National Cable & Telecommunications Association President and CEO Kyle McSlarrow provided the details of the cable industry’s CableCares program yesterday to members of the Louisiana Cable & Telecommunications Association. 

In conjunction with the NCTA’s The Cable Show ’08 in New Orleans, the CableCares program will focus on rebuilding school playgrounds and libraries in the New Orleans areas that were devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

The public service initiative will utilize the resources of the cable broadband industry and the goodwill of show attendees, many of whom will arrive in New Orleans early to participate in volunteer activities.

“New Orleans has been a great and gracious host to cable’s annual convention over the years,” McSlarrow said. “We are excited that the Cable Show is returning to the Big Easy for the ninth time – and even more excited about making a positive impact on the lives of thousands of the city’s young people through the CableCares effort.”  

CableCares is being coordinated by the NCTA and Cable in the Classroom (CIC), in partnership with the City of New Orleans, the Recovery School District, Cox New Orleans, and KaBOOM!, a national nonprofit playground advocacy organization.

One of the projects includes building a brand-new playground at the Fannie C. Williams Elementary School in eastern New Orleans. The playground – designed by community leaders, residents and the students themselves – will be built in one day by 200 volunteers from the cable industry and the community.

CableCares volunteers, in partnership with DIY Network, will also give Sarah T. Reed High School in eastern New Orleans a much-needed facelift by spending May 17 painting and landscaping the school grounds.

For more information on the CableCares program, click here.

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