2025 Community Champions Contest

ACA Connects Members are an important part of their communities. In addition to delivering reliable and affordable video and broadband services, they often lead initiatives that provide a helping hand to their neighbors and friends.

ACA Connects is excited to announce that entries are now being accepted for the 2025 Community Champions contest! This annual initiative encourages ACA Connects Operator Members to submit a community service project showing how their company supports and uplifts the neighborhoods and customers they serve.

Online entries will be accepted from March 26 through August 29 at 5 p.m. Eastern. Entries must include a 150- to 250-word description of the project and one photograph. Only one entry per Member company is allowed, and the contest is only open to ACA Connects Operator Members (Companies are eligible to win every 4 years).

Voting will occur from September 1 through October 3 at 5 p.m. Eastern on the ACA Connects website. The winner of the contest will be announced in mid-October and will be presented with a $2,500 donation from ACA Connects to support their project.

Nominated project photos and details could be featured in the opening video at Summit 2026—offering an excellent opportunity to showcase your company’s efforts. The opening video is highly anticipated! Watch the Summit 2025 opening video here.

Additionally, nominations will be featured on the ACA Connects website and in Action Briefs. All nominated projects, including the winner, will be highlighted in the November edition of ICN, our all-digital magazine.

At ACA Connects, we are proud to represent such a wonderful group of companies who see the value of investing in their communities and lifting up their neighbors. We’re excited to see the innovative and unique projects our Members have developed in an effort to give back!

2024 Community Champions Award Winner:
Astound Broadband
The deadline to nominate a Community Champion was August 15, 2024 at 5 p.m. ET.
Check back soon for voting.

Questions regarding Community Champions?
Please contact Stacey Leech at [email protected].

Astound Broadband

Astound Community Connect

Astound Community Connect (ACC) is a company-wide initiative which centers around making meaningful change in the communities Astound serves and beyond. This is done by focusing on creating key partnerships with nonprofit and community organizations, empowering our employees to volunteer and contributing to important causes that align with our company values and mission.

Under the auspices of ACC, Astound launched a partnership with Habitat for Humanity proudly donating over $650k to the organization and their Home is the Key national fundraising campaign, including the support of 25 Habitat for Humanity Affiliates across the country. A key component of this partnership involves Astound employees rolling up their sleeves and collectively volunteering to help build homes and participate in other volunteer activities.

Astound Community Connect is linking Astound employees to Habitat for Humanity volunteer opportunities in 25 cities across 11 states and has the capacity to give paid time off to over 1,000 employees so they can help families in need achieve stability and self-reliance through safe, decent, affordable housing.

With the much-needed help of our employee volunteers, families who are unhoused or in need of stable housing conditions, can achieve the strength, stability and independence they need to build a better life for themselves and their families.

We are immensely proud and humbled by the difference we are making in the communities we serve.

Vote for the 2024 Community Champions Award

Our ACA Connects Members are an important part of their communities. In addition to delivering reliable and affordable video and broadband services, they often lead initiatives that provide a helping hand to their neighbors and friends.

From volunteering at food banks to organizing clothing drives to donating school supplies to local children, our Members and their employees are engaged and committed to the well-being of their customers in the areas where they live and work.

For 2024, we have 10 nominations. Please vote for the community service project you would like to receive the $2,500 award to continue their efforts. To view details on each project, scroll down further on this page. Voting will begin September 25 and continue through October 30 at 5 p.m. ET,  and the winner will be announced in early November.

Community Champions

2024 Community Champions Contest Winner

2024 Winner

2023 Winner

2022 Winner

ICN Issue 14

NEW!

Our new issue of Independent Communications News (ICN) is out!

Don’t miss the latest on how ACA Connects is advocating for small, independent, and rural providers who are leading the way to close the digital divide.

This fall issue of ICN features a number of ACA Connects members who are making a difference in their communities. Check it out!

Scroll down for Community Champions voting!