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Congreso De Latinos Unidos, Inc. Receives $75,000 Comcast/NCLR Grant for Advocacy Work

Posted on: Thursday, 28 June 2007, 18:05 CDT

PHILADELPHIA, Pa., June 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Comcast and the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) today announced a $75,000 capacity-building grant to Congreso de Latinos Unidos, Inc., a Philadelphia nonprofit organization, for its advocacy work on behalf of the Latino community of Pennsylvania. Congreso de Latinos Unidos, Inc. is one of eight community-based organizations -- chosen from NCLR's Affiliate Network of nearly 300 organizations throughout the nation -- to be recognized with a NCLR/Comcast grant.

The grant announcement came on the heels of Philadelphia Safe and Sound's 2007 Report Card regarding The Well-Being of Children and Youth in Philadelphia, which was released by Mayor John Street last week. The category of "Children and Youth Live in Safe and Supportive Communities and Environments" received the lowest possible rating. During a press event held Thursday, Congreso outlined the important work they plan to undertake with the advocacy grant to address issues raised in the report, such as violence and poverty.

"This grant is not only good for our community, it's good for Philadelphia and Pennsylvania, and we're so pleased to be recognized by Comcast and NCLR," said Nicholas Torres, President of Congreso. "Although the report highlighted areas that need improvement, local community groups, such as Congreso, are working with corporate partners, such as Comcast, national groups such as NCLR and state and city initiatives to give Latino youth the skills and confidence they need to serve as catalysts within their own communities."

"This grant, in partnership with NCLR, is an excellent example of Comcast's ongoing commitment to providing opportunities for the Hispanic community in Philadelphia," said David L. Cohen, Executive Vice President and Co-Chair of The Comcast Foundation. "Congreso is a vital organization to the well-being of our community and is very deserving of this capacity-building grant."

As part of the grant announcement, Congreso officially introduced a new Children and Youth Services program, the Youth Advocacy Council, which will receive financial support from the Comcast and NCLR grant. Congreso's advocacy work is focused on building coalitions and increasing Latino participation on major issues that affect the community, from education to economic opportunities and health. The NCLR/Comcast grant will allow Congreso to expand its advocacy work, through educating and mobilizing the community, providing advocacy training and working to strengthen community coalitions.

"Congreso, and the young leaders participating in the Youth Advocacy Council, are an essential and visible part of the Hispanic community here in Philadelphia and throughout the state," said City Councilman Juan Ramos. "Thanks to this grant, the Youth Advocacy Council will have the ability to expand leadership development and increase outreach and civic engagement."

NCLR/Comcast capacity-building grants were awarded in the categories of community development, education, health, workforce development and advocacy. One grant was also given in the "Next Generation" category to recognize young or newly established organizations in communities that have experienced the emergence of new Latino populations. The other awardees include: Association House of Chicago, IL; Del Norte Neighborhood Development Corporation, Denver, CO; Latino Memphis, Inc., Memphis, TN; Mujeres Latinas en Accion, Chicago, IL; Spanish American Civic Association, Lancaster, PA; Tiburcio Vasquez Health Center, Union City, CA; and Youth Development, Inc. and Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce, Albuquerque, NM, who submitted a joint proposal.

"The NCLR/Comcast grant will allow these NCLR Affiliates to expand the important work they do in their communities to help advance opportunities for all Latinos," said Janet Murguia, NCLR President and CEO. "We commend Comcast for its continued support of community-based organizations that strengthen and serve the Latino community."

Supporting NCLR and its Affiliate Network further exemplifies one of Comcast's key diversity initiatives to create opportunities for the Hispanic community. Comcast's commitment to diversity is focused on four key areas: attracting and retaining a multicultural workforce, developing a diverse supplier group, offering a wide selection of multicultural programming and pledging significant community investments.

About Congreso de Latinos Unidos

Congreso de Latinos Unidos, Inc. (Congreso) is a community-based nonprofit organization located in Philadelphia, Pa., whose mission is to strengthen Latino communities through social, economic, education, and health services; leadership development; and advocacy. Since Congreso's inception in 1977, Congreso has evolved with the community and expanded into a multi-service organization that offers a comprehensive delivery of services through more than sixty-five programs. Congreso served more than 25,000 individuals in fiscal year 2006 with direct services through four programmatic divisions: Neighborhood and Family Development; Children and Youth Services; Workforce Development Services; and Health Promotion and Wellness. The agency currently employs over 250 bilingual and multicultural employees.

About NCLR

The National Council of La Raza (NCLR) -- the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States -- works to improve opportunities for Hispanic Americans. Through its network of nearly 300 affiliated community-based organizations (CBOs), NCLR reaches millions of Hispanics each year in 41 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia. To achieve its mission, NCLR conducts applied research, policy analysis, and advocacy, providing a Latino perspective in five key areas -- assets/investments, civil rights/immigration, education, employment and economic status, and health. In addition, it provides capacity-building assistance to its Affiliates who work at the state and local level to advance opportunities for individuals and families.

Founded in 1968, NCLR is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan, tax-exempt organization headquartered in Washington, DC. NCLR serves all Hispanic subgroups in all regions of the country and has operations in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Phoenix, Sacramento, San Antonio, and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

About Comcast Corporation

Comcast Corporation (http://www.comcast.com/) is the nation's leading provider of cable, entertainment and communications products and services. With 24.2 million cable customers, 12.1 million high-speed Internet customers, and 3.0 million voice customers, Comcast is principally involved in the development, management and operation of broadband cable systems and in the delivery of programming content.

Comcast's content networks and investments include E! Entertainment Television, Style Network, The Golf Channel, VERSUS, G4, AZN Television, PBS KIDS Sprout, TV One, Comcast SportsNet and Comcast Interactive Media, which develops and operates Comcast's Internet business. Comcast also has a majority ownership in Comcast-Spectacor, whose major holdings include the Philadelphia Flyers NHL hockey team, the Philadelphia 76ers NBA basketball team and two large multipurpose arenas in Philadelphia.

About The Comcast Foundation

The Comcast Foundation was founded by Comcast Corporation in June 1999 and is the company's chief source of charitable support to qualified non-profit organizations. The Foundation primarily invests in programs that work to create a positive, sustainable impact within our communities in the areas of volunteerism, literacy, and youth leadership development. Since its inception, The Comcast Foundation has donated more than $30 million to organizations in the communities where Comcast serves. More information about The Foundation and its programs is available at http://www.comcast.com/ under "In the Community."

Comcast Corporation

CONTACT: Kristin Shipler of Congreso de Latinos Unidos, Inc.,+1-215-908-0602; or Brooke Manbeck of Comcast, +1-215-286-5092

Web site: http://www.comcast.com/

Source: PRNewswire

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