Comcast, Community Partners Build for Metro Schools

More than 600 Comcast Nashville employees, families and friends built 222 kid-sized picnic tables for 73 elementary schools Saturday, May 3, as part of Comcast’s seventh annual “Comcast Cares Day.”

Joining the Comcast volunteers, other crew members included Nashville Mayor Karl Dean, members of the Urban League of Middle Tennessee, volunteers from the United Way of Metropolitan Nashville and associates of The Home Depot in Madison. The Home Depot store in Madison donated the building materials for this project.

“Comcast is proud to be an active member of communities in Middle Tennessee, and Comcast Cares Day is a tangible way we can give back in mass by improving the quality of lives of those who live in the communities we serve,” said John Gauder, area vice president for Comcast.  “I’m grateful to the more than 600 local volunteers who donated their time to help make such a big difference.”

Volunteers spent the day constructing the small picnic tables which should begin appearing at MNPS elementary schools before the end of the academic year.

“Giving back to the community through hands-on service is a fundamental value of The Home Depot and a passion for its associates,” said Scott Roop, store manager for The Home Depot’s Madison store. “Through Team Depot, the company’s volunteer program, we’re able to bring together volunteers, do-it-yourself expertise, monetary and in-kind resources as a way to support the communities where our associates live and work.”

Connie Williams, executive director of the PENCIL Foundation, said Comcast and Home Depot were great examples of how businesses can individually help the school system.

"When a company not only supports but encourages community service and giving of its employees, it's truly a powerful thing," said Williams. "We are always excited to work with Comcast to coordinate an activity for Comcast Cares Day. This year's project will benefit every Metro elementary school."

Across the country, more than 50,000 Comcast volunteers participated in this year’s day of service, making it one of the nation’s largest single-day corporate volunteer efforts, as the group contributed 400,000 volunteer hours of service in a single day.