Comcast Foundation Awards Grant to Box of Rain to Support Expansion of Summer Program

Box of Rain and Comcast also Partner to Bring Renowned Sailor to Annapolis for Special Event

Annapolis, Md. – February 26, 2008 – The Comcast Foundation has awarded an $11,000 grant to Box of Rain, an Annapolis-based nonprofit organization, to support the expansion of its summer program for disadvantaged youth.  The summer program, established in 2003 for Annapolis area at-risk youth ages 8 to 14, uses water-oriented activities as a vehicle to reach participants and teach them life-building skills that will create opportunities for them as they approach adulthood. 

The Comcast Foundation grant will enable Box of Rain to accept a greater number of participants than in previous years.  The grant will also assist the organization in building a marine trade skills curriculum into the summer agenda, helping older participants develop skills that will well-position them to join the local workforce, which offers an array of maritime industry job opportunities.

“With this generous donation from The Comcast Foundation we can open our doors to even more local youth and provide them with the opportunity to spend their summer doing positive and productive things,” said Anne Harrington, director of development and fundraising for Box of Rain.  “We’ve been proud to watch so many of our older participants as they’ve grown through the program, gaining self esteem, focusing on their education, preparing for their futures and ultimately resisting the wrong path.”

“Comcast is proud to support the Box of Rain summer program, which provides area youth, many from disadvantaged circumstances, with new and exciting opportunities while equipping them with invaluable life skills and a sense of civic responsibility,” said Bruce Abbott, area vice president for Comcast. 

The Box of Rain summer program participants meet two days per week for seven to eight weeks during the summer for a variety of maritime experiences that include sailing, kayaking, water safety instruction, fishing, educational field trips as well as environmental and cultural activities.  After each summer program season, Box of Rain presents the “outstanding sailor of the year” award to one deserving participant.  That person is asked to become a paid junior counselor throughout the next year’s summer program. 

Comcast has also partnered with Box of Rain to sponsor two special presentations on Saturday, March 8 by renowned sailor, Captain William “Bill” Pinkney.  Captain Pinkney will detail his adventures and experiences as the first African American man to sail solo around the world. 

The first presentation will be held at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County with the support of We Care and Friends, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm.  The event will be open to Box of Rain program participants and their families, members of the Boys & Girls Club and their parents as well as members and friends of the Stanton Community Center. 

For the general public, a second presentation will take place from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm at the Banneker-Douglass Museum at 84 Franklin Street in Annapolis.  Admission is free, although those interested in attending are asked to RSVP by contacting Kelsa McLaughlin at 443-254-0024 or kelsamclaughlin@yahoo.com.

About Box of Rain

Box of Rain is a year-round program designed to inspire and encourage Annapolis area youth, especially those from disadvantaged circumstances, to gain self-esteem and to develop life skills that lead to positive contributions to the community.

The means to success are based on a variety of maritime and educational experiences which include sailing, water safety, environmental and cultural studies as well as learning maritime trade skills.  Through mentoring programs, with caring community leaders and professionals, relationships are established which nurture social skills, vocational interests and civic responsibilities.

The energy and effort to launch this program is to honor the memory of Lee Griffin, a dedicated and generous member of the Annapolis sailing community who was the victim of a homicide in 2002.  Lee’s life and passion for sailing and his community are celebrated in this program, Box of Rain, also the name of his sailboat.  This community program, which has served over 120 children, is a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization.  The web site is www.boxofrain.org .

About the Comcast Foundation

The Comcast Foundation was established by Comcast Corporation in 1999 to provide charitable support to Section 501(c) (3) non-profit organizations.  The Foundation primarily invests in programs intended to have a positive, sustainable impact in the areas of volunteerism, literacy, and youth leadership development.  Since its inception, the Comcast Foundation has donated more than $43 million to organizations in the communities that Comcast serves nationwide.  More information about the Foundation and its programs is available at www.comcast.com/neighborhood.

