• January 2014: National Mentoring Month• Save the Date: Big Breakfast Event, April 9th• What is Think BIG?• Bowl for Kids Sake 2014

The updateBIGJanuary 2014

community . mentoring . family . youth development

www.bbbsaz.org

THE BIG UPDATE

A Word From Our CEO:President & CEO Laura Capello

Happy New Year to each of you that has contributed to our continued growth and success – we thank you! This year’s Tax Credit Campaign was our most successful yet, which enables us to improve the lives of the most vulnerable kids in our community; often ending the cycle of poverty, homelessness, incarcerations and acts of violence for generations to come.

It has been one year since I accepted the position of President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona. And while there have been many ups and downs, I cannot imagine working with a more dedicated staff, committed board of directors, and amazing volunteers.

Unlike many nonprofit agencies, we don’t invest in buildings, campuses or equipment; our investment is in amazing people. We wouldn’t be Big Brothers Big Sisters without our volunteer mentors as they are truly our heroes.

And right behind them is our enrollment and program staff, where the vast majority of our operating budget goes. They identify, screen, recruit and train our volunteers and most importantly, they keep our matches healthy and our kids safe. These are also the people that build our community partnerships with businesses, schools and other agencies, identifying potential mentors and resources to keep our agency going.

So, as we start this New Year by celebrating January’s National Mentoring Month, we recognize and honor MENTORS that are every day heroes for our children. Are you currently a mentor? If not, please consider taking a child under your wing to help another deserving child learn to fly.

Thank you for your contribution and stay tuned for more updates as we make BIG plans for the future. Call me anytime or shoot me an email – your continued support is key to improving our program.

Thank you and Happy New Year,

Laura Capello

Mission: Our mission is to provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better.

About us: Vision: Our vision is that all children achieve success in life. By partnering with parents/guardians, volunteers and others in the community we are Accountable for each child in our program achieving:

• Higher aspirations, greater confidence, and better relationships

• Avoidance of risky behaviors• Educational success

PHOENIX, AZ— This January our country will celebrate the 13th annual National Mentoring Month,and BBBSAZ is participating in this campaign aimed at expanding quality mentoring programs to connect more of our community’s young people with caring adults.

Research has shown that when matched through a quality mentoring program, mentors can play a powerful role in providing young people with the tools to make responsible decisions, stay focused and engaged in school, and reduce or avoid risky behavior like skipping school, drug use and other negative activities. Quality mentoring relationships lead to a significant increase in a young person’s prospects for leading a healthy and productive life, strengthening families and, ultimately, our community. All of these factors are encompassed in the theme Mentoring Works!

As we focus on engaging more community members in volunteering as mentors, we will share a simple message: Be Someone Who Matters to Someone Who Matters. Mentoring relationships are basic human connections that let a young person know that they matter, and mentors frequently report back that their relationships make them feel like someone who matters in another person’s life.

Important dates for this public awareness campaign include:

• January 9, 2014: “I Am a Mentor Day,” when volunteers across our community and the country will share their stories about being a mentor on social media using #SomeoneWhoMatters.

• January 16, 2014: “Thank Your Mentor Day,” when we encourage anyone who has had a mentor to say thank you by sending a note, a card or sharing a story on social media using #SomeoneWhoMatters.

• January 20, 2014: Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, when our nation will shine a spotlight on volunteerism and inspire people seeking service opportunities to learn more about mentoring.

To learn more about the role mentoring plays in our community and to find volunteer opportunities visit www.bbbsaz.org or www.nationalmentoringmonth.org.

BIG BROTHERS SISTERS OF CENTRAL ARIZONAMARKS NATIONAL MENTORING MONTH

Match Reunion After 20 Years!

Calling All Little Sisters!Interested in enrolling your child in the most effective and nationally recognized mentoring program?

Now is the time!

Big Brothers Big Sisters is looking for more Little Sisters to match with great Big Sisters!

Matching your daughter to a Big Sister has never been more fun, easy or rewarding!Big Sisters provide young girls the chance to have a special friend in their lives. Big Sisters are carefully screened volunteers from the local community who spend a few hours each month with their Little Sister. Big and Little Sisters do such things as watch movies, play sports, create arts and crafts, paint each others nails that special color or simply listen to one another. It’s that easy!

Make the call for her! Call today, 602.799.0421.

Friday marks an incredible reunion for a Big Brother and Little Brother who are reuniting after 20 years! LB Eric and BB Dave were originally matched in Indiana and spent several years together during Eric’s formative pre-teen and teen years. BB Dave helped Eric through many challenging times, including the divorce of his parents.

