NBCUniversal Announces 2016 21st Century Solutions Winners
Encouraging creativity and the drive to invent the future are ingrained in our culture. We are proud to support organizations that are pursuing new ideas to help build stronger communities. For a fifth consecutive year, the NBCUniversal Foundation will spotlight and invest in non-profit organizations that are challenging conventional thinking by implementing innovative programs to address some of our nation’s greatest challenges within the areas of media, technology for good, civic engagement, jobs and economic empowerment, education and environment.
This year, in partnership with NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations, the NBCUniversal Foundation’s annual grant program, 21st Century Solutions, will award $1.2 million dollars to 30 non-profit organizations located in 10 of our NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations markets to help them implement new and innovative programs.
Organizations that are using technology to help youth build their skills in digital journalism, are fostering entrepreneurship abilities and the pursuit of advanced careers among young students through the use of STEM principles (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math), and are helping individuals with disabilities navigate the working and social world through the use of technology, are some of the examples of how this year’s 21st Century Solutions grant winners are helping to move their local communities forward.
The NBCUniversal Foundation looks forward to supporting this year’s winners through the 21st Century Solutions grant program as each organization continues to find creative and impactful ways to make a difference in our communities. You can read more about the winning organizations below.
Grand Prize Winners
NBC 4 New York / Telemundo 47 New York
In New York The Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation will receive $100,000 for their Farm to Early Care Program. The Farm to Early Care program works with early care centers to swap out frozen and processed produce with fresh fruits and vegetables from upstate farmers so that preschoolers across Brooklyn can eat regionally sourced, fresh produce. The Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation is tackling chronic health disparities and inequities in food access impacting low income and communities of color by driving community-level change that not only increases access to healthy foods through farm to institutional sourcing and farmers markets, but educates residents, increases environmental awareness, and renews their connection to the land and cultural traditions.
NBC4 Southern California / Telemundo 52 Los Angeles
In Los Angeles, GlobalGirl Media will receive $100,000 for their Global Girl Media Academy (GGMA) that will train young, diverse women in digital media journalism. The Academy will help girls develop story ideas, write and edit blogs, do research on their chosen topics, work together in teams, and learn digital camera, sound and editing. GGMA will focus on projects/videos through a gender lens, including: education and careers, poverty and social justice, violence against women and dating violence, sexual and reproductive health, health and wellness, financial literacy, the environment, girls and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math).
NBC 5 Chicago / Telemundo Chicago
The North Lawndale Employment Network in Chicago will receive $50,000 for their Pathways for Women program. Pathways serves extremely low-income women with felony convictions, primarily African American and living on Chicago's West Side by equipping them for self-employment. Pathways provides female returning citizens with training and support so they can rejoin their families, address post-incarceration emotional issues, and earn a livable income, either through employment or entrepreneurship.
NBC10 Philadelphia / Telemundo 62 Philadelphia
Mighty Writers in Philadelphia will receive $50,000 to support their El Futuro program. El Futuro's bi-lingual foundation, which focuses on educating predominantly Spanish-speaking students in Philadelphia, helps students think and write with clarity through an academically approved software. Two groups, grades 2-4 and 5-8, will be evaluated on their writing skills through academically approved software, and then advised on areas they need to improve through Mighty Writers.
NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth / Telemundo 39 Dallas-Fort Worth
In the Dallas Fort-Worth area, Girls Inc. of Tarrant County will receive $50,000 for their new STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) Programming. Girls Inc. of Tarrant County is creating Programming for the most underrepresented group in STEM learning and careers -- Latina and African American females -- to become interested in STEM education. Girls Inc.'s research-based programming and mentoring delivered by professional adults builds girls' self-esteem and self-confidence, teaches girls the skills to resist participation in harmful behaviors, and creates a support system of positive mentors and peers.
