Carlos Graupera, Spanish American Civic Association
717-397-6267, cgraupera@sacapa.org

Gabe Weissman, Comcast Cable
610-650-1352, gabriel_weissman@cable.comcast.com

Jun 29, 2007

Lancaster Organization is One of Eight Community Based Organizations in the United States to Receive Grant

Lancaster, PA – In partnership with the Comcast Foundation, the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S., today announced a $75,000 grant to the Spanish American Civic Association (SACA) to increase its capacity to provide mental health outpatient services to the Latino population in Lancaster. SACA is one of eight community-based organizations – chosen from NCLR’s Affiliate Network of nearly 300 organizations throughout the nation – to be recognized with an NCLR/Comcast grant.

The Nuestra Clínica Behavioral Health Program was created in 1990 to respond to the need for community-based mental health services for Latinos in the Lancaster area. Nuestra Clínica provides mental health care and treatment – in Spanish, if needed – to Latinos in a welcoming community-based environment.

“We are so pleased that NCLR and Comcast have recognized the work we do to improve the health of Latino families. In particular, I’d like to commend Comcast for providing this type of funding that will help Latino community organizations become even better at what they do well. It’s not only good for our community, it’s good for Lancaster and Pennsylvania,” noted Carlos Graupera, Executive Director of SACA.

For three decades, SACA has developed and nurtured productivity and progress among Latinos in Lancaster County. Support of SACA’s mental health program reinforces Comcast’s continued commitment to addressing the overall well-being of Lancaster’s Latino community.

It’s an honor to support SACA and the Latino community in Lancaster,” said Jim Samaha, senior vice president, Comcast Central Pennsylvania Region. “We’re committed to enriching all communities where we live and work, and our hope is that this grant will make a positive impact for a long time to come.”

NCLR/Comcast capacity-building grants were awarded in the categories of community development, education, health, workforce development, and advocacy. One grant was also given in the “Next Generation” category, to recognize young or newly established organizations in communities that have experienced the emergence of new Latino populations. The other awardees include: Association House of Chicago, IL; Del Norte Neighborhood Development Corporation, Denver, CO; Latino Memphis, Inc., Memphis, TN; Mujeres Latinas en Acción, Chicago, IL; Congreso de Latinos Unidos, Inc., Philadelphia, PA; Tiburcio Vasquez Health Center, Union City, CA; and Youth Development, Inc. and Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce, Albuquerque, NM, who together submitted a joint proposal.

“The NCLR/Comcast grant will allow these NCLR Affiliates to expand the important work they do in their communities to advance opportunities for all Latinos,” said Janet Murguía, NCLR President and CEO. “We commend Comcast for working with us to offer this unique opportunity and for its continued support of organizations that strengthen and serve the Latino community.”

Supporting NCLR and its Affiliate Network further exemplifies one of Comcast’s key diversity initiatives to create opportunities for the Hispanic community. Comcast’s commitment to diversity is focused on four key areas: attracting and retaining a multicultural workforce, developing a diverse supplier group, offering a wide selection of multicultural programming and pledging significant community investments.

For more information on the NCLR/Comcast Capacity-Building Grant Program, please contact Affiliate Member Services at (202) 785-1670 or visit www.nclr.org.

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About Comcast
Comcast Corporation is the nation's leading provider of cable, entertainment and communications products and services. With 24.2 million cable customers, 11.5 million high-speed Internet customers, and 2.5 million voice customers, Comcast is principally involved in the development, management and operation of broadband cable systems and in the delivery of programming content.

Comcast’s content networks and investments include E! Entertainment Television, Style Network, The Golf Channel, VERSUS, G4, AZN Television, PBS KIDS Sprout, TV One , four regional Comcast SportsNets and Comcast Interactive Media, which develops and operates Comcast's Internet business. Comcast also has a majority ownership in Comcast-Spectacor, whose major holdings include the Philadelphia Flyers NHL hockey team, the Philadelphia 76ers NBA basketball team and two large multipurpose arenas in Philadelphia.

About SACA
For over 30 years, the Spanish American Civic Association (SACA)’s mission has been to foster and perpetuate the cultural, social and economic well-being of the Hispanic people of the City and County of Lancaster, and thereby contribute to the general well-being of the community at large. SACA began with a small program in the heart of the city and has grown tremendously. Its expanse of services now includes: information and referrals, case management, employment services, behavioral and mental health programs, senior citizen services, continuing education programs for adults, drug and alcohol residential treatment, and interventions for high-risk youth.

SACA's extensive services reach families who would otherwise find it difficult to access community services. SACA also serves as the parent organization of two subsidiaries, SACA Development Corporation, which conducts home ownership and neighborhood revitalization activities, and SACA Broadcasting, which provides bi-lingual educational, broadcasting through WLCH Radio Centro, 91.3fm in Lancaster and 100.3 in York, PA. WLCH Radio Centro is the only bilingual radio station, public or commercial, in the greater Lancaster County area.

SACA continues to provide core services that are essential for new arrivals to the community and to families that are at risk socially and economically. For many, SACA is the bridge to affordable housing, jobs, education, human services, and a better future.

About NCLR
The National Council of La Raza (NCLR) – the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States – works to improve opportunities for Hispanic Americans. Through its network of nearly 300 affiliated community-based organizations (CBOs), NCLR reaches millions of Hispanics each year in 41 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia. To achieve its mission, NCLR conducts applied research, policy analysis, and advocacy, providing a Latino perspective in five key areas – assets/investments, civil rights/immigration, education, employment and economic status, and health. In addition, it provides capacity-building assistance to its Affiliates who work at the state and local level to advance opportunities for individuals and families.

Founded in 1968, NCLR is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan, tax-exempt organization headquartered in Washington, DC. NCLR serves all Hispanic subgroups in all regions of the country and has operations in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Phoenix, Sacramento, San Antonio, and San Juan, Puerto Rico.