Connect with us

Technology

COMCAST LAUNCHES FIRST FLAGSHIP LIFT ZONE TO ADVANCE DIGITAL EQUITY AT INSPIREDU IN ATLANTA

Published

on

Partnership Provides Free WiFi Access, Plus a $500,000 Grant for a Technology Makeover
 That Will Enable Virtual Digital Skills Training Across the State of Georgia

ATLANTA, Oct. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Comcast announced today it has installed its first Flagship Lift Zone in partnership with Inspiredu in Atlanta, Georgia. Building on the legacy of its award-winning Lift Zone program, which now offers free WiFi in more than 1,250 community centers nationwide, this inaugural Flagship Lift Zone continues five years of proud collaboration between Comcast and Inspiredu. Not only will Inspiredu still provide free, fast, and reliable WiFi for visitors, powered by Comcast Business, but also expand its reach and capacity with a grant of more than $500,000. The investment will fund a technology makeover as well as the ability to deliver even more digital skills training classes.

“Lift Zones are about more than just providing free access to the Internet. They are about teaching people how to use the power of broadband to transform their lives and careers,” said Loren Hudson, SVP and Chief Diversity Officer, Connectivity and Platforms, Comcast. “The biggest barrier to getting online is not having the skills or the resources to do so. With this Flagship Lift Zone, Inspiredu will now be able to make an even greater impact.”

Comcast’s Lift Zones program, a key component of Project UP, is part of the company’s comprehensive, $1 billion commitment to advance digital equity and build a future of unlimited possibilities. Since its launch in 2020, Lift Zones have provided essential internet access for those in need outside the home. It also complements Comcast’s Internet Essentials program, which offers in-home broadband connectivity to lower-income families.

“These resources will help us expand our reach not just in our local community, or even in the greater Atlanta metro area. Now, we’ll be able to provide digital skills training classes remotely to anyone, anywhere in the great state of Georgia,” said Richard Hicks, CEO & President of Inspiredu. “Given Comcast’s focus on the Internet and ensuring that everyone has the skills to navigate it, I can think of no greater partner for us at Inspiredu.”

“This Flagship Lift Zone represents the next step in our long-standing partnership with Inspiredu to bridge the digital divide here in Atlanta,” said Mike McArdle, Senior Vice President of Comcast’s Big South Region. “By providing free, high-speed Internet access and technology resources, we’re empowering even more Atlantans to learn, grow and connect to opportunities that can transform their lives. We’re proud to further our work with Inspiredu and invest in creating a brighter digital future for our communities.”

Technology Makeover
Comcast and Inspiredu collaborated to develop a customized plan to ensure the organization could expand its reach through the use of state-of-the-art technology. As Inspiredu was already making a significant capital investment to upgrade its facilities, Comcast was able to partner early in that planning process to ensure WiFi access points with increased reliability and speed were installed throughout the facility. In addition, other tech upgrades funded by Comcast include:

Digital cameras and whiteboards in two fully connected classrooms equipped with four 85-inch Yealink screens to offer both in-person and hybrid instruction.A Muraflex wall that can transform the classroom area into a spacious room for up to 50 students, two smaller rooms for up to 25 students, or a fully open space to accommodate large, community events.Two 85-inch television screens to display real-time updates, special announcements, upcoming events, and daily class schedules.Enhanced audio-visual and design in the huddle rooms, designed for up to four people to enable Inspiredu staff to deliver digital navigator counseling sessions in a private setting.

Digital Skills Training
Part of Comcast’s investment will also enable Inspiredu to hire more instructors, doubling the number of teachers from four to eight. This allows Inspiredu to teach both large format classes, as well as offer a greater variety of smaller, more specialized courses around topics like cyber security, financial literacy, and coding.

Over the last three years, Comcast has made more than $47.9 million in cash and in-kind contributions to more than 70 Georgia-based nonprofit organizations. These contributions support local community programs that help establish and promote the company’s Digital Equity Network in Georgia. Comcast’s network of digital equity partners helps people acquire computers, provide digital skills trainings, and offer opportunities for community members to explore and train for careers in tech-related fields. They can also develop the kinds of digital skills that can help them launch and grow their own business.

About Inspiredu
Inspiredu is a Georgia-based non-profit working to bridge the gaps in device ownership, digital literacy, and digital access by providing Georgia’s most marginalized and vulnerable citizens with the devices and training they need to join the global internet community. In Inspiredu’s digital skilling workshops, participants learn fundamental technical skills such operating the computer and accessing the internet, practicing internet safety, using basic software such as Microsoft Office, understanding how to use technology to increase financial wellness or acquire certifications to bolster work readiness, and understanding how to use online resources to support student learning. The communities that Inspiredu serves, both rural and urban, are families of meager or lower incomes who lack the devices and training necessary to take advantage of recent broadband initiatives in Georgia. To learn more, please visit https://www.iuatl.org.