NBC Bay Area / Telemundo 48 Area de la Bahia
In the Bay Area, Oakland’s Center for Media Change will receive $50,000 for their Hack the Hood program. Hack the Hood's core program is a 6-week, 168 hour immersive boot camp where low-income youth of color ages 16-25 learn tech, marketing, design, and entrepreneurship skills by building websites for local small businesses. Within two weeks of starting the program, youth are performing paid technology work and developing a portfolio they can use to secure internships, freelance gigs, and entry-level work at $18-25/hr. Each year, over 100 Hack the Hood youth are empowered creators of change in their communities and advance their own learning and earning power.
NBC4 Washington
In Washington, D.C. The Arc of Northern Virginia will receive a 21st Century Solutions grant for their EmployMate mobile application. EmployMate is an app curriculum available on iPads, tablets, and smartphones that provides supports for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The app acts as a virtual travel trainer and job coach and will provide a fully and easily customizable tool to help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities navigate the working and social world by themselves.
NBC 6 / Telemundo 51 Miami
The YMCA of South Florida will receive $50,000 for their Mobile Aquatics Program. The Mobile Aquatics Program/Drowning Prevention is a vital service for low-income, minority communities and focuses on teaching non-swimmers skill development in the water. The program comprises a highly skilled, culturally competent team of Aquatics professionals who educate communities about the importance of swim safety and teach free swim lessons to the children. Several thousands of students across South Florida will benefit from this program, where many disadvantaged youth and their parents do not know how to swim.
NBC 7 San Diego
The Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank will receive $50,000 for their Warehouse Energy Conservation Plan. The Warehouse Energy Conservation Plan is a no food wasted/energy efficient model that will help the Jacobs and Cushman San Diego Food Bank (JCSDFB) with energy cost savings so that they can continue to provide for low-income clientele. The Warehouse Energy Conservation Plan aims to install LED lighting, energy-efficient refrigeration controls, 1,400 solar panels on the roof, and a state-of-the-art recycling and composting center at the Food Bank. By doing so, the JCSDFB will save hundreds of thousands of dollars and be able to spend those resources on millions of meals for their low-income clientele.
NBC Connecticut
The Village for Families & Children Words Count program in Connecticut will receive a $50,000 21stCentury Solutions Grant. Words Count is a short-term, parent-directed, play-based program that builds brains, creativity, and caregiver-child bonds. The one-on-one coaching offered by a trained Literacy Coach promotes parental behaviors that stimulate early language, cognitive, and social development.
Runners Up
NBC 4 New York / Telemundo 47 New York
Move for Hunger, The Multi-Family/ Apartment Program: $50,000
Global Kids, The Hack for Impact Lab: $50,000
NBC4 Southern California / Telemundo 52 Los Angeles
School on Wheels, Digital Learning Center: $50,000
TreePeople, Cool City Model: $50,000
NBC 5 Chicago / Telemundo Chicago
Enlace Chicago, Little Village Community Portal: $25,000
Chicago Youth Centers, CYC Maker Lab: $25,000
NBC10 Philadelphia / Telemundo62 Philadelphia
Camden City Garden Club, Growlab II: $25,000
Norris Square Neighborhood Project, Raíces de Cambio: $25,000
NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth / Telemundo 39 Dallas-Fort Worth
Heart of a Champion, The Texas Mentoring Initiative: $25,000
Volunteer Center Of North Texas, VOLY.org: $25,000
NBC Bay Area / Telemundo 48 Area de la Bahia
Hispanic Foundation Of Silicon Valley, The Family College Success Center: $25,000
Juma Ventures, Youth Talent Pipeline: $25,000
NBC4 Washington
Montgomery Comm TV Inc, Multimedia Journalism Explorer's Program: $25,000
Hopkins House a Center for Children and Families, Youth Speaks: $25,000
NBC 6 / Telemundo 51 Miami
Breakthrough Miami, The STEM Academies: $25,000
The Education Fund, Food Forests: $25,000
NBC 7 San Diego
The New Children’s Museum, Innovators Lab: $25,000
NAMI San Diego, ALFRED: $25,000
NBC Connecticut
The Center for Family Justice, Individual Empowerment and Family Strengthening Services: $25,000
Children’s Center of Hamden, Project Discovery – Greenhouse Addition: $25,000
Learn more about NBCUniversal’s pro social initiatives here.
