MAYS LANDING, N.J. - On behalf of the PHI Community Foundation, Atlantic City Electric - through its 10^th Annual Charity Golf Classic - has donated $52,000 to support the school-based mentoring programs of Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of Burlington, Camden & Gloucester counties and BBBS of Cumberland & Salem counties.

Through the BBBS school-based mentoring program, a mentor or "Big" meets with a student or "Little" in a school setting once a week. The goal of the program is that through talking, playing games and sharing interests, a friendship is formed during this one-to-one mentoring and that the mentor's guidance, support and encouragement helps the student reach his or her full potential in school and in everyday life.

 "It's important for every child to have a role model. A BBBS mentor can support a child in a variety of ways including building self-confidence, which can have a tremendous positive impact in a child's life," said Erica McLeod, acting CEO, BBBS of Burlington, Camden & Gloucester counties. "The funding from Atlantic City Electric helps support our program and enables us to expand this service to serve more children."

Vince Maione, Atlantic City Electric region president, said, "we are very pleased to support Big Brothers Big Sisters in their mission to provide strong and enduring relationships for children facing adversity."

This year, the BBBS school-based mentoring program served about 500 youth in Camden, Cumberland, Burlington, Gloucester and Salem counties.

Since its inception in 2006, the PHI Community Foundation's Atlantic City Electric Golf Classic has raised nearly $1.3 million for nonprofit organizations in South Jersey.

For more information about Atlantic City Electric, visit www.atlanticcityelectric.com. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/atlanticcityelectric and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/acelecconnect. Our mobile app is available at www.atlanticcityelectric.com/mobileapp.