Big Brother Big Sister Blog Assignment

Columbus Ohio-  Mizion Threatsfairley and Tracey Davis are the unlikeliest of friends. Despite look ing like Mother and daughter their relationship started five years ago through Big brothers Big Sisters . D avis explains that she became a mentor to give back to her community and to see how she could help young people achieve their goals. During the last five years, the pair have met once a week to talk about school, personal life or w hatever Mizion needed to talk about. Davis has been able to stand beside Mizion as she has become a suc cessful honor student and an aspiring graphic artist. Big brothers Big sisters are always looking for more bigs to create success stories like Mizion and Traceys.

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!

The Northeast Wisconsin chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters is in need of volunteers, and NBC26 provided a nearly three minute segment to promote the organization.  The package featured 'Big' Deb Gussert and 'Little' Isabelle Charlier, who will be receiving the award for "Match of the Year" later this month.  Following the package, the anchor explained that more than 100 children are on a wait list for mentors.   In addition, a new mentorship organization was created for middle school and high school students because 6,000 students are in danger of not graduating.   The article read as if it were a press release from us, which was a great form of earned media to promote the organization. Do you have a similar story of Big Brothers Big Sisters impacting your community? Let us know in the comments below!

Big Brothers Big Sisters little goes full circle to become big CINCINNATI, OHIO - Anthony Howard and his brother Brandon were given a big brother from Big Brothers Big Sisters nearly a decade ago. His name is David Spaccarelli and they are still going strong today, Anthony stated, "we're actually 12 years in." The relationship between the Howard brothers and Spaccerelli is one of Big Brothers Big Sisters greatest success stories. Spaccerelli said "they were at my wrist and now they are 6' and 6'2", and it's been great." Now 23, Anthony  decided to switch the roles. He signed up to become a big and has been paired with Brien Champion. Brien's mom expresses her appreciation for Anthony, "every Saturday the boys try to get together to play ball, go to the arcade or grab a bit to eat. I love seeing my son so excited to have someone like Anthony is his life." Anthony loves it too, he says "it's like I have more family ...

Celebrating eight years of Big Brothers Big Sisters match  SMETHPORT, P.A. - Justice was seven years old when she met Sharon, unaware of the impact Big Brothers Big Sisters  would have on her. In November of 2018, Justice and Sharon celebrated their eight-year anniversary of being a match. As soon as Sharon met Justice, she knew that it was going to a great relationship, she stated "I love Justice as soon as I saw her." They often reflect and laugh about how their first outing went. Justice was told by her parents, "be polite and don't break anything," so her solution was to sit in one spot the whole time. Now their outings are usually helping Justice with homework, preparing dinner and watching their favorite movies.  Thanks to this successful match by Big Brothers Big Sisters Justice transformed from a shy and quiet to a confident young woman.