NBC Universal Foundation has awarded $1.2MM in So. Florida.

The NBC Universal Foundation has awarded $1.2MM in grants to non-profits in six cities, as part of the company’s on-going commitment to improving public secondary education in underserved communities. It was announced by Jeff Zucker, President & CEO of NBC Universal. The funds will be distributed to 29 non-profit organizations in Miami / Fort Lauderdale, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York and Washington, D.C.

“NBC Universal is committed to giving back to our community,” said Zucker. “These funds will support organizations that are making great strides towards improving secondary education, and it gives me great pleasure to support them both financially and through the volunteer efforts of our employees.”

This is the third year of funding for this successful company initiative, which targets cities with large NBC Universal employee populations and significant education needs. Local area employees from NBC Universal / Telemundo and parent company General Electric have been actively involved with this effort and will again have the opportunity to show their support by volunteering as mentors, tutors and career speakers. “We take the future of South Florida’s youth very seriously and remain committed to working closely with our five local organizations, helping not only through the financial assistance, but also by having our talented employees partner with the programs’ participants,” said Manuel Martinez, Telemundo 51 President and General Manager.

This year’s South Florida grant recipients were selected based on their impact on improving educational opportunities for 6th through 12th grade students. The funding will support a wide range of programs including career counseling, college test preparation, as well as developing digital literacy, leadership skills, volunteerism and environmentally driven action projects. “As we enter the third year of funding programs in South Florida, it is a pleasure to witness the progress being made by our grantee organizations. It is an honor and a privilege for all of us at NBC 6 and Telemundo 51 to be given the opportunity to give back to our community and to make a positive difference in the lives of our young people,” said Ardyth Diercks, NBC 6 President and General Manager.