Astound Broadband Volunteers Help Build Homes

Astound Broadband (Astound), an award-winning provider of Internet, Mobile and TV services, today announced that Astound employees from its Massachusetts division recently participated in a volunteer home build project with Habitat for Humanity Greater Boston for Habitat for Humanity International’s Home is the Key campaign. The project is part of a broad partnership with Habitat for Humanity to support affordable homeownership in communities within Astound’s service footprint and beyond. Astound’s employee volunteers worked side-by-side with local Habitat for Humanity affiliate and future homeowners to help build their new home in Malden, Mass.

The employee volunteer effort is part of Astound Community Connect which centers around making meaningful change throughout the communities we serve, and beyond, by empowering our employees to volunteer and contribute to important causes that align with our company values. Astound is providing financial support and in-kind services to Habitat for Humanity's affordable housing initiatives. This support will help Habitat for Humanity build safe, decent, and affordable homes for families across the Astound footprint and beyond.

Astound employee volunteers participated in several home build sessions to help build the new home.

“It means a great deal to Astound and our employee volunteers to work alongside Habitat for Humanity Greater Boston in Malden to help build new homes, lending a hand all for the good of something bigger than us. Our collaboration with Habitat for Humanity Greater Boston continues Astound’s longtime commitment to the communities we serve. We look forward to the completion of the new homes and to our continued partnership to bring more affordable housing to the Malden area,” said Sanford Ames, SVP and General Manager, Astound Broadband overseeing Massachusetts.

“We appreciate the effort by Astound employees to help build a home for a new homeowner who may not otherwise have been able to afford one,” said Jim Kostaras, President and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Greater Boston. “When the community comes together, like Astound has done, to help make affordable homeownership possible for local families, it’s a win for everyone.”

Astound is committed to combining financial support, in-kind support and employee volunteerism, as well as providing opportunities for customers and others to participate. Astound is donating more than $670,000 to Habitat for Humanity that will support building homes and hosting over 40 employee volunteer events in the communities that Astound serves. Astound’s collaboration will involve employee volunteers in every market in its footprint, including Chicago, Indiana, Eastern Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New York City, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Texas, and regions throughout California, Oregon, and Washington.

This partnership is one of many where Astound has delivered on the company’s commitment to serving its communities through volunteerism, philanthropy and financial support through the lens of diversity, equity and inclusion.

Over the past several years, Astound has supported both local and national nonprofit organizations that have made significant impacts in Astound communities. In 2022, Astound distributed $1 million in separate grants to 30 local nonprofits in its service areas. In 2020, during the height of the pandemic, Astound and its customers donated $210,000 to Feeding America, supporting local food banks. In 2021, Astound helped to build the first-in-the-nation high school fiber optic program at Peabody Veterans Memorial High School in Peabody MA, where Astound donated all the equipment and labor. Through that partnership, Astound continues to provide paid internships to Peabody high school students seeking training in the fiber-optic industry.

About Astound Broadband

Astound Broadband (astound.com) is the sixth largest cable operator in the U.S., providing award-winning services, fiber-powered internet, TV, mobile, landline phone and fiber optic solutions for residential and business customers across the United States. Astound Broadband is comprised of organizations formerly known as RCN, Grande Communications, Wave Broadband, and enTouch. The company services Chicago, Indiana, Eastern Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New York City, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Texas, regions throughout California, Oregon, and Washington.