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Comcast, Big Brothers Big Sisters Launch Year Four Of Mentoring Program

PLYMOUTH (WWj) -- Comcast and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Detroit will celebrate the fourth year of the Beyond School Walls mentoring program at a special event to be held Tuesday, Oct. 29 at Comcast's Heartland Region Headquarters in Plymouth.

Comcast "Bigs" meet bi-weekly with their McIntyre Elementary School "Littles" at local Comcast offices for valuable one-on-one mentoring time, as well as enriching shared activities.

Participating students have shown an increase in their academic performance, feel more competent academically, are less likely to skip school, and express a desire to attend and finish school.

In 2008, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and Comcast launched the Beyond School Walls mentoring program at the company's Philadelphia headquarters. In the last five years, the BSW program has expanded to 14 Comcast offices across the country and has become the largest workplace mentoring program in the nation with more than 300 Comcast employees getting involved to become "Bigs" to Big Brothers Big Sisters of America "Littles."

Speakers will include Charisse R. Lillie, vice president of community investment of Comcast Corp. and president of the Comcast Foundation; T. Charles Pierson, president and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America; Dara Munson, president and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Detroit; Wanda Cook-Robinson, superintendent of Southfield Schools; and Kimberly Beckwith, principal of McIntyre Elementary School.

The event begins at 11:30 a.m. at 41112 Concept Drive in Plymouth.

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