Comcast Parent Involvement Matters Awards Program Issues Call for Nominations

BALTIMORE, Nov. 16, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) and Comcast today announced a call for nominations for the fourth annual Comcast Parent Involvement Matters Awards (PIMA). The awards program, a joint partnership between MSDE and Comcast, honors parents and others with legal responsibility for a child, whose exemplary contributions to public education have led to improvements for Maryland's public school children, teachers, schools, programs and/or policies.

"Comcast is pleased to partner with the Maryland State Department of Education for a fourth year to recognize the many talented parents who go above and beyond and whose efforts strengthen our schools and enrich the lives of our children," said Lori Riordan, regional vice president of Government Affairs for Comcast.  "We have truly been impressed with the quality and quantity of nominations we've received over the years and we look forward to inspiring more parents to become more involved."

State Superintendent of Schools Nancy S. Grasmick said that Comcast's support has provided a bright spotlight on the essential contributions of parents and guardians in strengthening Maryland's public schools.

"Comcast understands the importance of parental involvement in the classroom and in the school community," Dr. Grasmick said.  "In a period of difficult financial challenges for our schools, Comcast's continued support of positive initiatives for Maryland families is particularly appreciated."

The Comcast Parent Involvement Matters Awards program was developed to shine a spotlight on parents who have demonstrated significant involvement in the following areas: Communication, Volunteering, Learning, Decision Making and Community Collaboration. The program's theme, "Choose Your Seat. Get Involved." illustrates the point that Maryland parents are involved in a wide range of activities to support their public schools and encourages all parents to get involved whatever way they can.  

Jeffrey Macris of Anne Arundel County was named statewide winner of the 2010 Comcast Parent Involvement Matters Awards in May.  Macris led an effort to turn around two Annapolis area middle schools, even though he and his wife did not yet have a middle schooler among their five children.  Under his leadership, the Annapolis Cluster Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) began by identifying three goals for the schools: bringing in world-class academic programs, establishing order and discipline, and providing high-quality teachers.  

Macris formed the Ad Hoc Group of Annapolis Parents, lobbied local officials and parents, and helped force changes that would help the schools reach the goals. Annapolis Middle is now an International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme school and Bates Middle is an Arts Magnet school offering both performing and visual arts programs. Macris also has been a dedicated Naval Officer for more than two decades and currently serves as a professor of history at the U.S. Naval Academy.  

Comcast Parent Involvement Matters Awards nominees must be parents or legal guardians of children attending Maryland public schools, and cannot be employees of Comcast, MSDE or the Maryland public school system. Twenty-four semifinalists will be selected – one parent from each of the 23 Maryland counties and one from Baltimore City.  Of the semifinalists, five finalists and one statewide winner will be named at an award celebration hosted by Comcast in the spring of 2011.

Nomination forms are currently available and can be downloaded at www.MarylandPublicSchools.org/pima.  Nominations must be postmarked by Wednesday, January 19, 2011.

About Comcast

Comcast Corporation (www.comcast.com) is one of the nation's leading providers of entertainment, information and communication products and services. With 22.9 million video customers, 16.7 million high-speed Internet customers, and 8.4 million Comcast Digital Voice customers, Comcast is principally involved in the development, management and operation of cable systems and in the delivery of programming content.

Comcast's East Division serves approximately 5.5 million residential and business customers across Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington, DC. The East Division is based in Oaks, Pennsylvania and employs more than 18,000 people.

SOURCE Comcast