Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Ohio

THANK YOU TO ALL OUR MENTORS JANUARY IS NATIONAL MENTORING MONTH

2012-01-10T11:59:00.000-08:00

As we mark National Mentoring Month this January, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Ohio is honoring all of our volunteers, parents, staff and donors who have helped to make our over 400 mentoring "matches" possible, and worked together to make them strong, enduring and successful!

We're so grateful to everyone in our "mentoring community" who has contributed in some way to helping the children in Lake, Geauga and Ashtabula counties beat the odds. Whether it has been by becoming a mentor to a child or a student volunteer in our after school programs, to being a business mentor in our BBBS/E City entrepreneurship program at Harvey High School or by supporting our fundraisers; you've all helped the children in our programs do better in school, avoid risky and delinquent behaviors like drinking and taking drugs, and helped them develop higher aspirations and self-esteem. Ultimately giving them a chance a better life and a brighter future.

Please join us in saying THANK YOU to all the mentors in your life!

FESTIVAL OF TREES GALA - The perfect way to start your holiday season

2011-11-16T07:58:00.000-08:00

Our 10th Annual Festival of Trees Gala is this Friday at Quail Hollow! Once again it's sure to be an incredible evening of socializing, fun and holiday cheer. The designers of the 16 holiday-themed trees that will be live and silent auctioned have outdone themselves this year. With motifs ranging from the whimsical to the traditional to the contemporary, there will be something to appeal to everyone!

We'll also have over 50 gift baskets and, of course, our signature 7-tiered wine tree. The top tier holds a bottle of Dom Perignon and a week stay at a luxurious vacation home at Sea Pines Plantation on Hilton Head Island - always one of our most coveted items.

Everyone one is working like crazy to make this a great event for our guests. It really is the perfect way to start the holiday
season. With all of the holiday trees and gift ideas and knowing that all the proceeds will help us continue to provide children in our community with the friend and positive role model they need will lift your spirits and provide a great sense of personal satisfaction.

If you're interested in learning more about the Festival of Trees Gala, log onto our website at www.bbbsneo.org or call 440-352-2526.

2011-10-06T07:14:00.000-07:00

And, she's off!

It was a beautiful Indian summer morning yesterday and Big Brothers Big Sisters E City student, Samarie Gaston, and her business teacher from Harvey High School, Nell Rapport headed to to the Big Apple where Samarie will compete against 31 other students from around the country for the top E City Business Plan Competition award.

Today is the BIG day!

Samarie Gaston and Harvey High
Business Teacher Nell Rapport

Like Samarie, all of the students who have been enrolled in the Big Brothers Big Sisters E City program at Harvey High over the past three years have had the opportunity to develop entrepreneurship and business skills. More importantly, they have been given the chance to work with some of the areas wonderful entrepreneurs who've attended class with them for the whole semester. Through these "business mentors" the students have experienced what it takes to create and run a successful business. What is expected of them in a business environment and helped them build the confidence and social skills necessary to become responsible and valuable members of the community.

All of the great students that have been in our program are winners. Some get prizes. All come away with an even greater gift...the priceless time and guidance of a caring adult.

Good luck Samarie. We're all rooting for you!

Ruby Tuesday's Gives Back to Big Brothers Big Sisters

2011-10-04T07:28:00.000-07:00

I love Ruby Tuesday's! And, now I love it even more. They've chosen Big Brothers Big Sisters as a recipient of their Give Back program for the month of October.

Each Thursday throughout October, starting this Thursday, October 6, the restaurant will
give back 20% of your total order when you present the attached flier.

If you're looking for some good food, and want to help out a great cause, treat yourself
and your family by going to Ruby Tuesday's at 9515 Diamond Centre Drive in Mentor.
Hope to see you there!

Need service hours? Like working with children?

2011-10-03T12:00:00.000-07:00

Big Brothers Big Sisters is looking for high school students to become mentors to elementary school students in grades 3rd through 5th grade during the 2011-2012 school year.

What does it require? Being able to go to an elementary school near you one day a week, right after school. The program typically runs from 3:00/3:15 until 5:00 pm. A Big Brothers Big Sisters coordinator will be on site at all times and will provide a fun group activity, as well as a snack and drink. You'll have free time to get to know your Little and even shoot hoops or play a game. Making your Little feel special and important is the key.

