Big Brothers Big Sisters give kids a big welcome

LYNNWOOD -- They were welcomed as stars.

That's how more than two dozen fourth- and fifth-graders from Woodside Elementary School entered the Comcast Regional headquarters and call center in Lynnwood earlier this month.

The students walked down a red carpet and were photographed by paparazzi and fans asking for autographs.

The onlookers were actually Comcast staff who were there to welcome the 26 students to the first meeting of the Snohomish County Big Brothers Big Sisters Beyond the School Walls program.

Inside, the students were paired with mentors, Comcast employees from the Everett and Lynnwood offices, and spent an hour getting to know each other over lunch, and by talking about common interests and doing activities together.

Fifth-grader Nikita Filipiak was nervous when she arrived at Comcast. She joined the program because she thought she could receive much needed help in math.

She told her Big Sister she likes to play tag. Now, her Big Sister is planning to get a group of people to play tag at the next meeting in January, she said.

"I really like her. She's really cool and I think the program is great," Nikita, 10 said. "You get to interact with other people and receive help with your homework."

Comcast employee Jim Billings, 52, used the time to get to know his 11-year old Little Brother.

He found out he likes sports, and learned about his family, including the older brother who plays football in college but only sees him once a year.

"The big thing is to connect on their level so they have someone they can trust," he said. "The main thing is being his friend."

The program is similar to the one Big Brothers Big Sisters are known for. Beyond the School Walls, however, goes a step further by busing the kids to their mentors. In total, they would be with the mentors two times a month during their lunch breaks.

The kids were chosen by school staff earlier in the year.

They were chosen for the program because they may need help academically or socially. They also could just be in need of extra adult support, said Sarah Dreben, program director for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Snohomish County.

This program is the only one of its kind in Washington state and one of 10 nationally. It also provides a career component by giving the children access to different careers in Comcast, she said.

"It's an eye-opener," Dreben said. "This organization is where they could be working someday."

The program also helps the mentors because it brings the children to them and reserves an hour they can use to do an activity together, Comcast spokesman Steve Kipp said.

"People are busy and is tough to have a weekend to get into that kind of commitment. This eliminates the problem," he said.

Mentors can continue volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters after the program ends in June, Dreben said.

The program offered an opportunity for Renton resident Sara Gallagher, 32, to make a difference.

She was paired with a 10-year old boy. Instead of teaching him, she has made plans for receiving lessons from him in future meetings.

"He's going to teach me how to play chess," Gallagher said. "I hope to create a good relationship with him and have fun."

Alejandro Dominguez: 425-339-3422; adominguez@heraldnet.com.