Comcast Corporation, one of the nation's leading providers of entertainment, information and communications products and services, today announced it will premiere a new Get Local ATL series featuring the Atlanta Falcons players and their charitable work in the community. Beginning today, the 12 episode series, "Rise Up: Role Models," will air exclusively on Comcast on Falcons TV On Demand and is free to XFINITY subscribers. For six weeks, a new episode will be made available every Monday and Thursday that profiles a different player's work in the community.
Each featured player has chosen a charity with a specific cause they find important and wish to donate their time and resources to. Encouraging the Atlanta community to watch and make a difference, Comcast will be giving an On Demand Viewership Award with a $5,000 donation to the player's charity that receives the most unique views during its first 30 days of airing. In each episode, viewers will learn how to get involved with the organization profiled and how to donate.
"We're excited to offer XFINITY subscribers new Falcons content that will allow fans to gain a greater perspective of their favorite players' personalities, while also showing the tremendous amount of generosity and heart that drives the entire Falcons organization," said Taylor Nipper, director of marketing for Comcast's Atlanta region. " 'Rise Up: Role Models' will not only showcase Falcons players, but also the worthwhile causes that team members have dedicated themselves to throughout the nation."
"Not only do we draft and acquire good football players, we also acquire guys that are good citizens who are interested in improving the community where they live, play, and work," Falcons chief marketing officer Jim Smith said. "Typically, our players log more community service hours and make more community appearances than any of the 31 other teams in the National Football League. That's not speculation; That's a fact. We're proud of our guys and the amazing things they do on the field, but we are just as proud of the outstanding work they do in the community, and are excited Comcast is highlighting their terrific work with a new television series."
Featured in the premier episode will be the Mike Peterson Foundation. The Falcons linebacker works with the Top Dog Readers Club at Grove Park Elementary School in Atlanta and provides the motivation and encouragement necessary to increase independent reading and reading achievement through the use of unique incentives, including tours of the Falcons training facility led by Peterson himself. The kids love him and all call him Uncle Mike. Since 2004, the Mike Peterson Foundation has assisted more than 15,000 underserved and socio-economically challenged youth and families. A full list of episodes is available below.
Rise Up: Role Models is part of Comcast's Get Local ATL programming, which offers content on Atlanta sports, music, dating, family fun, local events and more. Comcast also offers original programming featuring the Falcons Cheerleaders including New South: Making The Team and New South: Making The Swimsuit Calendar. To watch the Get Local ATL On Demand programming, select the On Demand button on a Comcast remote and then choose Get Local ATL to browse the variety of show categories. For more information about the local shows, visit www.GetLocalATL.com. Connect online www.Facebook.com/ComcastGetLocal and on Twitter @GetLocalATL for more updates, to win Falcons tickets in the XFINITY Red Zone at the Georgia Dome and more.
Full Episode List
Dunta Robinson, Dunta Robinson Foundation / youth football program
Mike Peterson, Mike Peterson Foundation / Top Dog Reading program
Christopher Owens, Shepherd Center / Hometown Huddle
Jason Snelling, Epilepsy Foundation Georgia Chapter
Curtis Lofton, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta / Rally Foundation
Ovie Mughelli, Ovie Mughelli Foundation / green initiatives
Lawrence Sidbury, Grady High School / after school math tutoring program
Joe Zelenka, Ronald McDonald House
Tony Gonzalez, Tony Gonzalez Foundation / Shadow Buddies Foundation
Michael Palmer and Stephen Nicholas, Make-A-Wish Foundation
Will Svitek, Military appreciation
Falcons Rookie Club, Feed the Children