This is a great opportunity for you to do something good and get something good in return. The time you spend at the program can used toward your service hour requirements and makes an ideal addition to college application forms.

Parents interested in enrolling your child in one of our after school programs and high school students interested in becoming a BIG, contact Carole at cniebes@bbbsneo.org or 440-352-2526.

Want to learn more? Join us at...

2011-08-15T11:48:00.000-07:00

Interested in learning more about Big Brothers Big Sisters? What's being a mentor to a child all about?
Will you have to spend any money? Curious about how much time it requires? Or what you get out of it? All great questions.

What better way to find out the real answers than to hear it from the men and women who actually do it.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Ohio will be holding a Mentor Appreciation Evening at Willoughby Brewing Company on Thursday, August 25 from 5:30-7:30 pm. This is the perfect opportunity to ask questions and talk to our Big Brothers and Big Sisters, our Board Members and staff.

We hope you'll join us. (There's no cost or obligation!)

It's the LITTLE things that make a BIG difference

2011-08-01T12:19:00.000-07:00

For the 2nd year in a row, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Ohio was a participant in Convoy of Hope. For the 2nd year in a row, we were awed by the generosity, kindness and spirit of this humbling event.

We help children every day so we know just how much a little extra attention, understanding and friendliness can do for a child. Watching the children (and some adults) walk out of the shoe tent with their brand new shoes on was an moving experience. For some it was their first pair of new shoes. Add in all of the other services Convoy of Hope offered, most of which were dontated, like free dental care, haircuts, family photos, health screening, groceries and pet supplies, and you can't help but be proud to be a part of this community.

We had many parents stop at our table and fill out applications so that their children could become part of our program and get a Big Brother or Big Sisters of their own. Now, we hope that we can find men and women willing to become these Big Brothers and Big Sisters. If you, or someone you know, might be interested in spending an hour or two a week with a child who needs a friend and positive role model, call Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Ohio at 440-352-2526 today!

BBBS and the Mardi Gras Parade

2011-07-05T07:39:00.000-07:00

As the recipient of the Painesville Area Chamber of Commerce 2011 Non-Profit Organization of the Year award, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Ohio was given the opportunity to participate in this year's Fairport Harbor Mardi Gras parade. What an experience! Hundreds of cheering people lined the parade route from start to finish. It was an incredible sight.

We were told to have walkers to pass out candy along the the way. As first time participants, little did we know that we'd need twice as much as we'd brought along. The kids at the end definitely missed out. Our Big Brother Greg and his Little Brother Justin along with Big Sister Danielle and Little Sister Destiny were wonderful ambassadors for our agency and represented us with smiles and grateful appreciation to those in
the crowd that shouted out that they too were Bigs, that they loved our mentoring programs or simply cheered us on.

We're very glad we had the opportunity to be part of this community event and, as always, we are thankfull for the support we receive!

Mentors make all the difference

2011-06-21T12:02:00.000-07:00

We're new to blogging, so those that don't know what we do, Big Brothers Big Sisters provides friends and positive role models to children who do not have them. These incredible men and women offer encouragement, guidance, advice and inspiration without judgment. They change children's lives each day.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank them all. And especially our 2011 Business Mentors who have given 15 Harvey High School students an insight into what it takes to start, operate and succeed in developing a business. This year's Business Mentors are: Marcia Winfield, owner of California Imports; Angelo Cicconetti of the Lubrizol Corporation; Gladys Benitez-Reilly of Viva Spanish Language Programs; Tony Brooks, owner of Terkk's Computer Service; Barry Deming, owner of Deming Enterprises; David Fryauff, with First Select; Tony Gagliardi, with STP Products; John Shiffler, owner of Shiffler Equipment; Scott Sofer, owner of Baron Hydraulics and Bickford Flavors; Tom Szabo, owner of A Thomas Image; and Pam Trivisonno, owner of Trivisonno CPA, Inc.

With the help of her Business Mentors Marcia Winfield, Angelo Cicconetti and Scott Sofer, Harvey High Junior Samarie Gaston, placed first in the Cleveland E City-wide business plan competition earlier this month earning her the right to compete in the national competition to be held in New York City in October!

For more information about becoming a mentor or enrolling a child in a Big Brothers Big Sisters program, log onto http://www.bbbsneo.org/ or call 440-352-2526.