Optimum Community recently recognized students at Metuchen High School for participating in the seventh annual Charity Champions program that promotes volunteerism and encourages area high schools to raise funds for a charity of their choice. The school was presented with $1,000 to be donated to Breaking the Chain through Education, the students’ charity of choice.
Following opening remarks from Principal Bruce Peragallo, Optimum Community Public Affairs Manager Tricia Kaminski spoke about the Charity Champions program. Breaking the Chain through Education Founder/Student Advisor Evan Robbins discussed the school’s continuing involvement and the students’ commitment throughout the years. He was then presented with a $1,000 check. Breaking the Chain through Education is an organization dedicated to eradicating child slave trafficking and educating children by building schools in impoverished regions of Ghana. What is especially unique about this organization is that it is run by the students/faculty of Metuchen High School.
“Through its ongoing Charity Champions program, Optimum Community continues to provide high school students with an opportunity to help those in need and better realize the importance of giving back,” said Jennifer Ostrager, Cablevision vice president of Public Affairs. “We congratulate the students at Metuchen High School for their participation.”
For the seventh year, Optimum Community is bringing its Charity Champions program to high schools within its service footprint. Selected schools receive $500 to put toward fundraising efforts, in addition to a $1,000 donation to their charity of choice. Throughout the school year, students raise money and awareness for their selected charity and submit a summary of fundraising results in April 2015. Schools compete against each other and a grand prize winner in each of the tri-state regions that Optimum serves will receive an additional $5,000 for their charity.
About Optimum Community
Optimum Community, a Cablevision initiative formerly known as Power to Learn, connects schools and communities in the company’s footprint with a broad range of services. Cablevision offers thousands of schools and libraries across New York, New Jersey and Connecticut with free access to its popular Optimum-branded cable TV and Internet. Hands-on, educational programs presented by Optimum Community include Digital Smarts, Knicks Summer Reading, Student Lens, and Charity Champions. Optimum Community also keeps Optimum subscribers informed about important events and issues through expanded local programming, including Neighborhood Journal and its signature public affairs show, Meet the Leaders. Additional information is available at www.optimum.net/community.
About Cablevision
Cablevision Systems Corporation a leading media and telecommunications company, serving millions of households and businesses throughout the greater New York area. Providing quality products that keep customers connected, Cablevision offers Optimum-branded digital cable television, high-speed Internet and phone services as well as Optimum WiFi, the nation’s most robust wireless Internet network. Cablevision’s Lightpath subsidiary is a premier provider of integrated business communications solutions for larger companies. Through its local media and programming properties – News 12 Networks and Newsday Media Group – Cablevision also delivers news and information created specifically for the communities it serves. Additional information about Cablevision is available at www.cablevision.com