I have attended five of the ten Comcast Cares Days, and I leave each one energized about community service and proud of Comcast and all this company does to meet its responsibility to the communities where it does business. Comcast Cares Days 2011 did not disappoint.

I spent the early Saturday morning in Boston with Steve Hackley, Regional Senior Vice President, Greater Boston, and his team at the Yawkey Boys & Girls Club and the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts. We were joined by representatives of City Year, and there were over 150 volunteers. Activities included planting bulbs, landscaping, painting and setting up a good food learning garden. There also was painting and window washing at the Urban League building, which is preparing to host the Urban League national convention in July.

City Year led us in a rousing PT exercise, and we were thrilled to make a contribution of $25,000 from the Comcast Foundation to the work of the Boys & Girls Club. Steve Hackley presented a $25,000 check to the Urban League from the Greater Boston Region. Josh Kraft, President and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston, and Darnell Williams, President and CEO of the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts thanked Comcast effusively. They were, of course, appreciative of the cash and the work being performed at the two sites.

Boston City Council President Stephen J. Murphy congratulated the Urban League and the Yawkey Boys and Girls Club for the fantastic work they are doing in the community. He praised the example that Comcast has set as a good corporate citizen, and thanked the volunteers for their service. He also brought greetings on behalf of the City Council and Mayor Thomas Menino. District Councilman Tito Jackson also had positive words to say about the great work Comcast is doing in the Boston community, and particularly in his district. He read a City Council Resolution declaring April 30th Comcast Cares Day in Boston.

I was approached by John Brothers, the Executive Director of Quincy Asian Resources. Comcast recently opened a Comcast Digital Connectors program at Quincy Asian Resources, and he was delighted to join in the work of Comcast Cares Day. He also shared that the program is proceeding flawlessly with a fabulous instructor and students who are feeling challenged and engaged. Good news, all around. It was wonderful to see our other community partners coming out to support Comcast Cares Day.

We headed next to Cradles to Crayons in Brighton, MA, where we were given a tour of the huge warehouse by founder, Lynn Margherio. My daughter Alison and I worked on the emergency pack detail. When families are hit by emergencies, Cradles to Crayons will provide an emergency pack for children up to the age of 12 who have become suddenly homeless. Some of the emergencies causing homelessness are fires and families leaving abusive relationships with only the clothes on their backs.

What struck me was the most basic nature of the requests for aid -- a bag of about a week's worth of clothes, a spring jacket, four books and a toy. Lynn told us how meaningful the emergency packs are to the children and their parents, as they are all inching toward completely reestablishing their lives. It was very compelling. It makes you very grateful for the blessings you have in your life. So we went to work, packing the bags with the requested items for various children.

More than 200 Comcasters, family members and City Year corps members were out in full force at Cradles to Crayons. Michael Brown, co-founder and CEO of City Year, sits on the board of Cradles to Crayons. He attended Comcast Cares Day on April 30th, and worked alongside his enthusiastic corps members. The check for $25,000 from the Comcast Foundation was a big surprise for Lynn Margherio, and she gratefully and graciously accepted it on behalf of the children who will be the recipients of the emergency packs and backpacks filled with school supplies. It was a great day for Comcast.

At both sites, I spoke to Comcasters and their family members. Our employees were beaming with pride that Comcast supports this kind of community service. I met several employees who attended all ten Comcast Cares Days. They promised to send me recollections and photos that we can share across our corporate and social media sites. I was bursting with pride that I have the opportunity to work with so many people who do not question the importance of our giving back to our communities. Comcasters at every level of the company came out in droves to assist their neighbors and share their sweat equity.

I am grateful for all of the planning, coordination of our staffers and business leaders in the field. Execution of more than 600 projects requires a great deal of time and energy. I am always impressed with the precision in the planning as I attend Comcast Cares Day activities all around the country. We are truly powering dreams in the communities where our employees and customers live and work. As we await the final tally of participants, we do know that we have now reached our two millionth hour of service. What an amazing accomplishment. I hope we can all bask in the bright light of this overwhelmingly successful first decade of Comcast Cares Days. And in a few days, we will begin laying the groundwork for Comcast Cares Day 2012!!!