DALLAS,
Jan. 17, 2022
/PRNewswire/ -- Santander Consumer USA ("SC") today announced that it is
partnering with technology and community nonprofit Comp-U-Dopt to
help bridge the digital divide in several cities in the U.S. Funded
by a $35 million multi-year grant
from the Santander Consumer USA
Inc. Foundation, SC and Comp-U-Dopt will provide free high-speed
Internet connectivity, computers, training and support to eligible
low-income residents who enroll in a lottery for the program in
select cities.
The program will begin with a $7
million investment in Dallas and expand over two years. The
initiative is aimed at providing greater financial empowerment and
overall well-being to communities who face challenges obtaining
digital connectivity.
In Dallas, SC and Comp-U-Dopt
will target connectivity, laptops and digital skill-building
resources to student households below 200 percent of the federal
poverty level in the southern sector of the city, and deliver
free:
- Reliable high-speed Internet for up to 10,000 student
households
- Warrantied computers for student households (including
bilingual help desk support)
- Education and training to boost student and caregiver
digital skills
Many Dallas households still
confront gaps in high-speed Internet access due to factors such as
insufficient infrastructure, lack of affordability, and end user
knowledge and skill needs. According to a June 2021 Pew Research Institute study, more than
40 percent of households with lower incomes do not have reliable
high-speed Internet or a personal computer. Accessing distance
learning, telehealth, paying bills online, applying for jobs and
reaching other support services requires that communities continue
to invest in initiatives that close the digital divide
sustainably.
"Today it is difficult, if not impossible, to find a job,
complete schoolwork and connect with vital services without a
computer or reliable Internet," said Santander Consumer
USA CEO Mahesh Aditya. "Our program with Comp-U-Dopt
looks to level the playing field, providing families and students
with critical computer and digital resources to help them prosper
and thrive. The digital divide is a solvable problem, and it is
critical that we continue to invest in initiatives that provide
students and families the tools they need to access additional
resources."
"As we build for our city's future, we must work with our
private and nonprofit partners to connect our neighborhoods with
reliable high-speed Internet," said Dallas Mayor Eric
Johnson. "By expanding Internet service in our historically
underserved communities, we can improve educational outcomes,
enhance workforce readiness, and increase access to critical
services. We are grateful to Santander Consumer for recognizing the
importance of this issue and for helping to make Dallas an even better place to live and
work."
The Santander Consumer Foundation awarded the $35 million grant to national non-profit
Comp-U-Dopt based on their inclusive mission and successful track
record in underserved communities.
"We're thrilled to collaborate with Santander Consumer, partner
agencies, and local community members to achieve digital equity and
advance a solution that provides a foundation for economic mobility
and strengthens our community," said Megan
Steckly, Comp-U-Dopt CEO.
"While the pandemic put a glaring spotlight on the digital
divide, there are organizations whose vision for connecting
communities to opportunity preceded 2020, and Santander Consumer
USA is a prime example of that
commitment," commented Jennifer
Sanders, Executive Director, Dallas Innovation Alliance.
"Since 2018 they have invested in digital access, which has
provided critical support to the DIA Mobile Learning Lab. Through
this program alone, we have reached thousands of students and
members of the community in our city's least connected
neighborhoods because of Santander's forward-thinking investment in
our mission to create innovative solutions to complex
challenges."
"Santander Consumer has been a key supporter in our virtual
classroom initiative since the start of the pandemic," said
Mita Havlick, Executive Director of
the Dallas Education Foundation, the non-profit philanthropic
partner of the Dallas Independent School District. "This program
with Comp-U-Dopt complements the work that we are doing and will be
transformational for thousands of students and families."
Comp-U-Dopt expects to serve approximately 10,000 households in
Dallas over the next two years.
For student households interested in participating in the program
with Comp-U-Dopt, please visit:
https://www.compudopt.org/dallas.
About Santander Consumer USA
Santander Consumer USA Holdings
Inc. (NYSE: SC) ("SC") is a full-service consumer finance company
focused on vehicle finance, third-party servicing and delivering
superior service to our more than 3.1 million customers across the
full credit spectrum. SC, which began originating retail
installment contracts in 1997, had an average managed asset
portfolio of approximately $65
billion (for the third quarter ended September 30, 2021), and is headquartered in
Dallas, Texas.
(www.santanderconsumerusa.com)
About Comp-U-Dopt
Comp-U-Dopt is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in
2007 with a mission to provide technology access and education to
underserved youth. To date they have distributed over 50,000
devices to students in need and delivered nearly 200,000 hours of
technology education. They have programs in California, Florida,
Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, Ohio,
Pennsylvania, Texas and Washington D.C. Visit
www.compudopt.org.
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/santander-consumer-usa-invests-35-million-to-bridge-the-digital-divide-in-communities-across-the-us-301461642.html
SOURCE Santander Consumer USA
Holdings Inc.
