In commemoration of Hispanic History Month, Plano-based Frito-Lay announced that it is providing a free digital literacy service for Hispanic families in Dallas, in addition to five other U.S. cities.
For the second year in a row, the snack food manufacturer is partnering with LULAC National Educational Service Centers, Inc. (LNESC), a Hispanic nonprofit education organization, to offer digital literacy education for individuals that require it.
Through LNESC’s Pathways to Uplift and Empower through Novel Technology and Education Services (P.U.E.N.T.E.S.) program, Hispanic residents are able to learn the necessary online skills to do schoolwork, resumes, job searches, college applications, online citizenship and much more, according to Frito-Lay.
"Frito-Lay remains committed to supporting our Hispanic communities by providing the resources necessary to thrive in an increasingly digital world," said Wilson Alarcon, Frito-Lay senior manager and president of Adelante Employee Resource Group for Frito-Lay. "Our commitment to ensuring equal opportunities for all is unwavering, and we're proud to continue this program in the communities we call home."
The initiative from Frito-Lay and LNESC began in 2022 after a survey confirmed that almost half of Hispanic households have at least one member who is not “digitally literate.”
In the inaugural year, the program helped over 250 families, with 100% of participants reporting that they had gained confidence in their technological skills. Building off of that initial success, Frito-Lay and LNESC will be looking to support over 350 in-need individuals with this year’s initiative.
"What began as a call to action to create access to online resources for struggling families during the wake of the pandemic has proven digital literacy to be essential not only in times of crisis, but as a necessity in everyday life," said LNESC Executive Director Richard Roybal. "We are excited to find creative and innovative methods to bring digital education and understanding of technology to families in the communities we serve."