Hawaiian Telcom recently announced it will offer up to $140,000 in digital equity grants to commemorate its 140th anniversary.
The grants are from the Bell Charitable Foundation, a philanthropic endeavor launched by Hawaiian Telcom's parent company, altafiber, to support nonprofit organizations where its companies provide service, according to the announcement.
The Bell Charitable Foundation hosts grant cycles twice a year, in April and October, but is offering a "special round" of grants this August to support digital equity in Hawaii. Each grant will be between $20,000 to $25,000, and the application will be open from Aug. 1-31 for programs focused on access to technology, as well as technology literacy, in Hawaii, according to BCF's website.
“I congratulate Hawaiian Telcom on its 140 years in business — an incredible milestone,” Gov. Josh Green said in a statement. “We applaud the company’s efforts to increase broadband infrastructure around the state, especially to our underserved communities.”
In August 1883, David Kalakaua granted Hawaiian Telcom a charter to provide telephone service and modernize the Kingdom of Hawaii, according to the announcement. Throughout the last 140 years of serving Hawaii, the company "has continued King Kalakaua’s legacy of innovation by investing in new technologies to improve connections across the state," according to the announcement.
For more information on how to apply for a digital equity grant, visit the Bell Charitable Foundation's website.
