Students and faculty at Fairhill Elementary School in the Kensington section of Philadelphia were treated to a “big” surprise today as Comcast Corporation donated over 1,600 books, four new computers and a laser printer to the school’s library. The announcement was made at a school ceremony featuring representatives from Comcast, Fairhill School students and faculty, Big Brothers Big Sisters Southeastern Pennsylvania (BBBS SEPA), and leadership from the School District of Philadelphia.

Comcast employees who serve as “Bigs” discovered a barren school library while visiting their “Littles” at Fairhill Elementary as part of the Comcast - Big Brothers Big Sisters Southeastern PA “John Alchin Beyond School WallsSM” program. Fairhill Elementary is a Comcast partner school where 45 Comcast “Bigs” mentor student “Littles” in 4th and 5th grades as part of a special workplace mentoring program overseen by BBBS SEPA.

In support of Mayor Michael A. Nutter’s call to action to “help wherever possible” and as an extension of the support Comcast provides to the “Beyond School WallsSM” Program, Comcast employees mobilized a book drive at Comcast’s corporate headquarters to collect books for the students of Fairhill Elementary. To match the efforts of its employees, Comcast donated new computer equipment to the school’s library as a part of the company’s community investment goal of creating and supporting opportunities for children and youth through literacy and digital education.

“Comcast is overjoyed to donate these books and computers to Fairhill Elementary School for their school library and technology center,” said Charisse Lillie, Vice President, Community Investment & Executive Vice President of the Comcast Foundation. “Literacy and digital literacy are foundational to enriching the educational experience, and we’re happy to work with Big Brothers Big Sisters and Fairhill Elementary School to provide this opportunity to its students, who we consider to be our students.”

The Big Brothers Big Sisters “Beyond School WallsSM” program allows companies like Comcast to give back to the community by hosting children from a nearby school at their corporate office. Through the program, children meet in the workplace with employee volunteers two to four times per month during the school day for about one hour. While on site, Bigs mentor their Littles, play games with them, do arts and crafts, tour the office or talk about school.

Marlene Olshan, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters Southeastern PA, said: “Today is a great day for the children at Fairhill, and these books are just a start. With this contribution from Comcast, we all take one more step in the direction of a more qualified workforce, decreases in crime and violence, and more high school and college graduates.”

Comcast’s contribution and the support Fairhill Elementary School receives from Big Brothers Big Sisters Southeastern PA have had a major impact on its students and their future.

“We are so grateful for the generosity of Comcast, who donated books and computers to our library,” said Ms. Garcia-Soler, Principal, Fairhill Elementary School. “Literacy and digital education are critical to a student’s education, and by Comcast investing in our library, we will be able to enhance and support the students’ learning experience. This is truly a dream come true for us here at Fairhill Elementary School.”

EDITOR’S NOTE – Event photos available upon request.

About Comcast Corporation

Comcast Corporation (CMCSA, CMCSK) (www.comcast.com) is one of the nation's leading providers of entertainment, information and communication products and services. With 23.9 million cable customers, 15.3 million high-speed Internet customers, and 7.0 million Comcast Digital Voice customers, Comcast is principally involved in the development, management and operation of cable systems and in the delivery of programming content.

Comcast's content networks and investments include E! Entertainment Television, Style Network, Golf Channel, VERSUS, G4, PBS KIDS Sprout, TV One, ten sports networks operated by Comcast Sports Group and Comcast Interactive Media, which develops and operates Comcast's Internet businesses, including Comcast.net (www.comcast.net). Comcast also has a majority ownership in Comcast-Spectacor, whose major holdings include the Philadelphia Flyers NHL hockey team, the Philadelphia 76ers NBA basketball team and two large multipurpose arenas in Philadelphia.

About Big Brothers Big Sisters Southeastern PA

Big Brothers Big Sisters Southeastern PA enriches, encourages and empowers children to reach their highest potential through safe, one-to-one mentoring relationships. Your donations help to support the children and volunteers in our program. Volunteering as a Big Brother or Big Sister is about making a measurable difference in a child’s life by sharing new perspectives and experiences; in Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties, over 4300 children annually are more successful socially and academically because of the work of Big Brothers Big Sisters Southeastern PA. Learn more at 215.790.9200 or bbbssepa.org.

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