Jack in the Box Inc. President and Chief Operating Officer Lenny Comma Joins Big Brothers Big Sisters of America's Board of Directors

PHILADELPHIA, June 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Leonard "Lenny" Comma, President and Chief Operating Officer of Jack in the Box Inc. (NASDAQ: JACK), has joined the Board of Directors of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.  Serving more than 600,000 children, parents/guardians and volunteers, Big Brothers Big Sisters makes meaningful, closely monitored, long-term one-to-one mentoring matches, helping children overcome adversity to achieve success in school and in life.

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"Jack in the Box® supports and encourages our employees and franchisees to take active roles in supporting their communities," Comma said. "As the parents of three amazing boys, my wife and I know how important it is for children to have positive role models in their lives. For those children who may not benefit from the active involvement of both parents or adult guardians, Big Brothers Big Sisters can really make a positive difference in their lives. I've enjoyed supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters in various capacities over the years and am looking forward to increasing my involvement as a member of its national board of directors."

"Lenny's decision to accept this prominent position with Big Brothers Big Sisters underscores our company's commitment to community service and to the importance of youth mentoring," said Brian Luscomb, president of The Jack in the Box Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization funded by donations from Jack in the Box Inc., its employees, franchisees, vendors and Jack in the Box®guests. "Since 1998, The Jack in the Box Foundation has donated more than $4 million to the national Big Brothers Big Sisters organization and its affiliated local agencies through financial support and in-kind contributions. We're pleased with the positive impact we've had on Littles served through the organization's various programs, especially its military mentoring programs."

A long-time supporter of military families, San Diego-based Jack in the Box helped launch Big Brothers Big Sisters' Operation Bigs military mentoring program in 2004. The program initially served children and volunteer mentors from military families at Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base. In partnership with Jack in the Box, Big Brothers Big Sisters has expanded its mentoring services to military communities across the U.S.

"Lenny's appointment comes at a critical time for Big Brothers Big Sisters when national corporate and foundation partners are a growing part of how we serve children, families and volunteers with school- and community-based mentoring services," said Big Brothers Big Sisters of America President and Chief Executive Officer Charles Pierson. "On the heels of the release of our first ever Big Brothers Big Sisters Youth Outcomes Survey, we know our programs have proven, positive academic, socio-emotional and behavioral outcomes for youth.  Big Brothers Big Sisters is an investment that promises tangible rewards for employers, including improvements in high school graduation, juvenile delinquency prevention and job readiness."

Comma, who joined Jack in the Box Inc. in 2001, was promoted to President and Chief Operating Officer in May of this year. He is responsible for the operations of all company and franchised Jack in the Box locations, which comprises more than 2,200 restaurants in 20 U.S. states, as well as marketing and restaurant development. Comma has an MBA from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and a bachelor's degree in finance from Drexel University in Philadelphia.

About Big Brothers Big Sisters

Big Brothers Big Sisters, the nation's largest donor and volunteer supported mentoring network, holds itself accountable for children in its program to achieve measurable outcomes, including educational success; avoidance of risky behaviors; higher aspirations, greater confidence and better relationships. Partnering with parents/guardians, schools, corporations and others in the community, Big Brothers Big Sisters carefully pairs children ("Littles") with screened volunteer mentors ("Bigs") and monitors and supports these one-to-one mentoring matches throughout their course. The first-ever Big Brothers Big Sisters Youth Outcomes Summary, released in 2012, substantiates that its mentoring programs have proven, positive academic, socio-emotional and behavioral outcomes for youth, areas linked to high school graduation, avoidance of juvenile delinquency and college or job readiness.

Big Brothers Big Sisters provides children facing adversity, often those of single or low-income households or families where a parent is incarcerated or serving in the military, with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one mentoring relationships that change their lives for the better, forever. This mission has been the cornerstone of the organization's 100-year history. With about 350 agencies across the country, Big Brothers Big Sisters serves nearly 630,000 children, volunteers and families. Learn how you can positively impact a child's life, donate or volunteer at BigBrothersBigSisters.org.

SOURCE Big Brothers Big Sisters