Comcast Cares Day Brings Together Volunteers &Adults with Disabilities While Beautifying Bethpage-HQ ACLD Residences

July 5, 2017: Bethpage, NY – Fifty employees from Comcast NBCUniversal’s Advertising Sales Team volunteered recently at four of ACLD community residences located in in Huntington, Huntington Station, Dix Hills, and Farmingdale. ACLD (Adults and Children with Learning and Developmental Disabilities) is a nonprofit organization supporting children and adults with autism, learning and developmental disabilities. The Comcast NBCUniversal employees volunteered their time and talents as part of Comcast Cares Day, an initiative in its 16th year, promoted by the media giant that gives back to local communities where their employees live and work. Employees spent the morning and afternoon gardening and cleaning up the garden beds at each of the homes.

“We are grateful for Comcast NBCUniversal’s enthusiastic volunteers who donated their time to make the homes of the people we support an even more beautiful place to live,” said ACLD Executive Director, Robert C. Goldsmith.

“As we celebrated our 16th annual Comcast Cares Day, we were proud to partner with ACLD to give back to our community,” said Linda Yaccarino, Chairman of Advertising Sales and Client Partnerships for NBCUniversal. “It’s truly amazing what’s possible when 50 volunteers donate their time to make a difference in the lives of others. I’m inspired by the community’s response to Comcast Cares Day and am thankful for the participants who helped to make this effort a success.” Yaccarino also serves as an ACLD Foundation Board Member.

Keith Breuninger, a resident of one of the homes that the Comcast NBCUniversal volunteers worked at was very thankful. “This is awesome! Our home looks great with all of the new flowers,” said Breuninger.

His father, Richard Breuninger, First Vice President of the ACLD Board of Trustees, added, “It was a wonderful experience for all of us. I think many of the volunteers learned a great deal about people with developmental disabilities, and they really enjoyed planting alongside the residents of the homes. They have made a beautiful contribution to the homes in more than one way.”

Comcast Cares Day began in 2001 with 6,100 volunteers helping to improve about 100 community sites. For the third consecutive year, more than 100,000 volunteers worldwide – including employees, along with their families and friends and nonprofit partners – turned out to beautify neighborhoods, spruce up schools, plant trees, stock food banks and much more at 1,000 local projects in 23 countries.

Founded in 1957, Adults and Children with Learning and Developmental Disabilities, Inc. (ACLD) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit agency. Celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2017, the organization continues to provide opportunities for children and adults with autism, learning and other developmental disabilities to pursue enviable lives, increase independence and foster supportive relationships within the community. ACLD employs more than 1,100 people and operates 80 different program sites including group homes and apartment programs across Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Service programs include early childhood services, day habilitation, residential alternatives, vocational training and job placement, recreation programs, respite, family support services, Medicaid service coordination, and medical and behavioral health services. For more information, visit www.acld.org.

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PHOTO CAPTIONS:

• Photo 1: NBCUniversal volunteers come together with ACLD staff and residents for Comcast Cares Day 2017.
• Photo 2: ACLD Foundation Board Member Linda Yaccarino, Chairman of Advertising Sales and Client Partnerships for NBCUniversal with ACLD resident Keith Breuninger.
• Photo 3: Comcast Cares Day volunteers work to beautify one of ACLD’s residences.