About Comcast Corporation
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company. From the connectivity and platforms we provide, to the content and experiences we create, our businesses reach hundreds of millions of customers, viewers, and guests worldwide. We deliver world-class broadband, wireless, and video through Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky; produce, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through brands including NBC, Telemundo, Universal, Peacock, and Sky; and bring incredible theme parks and attractions to life through Universal Destinations & Experiences. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information.

Media Contacts:
Portia Akins, Comcast, portia_akins@comcast.com or 470.322.0332; https://south.comcast.com/
Francesca Rodriguez-Williams, Inspiredu, fwilliams@iuatl.org or 404.593.0490

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/comcast-launches-first-flagship-lift-zone-to-advance-digital-equity-at-inspiredu-in-atlanta-302279833.html

SOURCE Comcast

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Technology

Barrel Energy Inc. Announces Full SEC Reporting Status, Strengthening Marketability and Positioning Company for Expansion in Renewable and Nutritional Energy Markets

Published

on

By

Barrel Energy Inc. (OTC: BRLL) A fully reporting company. Accelerates Growth Across Energy, Hospitality, and Sustainable Ventures, Driving Scalable Opportunities Worldwide.

LAS VEGAS, May 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Barrel Energy Inc. (OTC: BRLL), an emerging diversified energy company focused on renewable energy and nutritional energy initiatives, today announced that the Company is now a fully reporting company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), marking a major turning point in the Company’s long term growth strategy and public market development.

Barrel Energy Inc. Announces Full SEC Reporting Status, Strengthening Marketability and positioning for Expansion.

“Our transition to becoming a fully reporting SEC company represents a significant milestone for Barrel Energy and an important step toward increasing the overall marketability and visibility of our stock,” said Jarmin Kaltsas. “We believe today’s market increasingly rewards transparency and compliance, and becoming fully reporting positions us to engage a wider audience of investors, strategic partners, and acquisition opportunities as we continue executing our long term growth strategy under the BRLL trading symbol.”

Management further stated that the Company plans to aggressively pursue growth initiatives intended to expand revenues, strengthen market presence, and enhance shareholder value through strategic business combinations, operational expansion, and scalable energy focused ventures.

About Barrel Energy Inc.

Barrel Energy Inc. (OTC: BRLL) is a diversified energy company focused on opportunities in renewable energy, and nutritional energy initiatives. The Company seeks to leverage strategic acquisitions, public market growth, and innovative energy solutions to create long term shareholder value.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, such as statements relating to financial results and plans for future development activities and are thus prospective. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not statements of historical fact regarding intent, belief or current expectations of the Company, its directors or its officers. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company’s ability to control. Actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements are risks and uncertainties associated with the Company’s business and finances in general, including the ability to continue and manage its growth, competition, global economic conditions and other factors discussed in detail in the Company’s periodic filings with the Security and Exchange Commission.

Barrel Energy – 3859 S. Valley View Blvd, STE 2 #107, Las Vegas, NV, 89103 Tel- 888- 397-9114 Email- info@BRLLenergy.com Social Media-@BRLLenergy all platforms.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/barrel-energy-inc-announces-full-sec-reporting-status-strengthening-marketability-and-positioning-company-for-expansion-in-renewable-and-nutritional-energy-markets-302768505.html

SOURCE Barrel Energy, Inc.

Continue Reading

Technology

Legacy Launches $1M Study Advancing At-Home Semen Collection for Assisted Reproduction Technology

Published

on

By

NEW YORK, May 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Legacy, the leading male fertility clinic and at-home sperm testing and cryopreservation platform, today announced the Sperm Study, a clinical research initiative backed by an R&D investment of over $1 million and designed to evaluate and optimize the use of at-home semen collection for assisted reproductive technologies (ART), including IVF and IUI.

Prospectively enrolling up to 250 participants across two phases, this study represents one of the most comprehensive investigations to date into how specimen shipment, handling, and cryopreservation impact sperm quality and is expected to set a new benchmark for scientific rigor in the rapidly growing field of at-home fertility testing. This study is being conducted in collaboration with IVF Academy USA.

Raising the bar for clinical evidence in at-home fertility care

To date, validation work in at-home semen collection has been limited in important ways. Studies have largely enrolled normozoospermic men only, relied on courier-transported rather than real-world-shipped specimens, and focused on short-term motility and concentration as primary endpoints.

Critical questions remain unanswered, particularly around how samples with varying quality perform under genuine end-to-end shipping conditions, and how those samples hold up in the contexts that matter most clinically: IVF and IUI. The Sperm Study is designed to close those gaps.

This multi-phase study will evaluate key sperm quality parameters including motility, DNA fragmentation, and post-thaw viability, while also validating the use of computer-aided semen analysis (CASA) as an alternative to basic manual semen analysis in the setting of mail-in semen analysis.

