As part of NBC Universal's ongoing commitment to improving public secondary education in underserved communities, the NBC Universal Foundation, the company's philanthropic organization, announced that it will direct $800,000 in grants to non-profits in six cities across the U.S.

In its fifth year, the funding will support 26 non-profit organizations in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Miami and Washington, D.C. that have demonstrated their commitment to improving educational opportunities for 6th through 12th grade students. Since the program's inception, more than $6M has been directed to education.

"There is no better way to brighten the future of a young person than by helping him or her achieve success in the classroom," said Jeff Zucker, President and CEO of NBC Universal. "That's why five years ago we focused our philanthropic efforts on secondary education. I am so pleased with the results of our investments, which have helped so many young people graduate from high school, begin college, and start on a path of lasting success."

As the new school year approaches, the foundation's signature program will continue to inspire students through a wide range of programs including college test preparation, career counseling, employment skill development and theater workshops that educate children through performance.

NBC Universal employees have been actively involved with this effort and will continue to support the organizations by volunteering as mentors, tutors and career speakers. Last year, NBC Universal employees donated close to 10,000 volunteer hours to their communities.

Previous grant recipients from 2009 have made significant strides in strengthening their students' academic performances. In New York, 100% of seniors participating in the MediaLab program with the Urban Arts Partnership have graduated from high school and have been accepted to college. Communities in Schools of Miami helped 94% of students involved in the Bridges to Graduation program increase their knowledge of work readiness skills, and was nationally recognized by the President at the State of the Union Address for its educational initiatives.

NBC Universal Foundation grant recipients include:

NEW YORK

• Citizen Schools (www.citizenschools.org)


• Fiver (www.fiver.org)


• Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (www.seo-usa.org)


• The Committee for Hispanic Children & Families (www.chcfinc.org)


• Urban Arts Partnership (www.urbanarts.org)

LOS ANGELES

• City Year Los Angeles (www.cityyear.org/losangeles.aspx)


• Girls, Inc. c/o Volunteers of America LA (www.voala.org)


• Los Angeles Education Partnership (www.laep.org)


• Project GRAD Los Angeles (www.projectgradla.org)


• School on Wheels (www.schoolonwheels.org)

CHICAGO

• Aspire (www.aspireofillinois.org)


• Lawrence Hall (www.lawrencehall.org)


• YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago (www.ymcachgo.org)

DALLAS

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas (www.bgcdallas.org)


• Communities In Schools (www.cistarrant.org)


• Score a Goal in the Classroom (www.scoreagoal.org)


• YMCA (www.ymca.net)

MIAMI

• Belafonte TACOLCY Center, Inc. (www.tacolcy.org)


• City Year Miami (www.cityyear.org/miami)


• Communities In Schools of Miami (www.cismiami.org)


• Women of Tomorrow (www.womenoftomorrow.org)

WASHINGTON, DC

• City Year Washington, DC (www.cityyear.org/dc)


• Educators Serving the Community (www.eduserc.org)


• EnvironMentors (www.ncseonline.org/environmentors)


• Sitar Arts Center (www.sitarartscenter.org)


• Strive DC (www.strivedc.org)

NBC Universal is one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80% owned by General Electric and 20% owned by Vivendi.

NBCUniversal

NBCUniversal

NBCUniversal is one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment television networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, and a leading television stations group.

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