Outstanding Vernon Mother And "Big Sister" Presented Parental Involvement Recognition Award

Karen Perham-Lippman, of Vernon, was recently presented with a Parental Involvement Recognition Award for active participation in children's education and for her community service. She was one of only 20 Connecticut residents so honored. The award was presented at the State Capitol, and was hosted by the Connecticut Parent Information and Resource Center and the State Education Resource Center.

Karen Perham-Lippman is Manager of Community Investment for Comcast's Western New England Region. In addition to having three boys of her own, she's a "Big Sister" - adult mentor - in Nutmeg Big Brothers Big Sisters' community-based program. At Comcast, Karen oversees the "Beyond School Walls" site-based mentoring program. This very successful program - now in its fifth year of operation - is hosted and funded by Comcast and managed by Nutmeg. Mentors in "Beyond School Walls" are Comcast employees. The children these volunteers mentor are third, fourth and fifth grade students from New Britain's Lincoln Elementary School. Besides having three children of her own, besides being currently matched with a "Little Sister" in Nutmeg's community-based program, Karen is also serving as a "Big Sister" to a young girl in the 2013-2014 "Beyond School Walls" program.

"I feel privileged to work for a company like Comcast that is so clearly committed to corporate social responsibility," said Perham-Lippman. "And I also feel priviliged to be associated with Nutmeg Big Brothers Big Sisters, an organization that does so much good in the communities it serves, an organization that brought my 'Little Sister', Alyssa, into my life. None of what I do would be possible without the inspiration of my sons - Zach, Alex and Nick. I want to be the best me that I can for them. And, as their advocate, I want to do everything I can to teach and motivate them as well."

"Karen is a great Mom and role model for her three boys and the children she affects through her community outreach," said Kristen Roberts, Vice President of Public Relations and Community Investment for Comcast's Western New England Region, which includes Connecticut. "She has so much passion for what she does in her home life and in her role at Comcast and we find ourselves fortunate to have her on our team."

"Our 'Beyond School Walls' program wouldn't be the great success it has been without Karen's support and participation," said Andy Fleischmann, President and CEO of Nutmeg Big Brothers Big Sisters. "All of us at Nutmeg value her enthusiasm and can-do attitude - as I'm sure is true at Comcast too. We are thrilled she was selected to receive a Parental Involvement Recognition Award - it couldn't have been presented to a more worthy candidate."

Learn more about Comcast at: www.comcastcorporation.com.

For information on Nutmeg Big Brothers Big Sisters, go to: www.nutmegbigbrothersbigsisters.org.