Washington, D.C. — More than $700,000 collected from U.S. cable industry companies and individuals has been donated to community rebuilding organizations and cable operator employee relief programs in the Gulf Coast Region through the Cable Hope Fund. The funds are being used both by organizations and companies to support programs that are rebuilding houses and other infrastructure, and to provide direct assistance to individuals and families who are rebuilding their lives in the wake of this autumn’s hurricane damage.
The National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) is managing the Cable Hope Fund which was established in September to provide a comprehensive industry-wide response to the hurricanes that devastated the Gulf Coast region.
“In the aftermath of the hurricane, we experienced an unprecedented outpouring of generous support from organizations, companies, and individuals in the cable industry wanting to help in recovery, relief and rebuilding efforts,” said Kyle McSlarrow, NCTA President & CEO. “In addition to tens of millions of dollars raised by telethons and direct contributions by the cable industry, targeted grants from the Cable Hope Fund will make a difference in the lives of our colleagues in the industry as well as many other Gulf Coast residents who suffered from this terrible natural disaster.” Five grants have been awarded to a diverse group of community rebuilding organizations that are committed to the long term rebuilding and revitalization of the ravaged communities:
- $200,000 to Habitat for Humanity for its efforts to rebuild homes and help families devastated by the Gulf Coast hurricanes.
- $75,000 to The Boys and Girls Clubs of America, which will assist the rebuilding of the many community-based clubs damaged or destroyed by the natural disasters.
- $75,000 to Matthew 25 Ministries, an international humanitarian relief organization, to provide needed supplies to the hurricane-affected areas.
- $75,000 to Oxfam America, an international development and relief agency, to fund recovery services including home repair and clean-up kits that will ensure the health of families returning to damaged homes.
- $75,000 to the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA), the principal association representing state directors of education and technology, to assist in efforts to provide mobile technology labs to areas in which schools were damaged by the storms. SETDA has been coordinating delivery of the mobile labs in coordination with the cable industry’s education foundation, Cable in the Classroom.
In addition to the above donations, $210,000 in funding was provided to employee relief funds of three Gulf Coast cable operators that were hit hard by the hurricane. Those funds have been used to provide direct support to hundreds of employees who are rebuilding their lives, including basic necessities like housing assistance, household goods, transportation and other uses.
The grants included $100,000 to Cox Communications, $100,000 to CableOne, and $10,000 to Mediacom.
The recently awarded donations reflect the total monies collected so far by the Cable Hope Fund. NCTA will continue to maintain the fund’s organization, and corporate and individual donations will still be accepted.
The Cable Hope Fund has been designated as a 501 (c) (3) organization by the Internal Revenue Service, and all donations are tax deductible. Credit card contributions can be processed via www.CableHopeFund.org. Alternatively, contributions can be made by check, payable to "Cable Hope Fund," and they can be sent to David Pierce, Executive Director, Cable Hope Fund, c/o NCTA, 1724 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20036.
Companies that are seeking housing for employees displaced by the storms also can still utilize an on-line database established in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, which contains a special section for cable industry companies, by going to www.katrinahousing.org/cable/. At the cable home page, enter “ncta” under Community and “katrina&c@ble” under passcode. If you have difficulties accessing the site, please contact NCTA’s Communications & Public Affairs Department at 202-775-3629.
# # #