HOUSTON, TX – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Houston and Comcast are launching an innovative partnership that promises to improve the odds for participating Houston third-graders in order for them to achieve academically and succeed as adults.
Comcast has partnered with Big Brothers Big Sisters and Benbrook Elementary School to launch Beyond School Wallssm, a first of its kind program in Houston where third-graders are matched with company employees for one-to-one mentoring. Comcast employees will serve as “Big Brothers” or “Big Sisters”, meeting with their “Littles” for the first time at 11:45 a.m., Thursday, November 12, at Comcast’s main office at 8590 W. Tidwell, Houston, TX 77040. Following the introductory event, the “Littles” will meet and spend time with their “Bigs” at the Comcast facility at least twice a month.
“We are committed to making a positive impact in the lives of the children we serve and are extremely grateful to Comcast for this powerful partnership,” said Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Houston President and Chief Executive Officer, Marian Davenport.
“Partnering with schools with support from public and private partners, as well as individuals is critical to our success with helping children break cycles too often linked to families struggling with issues related to poverty, incarceration and single-parent households.”
Beyond School Walls, introduced by Big Brothers Big Sisters Southeastern Pennsylvania, is a unique workplace mentoring program in which companies give back to their communities by hosting children from area schools at their offices. Comcast launched its Beyond School Walls program last year in Philadelphia as part of a $10 million national commitment to support Big Brothers Big Sisters, which includes airtime for public service announcements, program sponsorships, national and local board member support, and Comcast leadership development and training opportunities for the organization’s staff leaders. It also includes the sponsorship of the Beyond School Walls program in multiple cities. In addition to making it possible in Houston, the program has launched in Salt Lake City and will also launch in Minneapolis/St. Paul and Hartford by the end of this year to help further enrich the lives of young people.
“We couldn’t be happier about this new partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Houston and Benbrook Elementary School, which allows us to make a significant, direct impact in the lives of many more children,” said Charisse Lillie, Vice President, Community Investment and Executive Vice President, Comcast Foundation. “This effort is consistent with our commitment to developing tomorrow’s leaders by promoting community service and working with young people in their pursuit of better lives and opportunities.”
