Spectrum Announces $25,000 Grant to Far Rockaway Nonprofit

On Thursday, September 23, Spectrum announced the Ocean Bay Community Development Corporation (OBCDC) has received an additional $25,000 towards their adult Workforce Job Readiness program through Spectrum Community Center Assist (SCCA), the company’s $30 million philanthropic initiative to revitalize local community centers and invest in job training programs in underserved rural and urban neighborhoods where Spectrum operates.

“On behalf of Ocean Bay Community Development Corporation and the entire Rockaway community, I want to express our profound gratitude to Spectrum for their transformative investment in our programs,” said Ebony Littlejohn-Beaty, OBCDC’s Executive Director. “The funding has enabled us to launch groundbreaking initiatives that are making a real difference in the lives of our youth and families. We are honored to partner with an organization that shares our commitment to creating lasting, positive change in underserved communities. Together, we are building stronger futures, one program and one participant at a time.”

In addition to the adult Workforce Job Readiness program, Spectrum’s support has created a comprehensive ecosystem of learning and development that serves residents from ages 7 to 70 through the Spectrum Training and Technology Center. OBCDC serves more than 1,000 participants across all programs, with more than 270 residents who received job skills training and more than 100 who received credentials.

The Spectrum Training and Technology Center at OBCDC serves as a hub for innovation and learning where young people can explore STEM careers while building the confidence and skills needed to thrive. A variety of topics are covered in the Workforce Readiness program including resume and cover letter development, career researching tools, job search assistance, interview preparation and exploration of career opportunities in different fields.

OBCDC’s mission is to provide essential social services and support to those in need and continue to create a positive impact on the lives of individuals and families in the Far Rockaway community.

“The long-term partnership we created with Ocean Bay Community Development Corporation is making a real difference in the lives of local residents by giving them the skills, tools and updated facilities they need to improve their economic situation,” said Mike Williams, Regional Vice President of the NYC Region for Spectrum. “Already thousands of people around the country have participated in SCCA in the neighborhoods we serve, as we continue to work with Ocean Bay Community Development Corporation to provide essential job training in a safe and revitalized space.”

The $25,000 donation is the fourth for OBCDC through the Spectrum Community Center Assist program, bringing total Spectrum support for the organization to $165,000 over the past three years.

Spectrum’s partnership with OBCDC began in September 2022 in Far Rockaway, where Spectrum employees and community volunteers made repairs and other physical improvements to the facility. Additionally, Spectrum donated 50 new laptops and dedicated a new training and technology room to support the organization’s training and technology programs. Spectrum also provided its advanced 1 gigabit-per-second internet service for the life of the program.

Spectrum launched Spectrum Community Center Assist in 2021 and will invest $30 million to benefit 100 community centers and job training programs in underserved areas across the company’s 41-state footprint. At each location, Spectrum invests in the community center’s job training efforts with cash grants and in-kind contributions, improves physical classroom spaces, sponsors rebuilding events with volunteers to repair and enhance the physical buildings, and provides new equipment, including laptops and furniture.