Earlier today the Houston Texans awarded $10,000 grants to the Chinese Community Center, Urban Enrichment Institute and The Pangea Network through the United Way of Greater Houston to help close the digital divide across the Houston community. The “digital divide” is defined as the gulf between those who have ready access to computers and the internet, and those who do not. These grants will assist with providing access to the technology needed to help close this gap and is part of the National Football League’s efforts to close the digital divide in communities across the country.

The nonprofits were chosen based on their efforts to assist students through several means, including providing students in need with digital devices to facilitate their school-based learning at home, providing access to Wi-Fi and broadband services, teaching families how to use digital devices for remote learning and how to navigate commonly-used applications or providing a remote learning school hub for at-risk students.

The nonprofits were surprised with the news they’d be receiving the grant when Houston Texans Legend and former wide receiver Cecil Shorts III, Houston Texans Cheerleaders and Houston Texans mascot TORO showed up at their location with a check, balloons, a custom Texans jersey and cookies. The organizations were surprised under the guise they would be meeting with the Texans to determine final grant recipients.