About Comcast

Headquartered in Philadelphia, Comcast Cable is a division of Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) (http://www.comcast.com), the nation’s leading provider of cable, entertainment and communications products and services. With 24.2 million cable customers, 12.9 million high-speed Internet customers and 4.1 million voice customers, Comcast is principally involved in the development, management and operation of broadband cable systems and in the delivery of programming content.

Comcast’s Eastern Division serves 5.4 million customers along the New York to DC corridor, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Washington, DC, Virginia and North Carolina. The Eastern Division also founded and manages CN8, The Comcast Network, one of the nation’s largest and most honored regional 24-hour diversified television networks, seen by more than nine million homes on the East Coast. The Eastern Division employs approximately 18,000 people and is based in Oaks, Pennsylvania.

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Box of Rain Charity Regatta and Party - Oct 7, 2007

Purpose: The goal for this event is to raise funds to benefit the Box of Rain Foundation, a year-round non-profit program designed to inspire and encourage Annapolis area at-risk youth by exposing them to maritime activities and mentors which will nurture social skills, vocational interests and civic responsibilities.

Who: Local J22 sailing teams selected from Annapolis-area international, American and local champion sailors. Some teams will be sponsored by local sailmakers, restaurants, and other Annapolis maritime businesses.  For any regatta questions, contact Frieda Wildey, friedawildey@cs.com, for more information.  For more information about the social activities contact Anne Harrington at harringtox@aol.com. The Box of Rain program is a 501 (c) 3 federally-approved non-profit organization. All contributions, entry fees, and donations are tax deductible.

What:   One-design fleet racing in a competitive and exciting format of spectator-friendly sailboat racing. The competition will be held in International Class J22 sailboats with 3-4 crew members on courses convenient to shore-side venues and spectator interest. The party and prize giving ceremony will feature an oyster roast, delicious food, beverages and music. There will be raffles and items for auction to help raise funds. Please review the NOR , Entry Form and Sailing Instructions.

Where: Annapolis, Maryland, USA in Annapolis Harbor and the Severn River off the US Sailboat Show and the US Naval Academy. The Regatta Headquarters will be based at the Annapolis Yacht Club One Design Sailing Center. Evening social events and prize giving ceremonies will take place at the Eastport Yacht Club.

When: The regatta will take place on Sunday, October 7, 2007, from 11:00 am until 4:00 pm during the world-renown United States Sailboat Show. The party will be held from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm, rain or shine.  Tickets for the party will be on sale at Fawcett Boat Supplies and at the Eastport Yacht Club.

Costs: Entry fee for the regatta is $350 which includes four tickets to the party & prize giving. Additional tickets for the party and prize giving are $45 and include food and beverages.

Results:  Four races were held in light and shifty conditions near the U.S. Naval Academy and Trident Light Point.

1.  Team Boatyard Bar & Grill/US NASS 4-2-2-1 TOTAL  9 points

2.  Team Countrywide Home Loans 3-1-1-5  TOTAL 10 points

3.  Luna Bambino 1-3-4-3  TOTAL 11 points

4.  Team HOBNOB 2-4-3-4 TOTAL 13 points

5.  Team MedAssurant 5-5-5-2 TOTAL 17 points

Thanks to all the teams that participated in the regatta and a great big THANK YOU to Ted Kaczmarski and Marcia Marshall for running the races in very challenging conditions. See you again next year!

Internet: www.boxofrain.org

Sponsors: Thank you also to all of our sponsors without whom this event would not have been possible!  MedAssurant, SpinSheet Magazine, Accent Graphics, Annapolis Yacht Club, Atlantic Marketing Company, Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream, the Boatyard Bar & Grill, Cafe Gurus, Cindy Cole, COMCAST, Karen Conley Massage Therapist, Countrywide Home Loans, the City of Annapolis, W.J. Deutsch & Sons Ltd., Eastport Design, Eastport Yacht Club, Fawcett Boat Supplies, Hinckley Yachts, Hob Nob Vineyards, KSailing, Kathryn Leonard, Long & Foster, North Sails, Quantum Sail Design Group, Reliable Churchill, Studio 7 Artists, and the Teal Group.