Comcast Helps Hundreds of St. Lucie Students Stay Connected at Home Through Innovative Partnership

On a Wednesday evening in May, families gathered inside St. Lucie Public Schools’ main office in Fort Pierce for a special opportunity. Instead of attending a school board meeting, they visited to sign up for free or significantly reduced internet service. A collaboration between Comcast, the St. Lucie County Education Foundation and St. Lucie Public Schools made the event possible – with a single goal in mind. Help students get online at home, so they continue to focus on their education and ultimately succeed in life.

Eric and Jessica Linares were among the first to arrive for the internet sign up event. They brought their three children — Madilyn, Aubrey, and Aiden, ranging in age from five months to seven years. Aiden is a first-grade student in the district. He loves using online learning tools such as i-Ready both in the classroom and for homework. Those types of learning platforms depend on ultra-fast, reliable internet. The Linares family said when they heard about the partnership between Florida’s technology leader, the foundation and the school district — it was an easy decision to participate in the program.

“This is one less bill we have to pay,” Jessica Linares said. “Once we heard about it from my son’s school, we knew we had to come to the event today and get signed up as soon as possible.”

Partnership with a Purpose

The partnership between Comcast and the St. Lucie County Education Foundation began several years ago, sparked by a shared concern among community leaders — too many students in St. Lucie County lacked reliable internet access outside the classroom. In today’s digital learning environment, internet access isn’t a luxury — it’s a necessity. Educators stressed students without reliable connectivity are more likely to fall behind academically.

Determined to close this gap, the Foundation sought a partner to help deliver a solution. They found one in Comcast, a company deeply committed to expanding digital access and opportunity across Florida. With a significant investment from the Foundation, the partnership was designed to help cover internet costs for families.

Internet Essentials in Florida

Since 2011, Comcast has offered Internet Essentials, a low-cost home internet program for eligible households. For $14.95 per month, families receive speeds up to 75 Mbps; for $29.95, they can access speeds up to 100 Mbps. Over the past decade, the program has connected more than 10 million people nationwide — including over 73,000 residents on Florida’s Treasure Coast.

When the Internet Essentials Plus Partnership (IEPP) launched in August 2023 with the Education Foundation, the response in St. Lucie County was immediate. Many families needed no-cost internet to support their children’s education. Others preferred to keep their higher-tier Xfinity plans. To meet both needs, the partnership expanded to offer either free internet or a $30 monthly credit for faster service tiers. This flexible model makes this partnership unique by helping retain existing customers and attract new ones. The benefit is available to all families with children enrolled in St. Lucie Public Schools, from kindergarten through high school graduation. So far, the program has seen tremendous success, with hundreds of families enrolling.

Among them is Giannasca Cabral, who attended a recent event with her children — first grader Dasahir and sixth grader Giannam. For them, internet access is essential not only for completing homework but also for enjoying their favorite activities, like gaming and streaming shows.

“With everything being so expensive, having more money in my pocket is everything,” Cabral said. “I’m always ready to take advantage of an opportunity to save money. Plus, it was a quick process getting signed up today.”

Stories of Transformation

D’Jion Jackson is the Family and Community Outreach Administrator at St. Lucie Public Schools. She works closely with the families that opt to participate in the program and sign up for services with Comcast’s residential brand Xfinity. She said the partnership is changing lives – one connection at time.

“We’ve seen firsthand how Internet Essentials transforms lives. One third grade student had a sudden shift in family dynamics and ended up in a new living situation, losing access to the internet she had at home,” Jackson said. “Thanks to this program, we were able to quickly pivot and get her the internet access she needed … as well as a laptop from Comcast to succeed in a very important year of school.”

Jackson explained it’s easy to see the value in this work.

“Another shining example is a high school student who also got a laptop from Comcast and is enrolled in Internet Essentials. With those tools in hand, he was able to participate in dual enrollment and is set to graduate with both a high school diploma and an associate’s degree,” Jackson said. “These are just two of many examples that show how removing digital barriers directly supports student success.”

Community Support in Action

The Education Foundation is also onsite for the signup events, giving out snacks and pizza for the families who visit the office. The foundation’s mission is to facilitate student achievement by supporting high-quality public education through awareness, events, grants and partnerships. Thom Jones is the President of the Education Foundation St. Lucie. He shared a bit about why this partnership is so important.

“For many families, this program has been life-changing. One parent was literally in tears, saying that access to the internet and a free computer would change their lives,” Jones said. “This program is doing more than helping students complete homework, it is helping entire families gain access to a critical resource. For some parents, it could open doors to job opportunities and better connections. Thanks to our partnership with Comcast, every student in St. Lucie Public Schools, including charter schools, now has access to affordable or even free internet. This program is truly transforming lives in St. Lucie County.”

Rachael Bonlarron is Comcast’s Director of Government Affairs for Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast. She helped bring the partnership to life and is often at the sign-up events.

“It’s incredibly rewarding to help connect these students and families – virtually free of charge – thanks to our strong partnership with the St. Lucie County Education Foundation in coordination with St. Lucie Public Schools. I’m proud to attend each event in person to help connect these families in a way that truly makes a difference, “ Bonlarron said. “These students represent our future, and we’re committed to supporting their success. By providing access to fast, reliable internet, we’re giving them a vital tool to move one step closer to achieving their goals.”