Comcast donated 150 laptops to the children who pre-registered for Saturday’s Brunch with Santa and completed the STEM stations set up at the Girls Inc. Marietta headquarters. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice MARIETTA, GA – Mariah Carey’s version of “This Christmas” pumped thro ugh the speakers while parents and their kids enjoyed a catered breakfast from Flying Biscuit. In the back of the room, a Black Santa Claus sat on a gold throne while taking photos with kids and listening intently as they revised their Christmas lists. On Saturday in Marietta, Comcast partnered with Girls Inc. of Greater (GIGA)Atlanta to host the 6th annual Brunch with Santa, a holiday event for 150 children, ages 6-17, and their families from across Cobb County. The festive community celebration blended holiday festivities with hands-on STEM learning, digital skills-building, and family support services. Santa Claus was on hand to hear from the kids. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice The STEM activities included deciphering Jr. engineer secret codes, creating digital Christmas cards and binary code candy canes, and making L.E.D. circuit ornaments. For that activity, kids were dying copper tape to create a pathway for the circuit on their ornaments. In each of the rooms, tables were full of kids working on their projects.  The brunch took place at the GIGA Marietta Center, where the event was so well-attended by parents and kids who pre-registered that the parking had to be extended to a small lot up the street. Along with the breakfast and STEM training, the three-hour event included a surprise for the kids in attendance. “This is important because Girls Inc. started to build safe spaces for girls in the community,” Girls Inc. Chief Executive Officer Tiffany Colli-Bailey (above) said. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice “This is important because Girls Inc. started to build safe spaces for girls in the community,” Girls Inc. Chief Executive Officer Tiffany Colli-Bailey said. “An event like this circles right back around to why we began.” “This is important because Girls Inc. started to build safe spaces for girls in the community,” Girls Inc. Chief Executive Officer Tiffany Colli-Bailey said. Girls Inc. is preparing to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2026. At the same time, The Atlanta Voice will be celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2026.  10-year-old Aiden Bradley works on a binary code candy cane during the STEM portion of the event. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice A check presentation took place, where Comcast’s Director of Government Affairs, Shaneak Brown, announced a $30,000 grant from the tech company to Girls Inc. The 150 kids who completed their STEM training that morning were also awarded brand new laptops.  “Just seeing this room full is why we love supporting this event,” Brown said as she stood in front of a table loaded down with laptops ready for distribution. “It is really because of partners like Comcast that we can do this,” Colli-Bailey said. “It all starts in places like this,” Colli-Bailey said.  Don “DJ D Crucial” Walter (above) said, “All of that stuff is priceless.” Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice Playing music from his DJ setup in the center of the room, DJ D Crucial told The Atlanta Voice that he had offered Girls Inc. a discounted rate for his services that day. He said that he just appreciates the organization that much. His daughter Ava has participated in Girls Inc. events, including Brunch with Santa last year.  “They mean so much to my family and me,” he said. “They helped bring Ava her confidence, and now it’s through the roof.”  DJ D Crucial, Don Walter, said he has another younger daughter who will also begin attending Girls Inc. events. He wants her to learn many of the lessons of self-respect and pride that her sister learned.  “All of that stuff is priceless,” Walter said.  Along with The Atlanta Voice, local radio station 1380 WAOK was also in attendance to cover the event. Kids and their parents celebrated the new laptops Comcast gave them. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice The post Comcast and Girls Inc. of Greater Atlanta host Brunch with Santa, give 150 new laptops to kids appeared first on The Atlanta Voice. ...read more read less