The Comcast building was filled with smiles, laughter and squeals of joy as Santa and his helpers surprised students from Benbrook Elementary School with iPads for the holidays. These students are participants in the “Beyond School Walls program”, a one-to-one youth mentoring program where children from local schools have an opportunity to meet with an employee volunteer mentor every other week during the school year.
“Partnerships like Comcast and BBBS bring such enrichment to volunteers and kids’ lives,” shared Kim d’Infante, Corporate/Site Based Match Support Coordinator, BBBS Greater Houston. “When the kids opened their gifts, and received iPads, it was so moving! Comcast has definitely been making history in our community in Houston with 10 years of this Beyond School Walls program, being the first, and being consistent. Benbrook Elementary and BBBS would not be the same without Comcast.”
Through the Beyond School Walls program, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Houston matches students facing adverstity with a one-to-one mentor relationship with a Comcast employee. Students travel to the Comcast corporate office twice a month and meet with their mentors for an hour and work on homework, talk about their lives, and just play games and have fun. This positive adult contact allows students to explore their interests and experience things they would not have the opportunity to otherwise, broadening their horizons and exposing them to the many possibilities available to them.
“It was such a blessing to be a part of this beautiful experience and to know that I work for a company that truly cares about the kids in BBBS, said Rinku Dewnani, Comcast employee and BBBS participant since 2017. “The look in the kids eyes was utter happiness. Jocelyn, (my little), kept looking back at the wrapped presents wondering what they were and when I asked her, she thought it was a book. She never expected to get something like an iPad and was truly ecstatic.”
“This feels like a dream!” shared Andrew, Benbrook Elementary student and BBBS “little” to Oliver Rebueno.
This is what the holiday season is all about, creating meaningful change in children’s lives and preparing them for future success. TRUE HOLIDAY MAGIC!
