores a shared vision of empowering youth through education and technology, ensuring that young minds have the tools and resources to thrive in an increasingly digital world.