“With the increased utilization of at-home semen testing and cryopreservation, there is a critical need to ensure these specimens will perform adequately when used for assisted reproduction,” said Legacy’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Scott Lundy. “This study is designed to rigorously evaluate how at-home collection and transport impact sperm quality across a broad patient population and to translate those findings into improved protocols and optimized outcomes for both patients and providers.”

Sperm study design and scientific approach

The Sperm Study is a prospectively accruing cross-sectional study in which paired semen samples are analyzed across multiple timepoints and during the shipment process. Importantly, this study enrolls participants across a range of semen quality profiles — not solely normozoospermic men — and evaluates samples under genuine shipping conditions experienced by real specimens.

Key study components include direct comparison of CASA vs. manual analysis at baseline, evaluation of motility decline over time and in relation to shipment conditions, measurement of DNA fragmentation pre- and post-shipment and cryopreservation, assessment of post-thaw sperm viability and yield, and the development of predictive algorithms for IVF/IUI sample sufficiency.

The study will also examine how factors such as transit time, concentration, and storage conditions impact outcomes, with the goal of generating generalizable insights for clinical practice.

Multi-phase rollout

Phase 1 includes 100 participants and approximately 1,500 total assays, with expected completion in 2026. Phase 2, planned for later in 2026 and into 2027, will expand the study with additional participants, bringing the total to up to 250 to enable broader validation across a more diverse patient population.

Impact on clinical practice

Findings from the Sperm Study are expected to directly inform and improve specimen collection protocols for at-home use, shipping and handling standards for semen samples, cryopreservation practices, and clinical decision-making for IVF and IUI readiness.

By generating high-quality, controlled data across a clinically representative patient population, Legacy aims to provide fertility clinics, researchers, and patients with greater confidence in the use of mail-in semen testing and cryopreservation as part of standard reproductive care.

About Legacy

Legacy is the leading male fertility clinic in the United States, offering at-home semen analysis, sperm cryopreservation, and post-vasectomy testing. With a CLIA-certified, high-complexity andrology lab and one of the largest proprietary datasets in male reproductive health, Legacy is advancing access, data, and innovation in fertility care.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/legacy-launches-1m-study-advancing-at-home-semen-collection-for-assisted-reproduction-technology-302768508.html

SOURCE Give Legacy, Inc.

Continue Reading

Technology

Elks Award Nearly $5 Million in College Scholarships

Published

on

By

CHICAGO, May 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Elks National Foundation welcomed 900 students to the Elks family, awarding more than $4.9 million in scholarships to high school seniors. An Elks scholarship is more than financial aid; it’s an invitation to a network of service-minded peers and a promise that an Elks Lodge is always there with open arms.

Out of more than 23,000 applicants for the Most Valuable Student scholarship, the Top 20 scholars received $30,000 scholarships and an invitation to Chicago for the Leadership Weekend.

From April 30-May 3, the Leadership Weekend allowed scholars to get acquainted with their new Elks family through programming facilitated by current and former Elks scholars, team-building activities, and a service opportunity.

“Leadership Weekend is one of my greatest memories,” says Emily Cai, sponsored by Toccoa, Ga., Lodge No. 1820. “I had the privilege of meeting inspirational and disciplined individuals who motivated me to become the best version of myself. I am excited to see my future with the Elks family!”

A total of 480 runners-up received $4,000 Most Valuable Student scholarships.

Service is a tenet of the Elks, which is why it’s a requirement for recipients of the $6,000 Legacy Awards scholarship, which is exclusively for the children or grandchildren of Elks members. The new class of 400 scholars will serve with an Elks Lodge three times during the four years they receive the scholarship.

“This award means a great deal to me and my family,” says Kelly Butler, sponsored by Haverstraw, N.Y., Lodge No. 877. “Knowing that the Elks have invested in my future motivates me to continue working hard and striving toward my goals.”

To see a full list of the scholarship winners and to learn more about the Elks National Foundation’s scholarships, visit elks.org/scholars, follow the ENF on Instagram @ElksScholars, and like the ENF on Facebook @ElksNationalFoundation.

Contact: Elks National Foundation
Abbey Knupp | Manager, Communications
2750 N. Lakeview Ave. | Chicago, IL 60614-2256
773/755-4864 | AbbeyK@elks.org 

Helping Elks Build Stronger Communities

The Elks National Foundation, the charitable arm of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, helps nearly 800,000 Elks and nearly 1,800 Lodges nationwide build stronger communities through programs that support youth, serve veterans, and meet needs in areas where Elks live and work. To learn more, visit elks.org/enf.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/elks-award-nearly-5-million-in-college-scholarships-302768507.html

SOURCE ELKS NATIONAL FOUNDATION, INC.

Continue Reading

Trending