NBC 4 NEW YORK AND TELEMUNDO 47’S “PROJECT INNOVATION” GRANT CHALLENGE OPENS, FEATURES INCREASED FUNDING FOR 2021

Grant applications can be submitted through February 12 at nbcuprojectinnovation.com

NEW YORK, NY – (January 8, 2021) – This morning, NBC 4 New York/WNBC, Telemundo 47/WNJU and the Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation kicked off their Project Innovation grant challenge for the fourth consecutive year.  Local nonprofits that are helping to move communities forward by encouraging a culture of equity and inclusion, creating pathways for individuals to participate and volunteer in community engagement efforts, fostering the next generation of storytellers and providing youth with the tools they need to succeed across multiple disciplines including entrepreneurship, can submit a Project Innovation grant application at nbcuprojectinnovation.com or in Spanish at nbcuproyectoinnovacion.com through February 12, 2021.

“Our grant challenge benefits local non-profits who share WNBC’s commitment to diversity, opportunity, civic engagement and community service,” said Eric Lerner, President and General Manager of NBC 4 New York. “Through our partnership with Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation, we have secured additional funding for Project Innovation and will be awarding more money to more community organizations than ever before. This will make a difference in our neighborhoods and generate positive social change.”

NBC 4 New York, Telemundo 47 and the Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation will together award a total of $315,000 (up from $225,000) to a maximum of 12 community organizations in participating markets in May 2021. Across all participating markets including New York, a total of $3.475 million dollars will be presented to eligible nonprofits, up from $2.475 million.

“Local non-profits have been on the front lines throughout the pandemic, delivering essential services and working around the clock to support our neighbors in need,” said Cristina Schwarz, President and General Manager of Telemundo 47. “Project Innovation is one of our station’s most important vehicles for recognizing these good works and celebrating their success. We strongly encourage the Tri State’s non-profit community to apply for this year’s round of grants – no matter what language you speak or neighborhood you serve.”

To learn more about the program, join an informational webinar on January 27 at 1:00 PM. RSVP here. You can also access the information in Spanish, including the grant application and the program’s rules and eligibility requirements by visiting nbcuproyectoinnovacion.com.

Presented in 11 markets including New York, next year, NBC 4 New York and Telemundo 47 will select and award grants to eligible nonprofits that are located in and operate from the New York market, have an annual operating budget of more than $100,000 (defined by the organizations most recent 990-N IRS filing), and whose programs are helping to resolve everyday community issues in any of the following four grant categories:

1. Community Engagement: Programs that enable individuals to engage and volunteer in their communities.
2. Culture of Inclusion: Programs that encourage equitable access, opportunities, and resources for traditionally underrepresented communities.
3. Next Generation Storytellers: Programs that promote access and develop pathways for emerging talent, diverse voices, and underrepresented youth to explore careers in news, entertainment, sports and the arts.
4. Youth Education and Empowerment: In-school and out-of-school programs that equip youth with the tools they need to succeed, including STEM/ STEAM education and youth entrepreneurship.

Project Innovation 2021 grants are available in the following markets that are serviced by a NBC/Telemundo owned station: New York (WNBC, WNJU), Southern California (KNBC, KVEA), Chicago (WMAQ, WSNS), Philadelphia (WCAU, WWSI), Dallas-Fort Worth (KXAS, KXTX), Boston (WBTS, WNEU, necn), Hartford, CT (WVIT, WRDM), Washington, D.C. (WRC-TV, WZDC), Miami-Fort Lauderdale (WTVJ, WSCV), San Francisco Bay Area (KNTV, KSTS), and San Diego (KNSD, KUAN).

For more information about the Project Innovation grant challenge program, including a list of past Tri-State winners, click here. Follow on social at @NBCUFoundation and #ProjectInnovation.

About NBC 4 New York / WNBC
NBC 4 New York / WNBC is the flagship station of the NBC Owned Television Stations division of NBCUniversal, serving the New York Tri-State area with an unparalleled commitment to broadcast excellence for 75 years.

The station features New York’s largest investigative reporting team, the I-Team and includes Edward R. Murrow and Emmy Award-winning journalists who successfully track down the answers to the questions most important to viewers. Storm Team 4, the station’s trusted weather team, utilizes the most accurate and the most powerful weather technology available to keep Tri-State viewers informed and safe when severe weather strikes. This includes StormTracker 4, the only commercial high-frequency S-Band dual polarization fixed Doppler weather radar operating in the Northeast.

In addition to NBC 4 New York’s primary channel, other programming outlets include COZI TV, the station’s multicast channel, and out-of-home platforms, including TV screens in taxi cabs, elevators and aboard New York-New Jersey PATH trains. The station also delivers news and information across all platforms, including its dedicated website, mobile app and social media platforms. For more information about NBC 4 New York, visit NBCNewYork.com.

About Telemundo 47 New York / WNJU
Telemundo 47 / WNJU is the Telemundo television station serving Spanish-speaking viewers in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut for more than 50 years. The Tri-State’s Spanish-language broadcasting channel for soccer, Telemundo 47 will offer exclusive Spanish-language coverage of the 2022 and 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup™ tournaments, and the 2025 FIFA Women’s World Cup™ tournament.

Delivering more than 27 hours of locally-produced news, information and entertainment programing each week, Telemundo 47 offers comprehensive breaking news coverage and features the New York market’s only team of bilingual meteorologists, La Autoridad en El Tiempo, who use cutting-edge technology to keep viewers and their families safe and informed. This includes Tele Doppler 47, con tecnología S band, the most powerful and most accurate weather technology available.

Telemundo 47’s local consumer investigative unit, Telemundo Responde, returns every telephone call, responds to every electronic inquiry and has recovered over $1.5 million for local viewers.  The station also features Acceso Total, the region’s only local entertainment variety program with TeleXitos, the station’s multicast network, offering viewers many beloved, iconic television series in an easy-to-watch, comfortable Spanish-language format.

As a station, Telemundo 47 demonstrates its commitment to the communities it serves by cultivating local partnerships with organizations that reflect the diversity of the local market. Telemundo 47 also provides news and information across all platforms, online at Telemundo47.com, and via its dedicated mobile app and across social media.

About Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation
The Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation works to advance initiatives at the cross-section of societal needs and Comcast NBCUniversal’s priorities. The Foundation supports programs and organizations that strive to move communities forward. NBCUniversal is one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment television networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, world-renowned theme parks, and a suite of leading Internet-based businesses. NBCUniversal is owned by Comcast Corporation.

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