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Giving a year to change the world
City Year is a national organization that recruits more than 1,200 young people annually for a year of full-time community service, leadership development and civic engagement.
City Year’s vision is that one day, young people will have a common expectation of dedicating a year of service, and that there will be opportunities to do so. City Year unites young people of all backgrounds, giving them skills and opportunities to change the world. As tutors, mentors and role models, City Year corps members make a difference in the lives of children, and transform schools and neighborhoods across the United States and South Africa.
You may recognize City Year corps members walking through your city proudly wearing their red sweater and khaki pant uniforms. This is a sign of their full-time commitment to helping solve social problems, training new leaders and building a more positive community, which will result in a more positive nation.
Since its inception in 1988, City Year has grown to serve 18 cities with a corps of over 1,400 volunteers ages 17 to 24. More than 10,400 corps members have completed 16 million hours of service and served more than one million children.
Comcast’s Partnership
City Year is our largest national community partnership. It reflects the shared interest and commitment Comcast has to public service, volunteerism and the development of youth to become leaders in their communities. For example, City Year played a role in galvanizing volunteers for 2008 Comcast Cares Day of service.
Comcast’s initial involvement with City Year began in 2001 when the Comcast Foundation funded a City Year Leadership Development Program in Detroit, MI. Comcast became a National Leadership Partner in 2002.
In late 2007, Comcast renewed its national partnership and increased its commitment to the organization to over $27 million in cash and in-kind donations over three years, through 2010. With this extended partnership, there are plans to expand Comcast Team Sponsorships from one City Year site (Philadelphia) to six - Philadelphia, Washington DC, Boston, Detroit and Los Angeles (E! Entertainment Sponsorship) and Miami (2009).
In addition, our partnership has:
- Placed Comcast executives on 10 local City Year boards across the country. David L. Cohen, Comcast Corporation Executive Vice President, serves on the National City Year board.
- Sponsored the “Comcast Leadership Awards” presented each year at City Year’s national “cyzygy” gathering since 2005.
- Expanded leadership training by sponsoring City Year’s Summer Academy.
- Hosted Annual 2008 Human Resources Development Day, or City Year Career Day, with approximately 625 participants in nine cities across the country to strengthen skills sets and competencies for City Year future leaders.
Give a Year. Change the World.
City Year launched five television Public Service Announcements (PSAs) with Comcast’s support of over $20 million in air time. “We are delighted to be airing City Year’s new PSAs across Comcast cable systems nationwide,” said David L. Cohen, Executive Vice President, Comcast Corporation. “City Year has motivated thousands of youths to take active roles within communities and schools, and the PSAs are a terrific reflection of the great work they do. We hope others will join the organization and further their cause.” These ads air will air across the country nearly 2,400 times over the next three years.
The City Year corps members aged 17-to-24 and from diverse backgrounds are featured in the PSAs. Each PSA chronicles meaningful moments that reflect the impact members have as young people engaged in citizen service: tutoring in schools, mentoring students, cleaning up neighborhoods and working together for a common purpose. Each PSA conveys the City Year tagline “Give a year. Change the world.”
Watch the City Year Public Service Announcements below:
For more information about our partnership, please contact Beth Maggio, Director, Public Affairs, at 215.286.4649 or Elizabeth_Maggio@Comcast.com.
City Year photos by Candace diCarlo