Big Brother Big Sister Blog Assignment

Miami Fl-  Local Big Brothers Big Sisters introduces the new ‘Big Pride’ initiative. In an interview with Anne Lorenz and Dennis Docil about the new initiative to help the LGBTQ youth.  Lorenz states that “We are taking the first step in setting the example for Big brother Big sisters for cities all around the country.” Although Big Brothers Big Sisters has always provided service to any child, this initiative is to let the community no that and to allow parent and children to have a mentor that they can come to within the LGBTQ community who is understanding and caring.  LGBTQ youth are at higher risk of depression, stress, anxiety, and social isolation than other teens. Big brothers Big sisters are always looking for new ways to help struggling youth in our communities and 'Big Pride' is one way the organization is doing just that. Big brothers Big sisters branches across America are adopting the 'Big Pride' initiative into there own programs. ...

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine is celebrating its mentors and recruiting new volunteers to become Big Brothers and Big Sisters to more than 100 children waiting to be matched as part of National Mentoring Month. Every January, the news is full of the same stories for New Year's Resolution of people trying to edit healthier or hit the gym more often. This year, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine is changing the story by asking: What if this year, you could resolve to do something more important, more impactful? Community residents can learn more about local Littles waiting and how to become a mentor by following BBBS of Mid-Maine's weekly "Waiting Wednesday". Throughout the month, BBBS is encouraging followers to tag a friend who would be a great Big Brother or Big Sister using the hashtag #TheBigResolution.

Battle Creek, MI - Jonathan got involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters program in Battle Creek. Jonathan Michaud and Adam Kingston were brought together by a Big Brothers Big Sisters program here in Battle Creek called Bigs in Business , which brings middle and high schoolers "Littles" to the workplace of the mentors they are connected with, "Bigs" Bigs in Business program was a response to a decreasing number of volunteers. "Really what it does is help us remove barriers for people who want to volunteer." Kuchta CEO of BBBS A Community of Caring said: "By bringing the kids to the workplace during the day, they can volunteer while at work and they don't have to use time in the evenings and weekends to volunteer to be Bigs."

Big Brothers Big Sisters Twin Cities Has A Big Move Big Brothers Big Sisters Twin Cities has great news. The chapter is moving from the old building to much better location across the river. BBBS Twin Cities will finally get its own office building. This is going to be very beneficial for the program because it will give them more space to help more children and teens. It will also allow the chapter to add a new summer program. The move will be historic because BBBS Twin Cities has not had their own space since the St. Paul-Minneapolis merger twenty years ago. BBBS Twin Cities will be closer to the neighborhoods where the majority of its teens and children live. This was a group effort with real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield. The legal team from Ballard Spahr even gave the chapter pro bono help. There will be an estimated savings of $500,000 over five years.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Indiana in Evansville celebrated its 50 th Anniversary in a spectacular setting. The chapter gave their children a wonderful surprise by setting up a meet and greet with the stars of Disney on Ice. The shows were held at the Ford Center and started on Thursday night and went through the weekend. One of the reasons this was special is that the group of 100 “Littles” would not have had the opportunity had they not been in BBBS. The message that BBBS SW Indiana wanted to emphasize about the show was that Disney’s Frozen represents the important bond between two sisters. BBBS wanted that bond to remind the “Littles” of bond between them and their “Bigs”.

Garden City, KS - Big Brothers Big Sisters has received a $5,000 grant from the Women of Purpose Fund.  The grant was awarded on April 10, at the organization's annual luncheon.  The Women of Purpose Fund, which was founded in 2009 as part of the Western Kansas Community Foundation, makes donations to local programs that center themselves around women's needs.  The focus this year was "Inspiring Female Potential through Mentorship." We are grateful for this donation from the Women of Purpose Fund.  We will use this money specifically for what it was originally assigned. Do you have a similar story of Big Brothers Big Sisters impacting your community? Let us know in the comments below!