Eric shared, “I lost contact with my Big Brother Dave around high school and recently through Facebook and LinkedIn got reconnected with him. We have missed each other over the years, but because we had such a special relationship we are sharing the expense of a plane ticket and Dave is actually flying out here from Indianapolis this week to get reunited after more than 20 years!”

Stay tuned for updated photos and to hear “the rest of the story!”

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central ArizonaTHE BIG UPDATE

Our Program by the numbers

Youth Served: 1323 Current Active Matches: 1035Matches made in December: 35

Big Brother Dave withLittle Brother Eric

“Larry is an amazing role model for our kids. He definitely walks the talk, and you know it comes straight from his heart.”

- Laura Capello, President & CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona

Larry Fitzgerald Hosts Annual Party For Littles

December 2013 - Arizona Cardinals star wide-receiver Larry Fitzgerald hosted a special holiday dinner for 50 Littles along with their Bigs at Eddie’s House (restaurant). All the kids received special Nike gifts courtesy of Fitzgerald, which included backpacks, t-shirts, socks and hats. He also provided everyone with tickets to a Cardinals game.

During the event, Larry spent time talking to the matches as well as answering questions from the kids. He shared with them how mentors changed his life for the better and he encouraged them all to follow their dreams, to never give up, and most importantly, to surround themselves with people who share their passions and can encourage and support them through life. Fitzgerald has been a huge supporter of the agency for several years and has also been a Big Brother.

Larry has provided this event for the agency for the last five years and it is one of the favorites of the Littles and Bigs in our program.

We send a BIG THANK YOU to Larry Fitzgerald and the Arizona Cardinals!

THE BIG UPDATE Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona

Our newest site-based mentoring program, Beyond School Walls, gives youth the opportunity to meet with their mentors at their workplace twice a month. It’s a great way to expose youth to a professional work environment while implementing workshops and activities that will encourage them to think about their future career path. Quicken Loans employees will be matched to freshman students from Paradise Valley High School and Take Charge America will be providing workshops for the 14 matches particpating.

We are excited for this new partnership and program which will beginJanuary 23rd.

A New Floor For the New Year

Bowl a strike. Make an impact.Bowl for Kids’ Sake serves as the agency’s premier fundraising event. The money that is raised helps to lift the hopes and aspirations of children who deserve an opportunity for a better future. Because of Bowl for Kids’ Sake, more Bigs and Littles can be paired up and more friendships can be started.

Big Brothers Big Sisters doesn’t run, doesn’t walk, doesn’t fish ... we bowl baby! Bowl For Kids’ Sake is the nation’s largest bowling event that raises critical funds to support the mentoring relationships of Big Brothers Big Sisters.Start a team today!

To find out how you can sponsor a Bowl for Kids’ Sake event in your community, contact Events Manager, Michelle Kaps at mkaps@bbbsaz.org . Click HERE to go to our Bowl For Kids’ Sake registration page!

Thanks to National Project Manager, Mark Cox of Forbo Flooring Systems, for taking our mundane office lobby floor and giving it a whole new look! All who enter our office will now be welcomed by our 4-foot-wide, in-floor logo in bright purple and grey.

In addition to the lobby floor makeover, Mark also donated his time and provided the flooring to dramatically improve our conference room. We’re happy to say good-bye to old carpet stains and hello to clean, creative and fun new flooring!

Thank you Mark and thank you Forbo Flooring for creating better environments for BBBSAZ!

Beyond School Walls Program Coming To Quicken Loans Scottsdale Office

What is Think BIG?Think Big is a community collaboration between Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona (BBBSAZ) and local organizations that provides fun, high-quality events and activities for Matches in five key areas:

1. Education/Career Development2. Risk Avoidance3. Healthy Living4. Community Involvement5. Cultural Experiences

How to get involved with Think Big?

Getting involved is easy! The Think Big website shares free tickets to local events. Bigs who create an account on the Think Big website are able to claim available tickets.Be sure to check the Think Big website regularly (www.bbbsaz.org/thinkbig) as activities are added every week. You can also like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/HelpArizonaYouth to learn more about new Think Big activities and other exciting BBBSAZ news.

*Please note:Think Big is only available for Community-Based Matches at this time.

Different Point of View Cooking Class

THE BIG UPDATE

BBBSAZ welcomes five new employees since October 2013. We are looking forward to growing our services in 2014:

• Thomas J Shull, Development Manager

• Michelle Kaps, Events Manager

• Madeleine Stillwell, VP of Finance and Administration

• Megan Fuller, Office Manager

• Ralph Serpico, VP of Marketing and Development

Staff Announcements

From left to right: Michelle Kaps, Thomas Shull, Madeleine Stillwell, Ralph Serpico & Megan Fuller