Photo by Justin Criado 

Volunteers work on the garden at the Sarah Heinz House during Comcast Cares Day 2015 April 25.

By Justin Criado

Sarah Heinz House celebrated the annual Comcast Cares Day Saturday, April 25 as Comcast employees and personnel helped teamed with volunteers to landscape, clean-up and organize the Heinz House inside and out.

David L. Cohen, Comcast Corporation executive vice president, was on hand as well and presented Heinz House executive director Jennifer Cairns with a $25,000 grant alongside Congressman Mike Doyle and Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald.

“Comcast Cares Day is a shining example of how our employees, family members, friends and community partners all come together with a similar goal of creating a positive impact on our communities,” Cohen said.

In all, over 200 volunteers were on hand at the Heinz House to complete projects in the outside garden and surrounding landscape, and in the building’s various classrooms.

“We depend on this every year because we get so much work done and have such a wonderful turnout and support from Comcast employees as well as our parents and kids,” Janice Wasson, Heinz House director of development & marketing, said.

The Heinz House has been participating in the Comcast initiative since 2011, which takes place during National Volunteer Month, and last year Comcast presented the club a $20,000 grant in support of a new technology program, My.future.

“Comcast is a valued member of the Sarah Heinz House family,” Cairns said. “Their care for our kids extends far beyond one day a year. Not only has Comcast been an integral part of keeping our facility and grounds beautiful, they also helped us to expand our kids’ horizons by exposing them to the latest technology. We are forever grateful for their support.”

Mary Basel has volunteered at the Heinz House for 36 years and was celebrating her 60th birthday Saturday as volunteers and children presented her with a cake and sang “Happy Birthday.”

“We are one big family and they just come out and support Sarah Heinz House,” Basel said of Comcast. “It’s just a fantastic place.”

Comcast volunteers were also on-hand at the Urban League Family Support Center at 101 Hazlett St. in Northview Height to paint, plant flowers and clean-up.

Over 2,000 Comcast employees participated in this year’s event.

Photo by Justin Criado

Mary Basel (seated, center) has been a volunteer at the Sarah Heinz House for 36 years and celebrated her 60th birthday Saturday, April 25 during the annual Comcast Cares Day.