Comcast Surprises Local Students from Big Brothers Big Sisters with New Laptops

Computers given as part of 10^th anniversary celebration for Comcast’s Internet Essentials program

 JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – December 15, 2021 – Christmas came early for a dozen students at Frank H. Peterson Academies who are a part of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Florida’s “Beyond School Walls” program with Comcast.

In the program, student “Littles” or mentees are each paired up with “Bigs” or mentors from Comcast to learn about career opportunities and develop professional skills. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, mentoring sessions are taking place virtually this school year.

During the most recent mentoring session, Comcast employee and Big Brother James Carter explained that the media and technology company was celebrating the tenth anniversary of its Internet Essentials program. Internet Essentials provide low-cost in-home internet service to qualified families, as well as opportunities for digital literacy and skills training.

Then Carter asked if any of the students were familiar with media mogul Oprah Winfrey. Although most of the students didn’t know a lot about the famous TV talk show host, they were thrilled to learn that their mentoring session that day was turning in to one of her famous audience giveaways.

“Guess what’s happening today? You are all receiving new laptops, compliments of Comcast and Big Brothers Big Sisters!” Carter said. “You’re going to get a laptop that you can bring home. You can spend time sharing it with your family and use it for school.”

The laptops were actually hidden away in the classroom and were passed out immediately to the surprised and smiling students.

“Our students genuinely look forward to seeing and talking to their mentors in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program at Frank H. Peterson,” said Anastasia Daniels, CTE Teacher & Webmaster. “Seeing their faces light up when they announced they were receiving laptops truly reflected on how much this program has been helping the students. We appreciate everything Big Brothers Big Sisters and Comcast has done for our students thus far and look forward to seeing these students grow over the years.”

Since it was created in 2011, Internet Essentials has connected more than 10 million people in America to broadband Internet at home, the overwhelming majority of whom were not connected prior to signing up. Comcast has committed to investing $1 billion over the next 10 years to help further close the digital divide and give even more low-income Americans the tools and resources they need to succeed in an increasingly digital world. For more information, visit www.InternetEssentials.com.