e-BIGS BULLETIN, Spring 2010

Big Brothers Big Sisters

BIGS BULLETIN

Spring 2010

In This Issue

Donors Making a Difference

Waiting for a Big

Board Spotlight - Greg Mason

Quotes from our Bigs

Meet the Match

Brian, Nora & Matthew

Brian, Nora & Matthew

Matched Since October 2009

Fresno County

Little Brother Matthew feels like he hit the jackpot. Instead of just one mentor, he has two with Big Couple Brian & Nora.

Brian & Nora would tell you differently though, "We feel more blessed. We had no idea that this 'impact on a life' was a two-way street. Matthew has made such an impact on our life!"

Even though they have only been matched for 6 months, Matthew's grandmother (and caregiver) said she has noticed a huge change in Matthew since he met Nora & Brian, particularly in his behavior at school.

While there have been some trying times getting to know each other and establishing trust, there have been many more good times.

Some of their favorite outings thus far have been taking Matthew to Teppanyaki for the first time (he loved the onion volcano), having Matthew help them to move into their new home, going sledding for the first time and of course, winning the "Best Dressed Team" award at Bowl For Kids' Sake (Matthew swears it was because of his purple shirt and skinny jeans).

To read more match stories click here

Quick Links

Visit Our Website

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Donation Opportunities

Facebook

FY 08-09 Annual Report

Join Our Mailing List

Special Thanks to last quarter's donors

Dream Makers

$10,000 - $24,999

Department of Health and Human Services

Magic Makers

$5,000 - $9,999

Fresno Unified School District

The MENTOR Network Charitable Foundation

Match Makers

$1,000 - $4,999

Adventist Health

American Vintage Thrift, Inc.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of America

Cargill Regional Beef

Central Valley Entertainment Systems

Chris and Caroline Wiehl

City of Visalia

Educational Employees Credit Union

Joe and Allison Campos

Kovacevich & Co.

Patricia Porter

Reading and Beyond

Scott and Deborah Bell

State of California

True North Properties

Tule River Tribal Council

Utility Cost Management

Wal-Mart Foundation

William McCarthy

Friendship Makers

$100 - $999

A&P Detailing Auto Enhancement

Alan and Suzanne Yengoyan

Alicia Marquez-Padilla

All Valley Administrators, LLC

Al's Distributing Inc.

American Ambulance

Angela Venetis-Colon

Anna Marie Gonzalez

AT&T United Way Employee Giving

Bakersfield Auto Body

Bank Of The Sierra

Ben & Sarah Wright

C. Mattos & Sons Dairy

C.C.W.A.-Madera Chapter

California Information Management

Cassidy Jakovickas

Castle & Cooke California Inc.

Central Valley Vacuum & Sewing

Ceasar Gonzales

Chipotle Mexican Grill

Christopher J. Aasness, CPA

Craig and Jacque Fourchy

Dale Garabedian

De La Cruz Inc.

Dedekian, George, Small & Markarian

Demera Derma Cameron, LLP

Dennis & Brooke Frost

Donnie & Laura Scott

EnviroTech Consultants, Inc.

Family Motors Auto Body and Paint, Inc.

FAST Federal Credit Union

Fiberglass Repairs Unlimited

Financial Credit Network, Inc.

Foster Poultry Farms

Four Star Dairy, LP

Fresno County Federal Credit Union

Fresno Grizzlies

Fresno State Recreation Center

G. Debbas Chocolatier, Inc.

George's Auto Supply, Inc.

Georgia Pacific Workers

Grimmway Enterprises Inc.

Howell's Service Center

I&I Property Management

Independent Towing LLC

James & Claudia Horn

JMP Business Systems, Inc.

Joey and Madai Chavarria

Judy Garza-Rosel

Kara Van Services LLC

Dave and Karen Marriott

Karen Tomlinson

Kaweah Delta Health Care District

KFSN Channel 30

Kiwanis Club of South Bakersfield

Kyle & Shauna Goodman

Leonard & Susan Dols

Lucido Properties

M&S Security Services, Inc.

Madera Evening Lions

Madera Sunrise Rotary

Manco Abbott, Inc.

Marquez Brothers International, Inc.

Mattos Bros. Diary

McCormick Barstow LLP

Michael Clausing

Migdalia Pino-Prout

Piccadilly Inn Hotels

Professional & Scientific Associates, Inc.

Reedley College

Renewal Body Works, Inc.

Richard Middlebrook

Saima Sajid-Crockett

Sempra Energy Foundation

ServiceMaster by Benevento

Sheryl McConnell

Suzi Q Cosmetics

Tahoe Joe's Famous Steakhouse

Terry Hines & Associates

The Garabedian Group

Thomas and Kathy Gelardi

TLC, A California Partnership

Travelers Body & Fender Works Inc.

Tulare Firestone Inc.

Tulare Police Benefit Association

Union Bank of California

United Way California Capital Region

United Way of Fresno County

Valley Painting

VTP Enterprises - Jack in the Box

Warner Co. Jewelers

Wells Fargo Community Support Campaign

Western Auto Mendota

Will Tiesiera Ford-Mercury, Inc.

ZOOM Imaging Solutions, Inc.

Hello !

Thank you to everyone that participated in Bowl for Kids' Sake! We had more teams than ever, all having a great time raising money so that more kids and mentors can be

matched and supported. This is so important right now. Not only is the economy affecting the finances of our families, it is affecting the finances of our organization and mentors.

At the beginning of March, we announced we would lay off three staff members to help economize while our corporate, foundation, and other donations have been coming in lower this year. Then at the end of March, we were awarded five months of Recovery Act funds that allowed us to bring back one staff member immediately, and could allow us to expand into West Fresno County. What wonderful timing so that we can continue to match Littles and Bigs in Fresno and Madera Counties. However, new matches are no longer possible in Kern County and only very few new ones in Tulare or Kings Counties.

Your support is needed more than ever. Children are waiting. Volunteers need support as they bond with their Little. Any size donation is appreciated, so please click here if you want to help a Little Brother or Sister do better in school, gain more self-confidence, and have a special friend. Thank you!

Brooke Frost

Executive Director

Over $64,000 Raised at
Bowl For Kids' Sake!

... and that is up slightly from our net amount last year! A BIG thank you to all of our participants for their help in making this year a success. Our top fundraisers this year were:

1st place
4 Day Baja Cruise

Bill Dattola, Fresno - $2,000

2nd place
2-night Stay Harrah's Harveys Package

Robert Padilla, Madera - $1,800

3rd Place

4 Tickets to Sea World San Diego

Nora Crow, Fresno - $560


Top Team

Pizza Party
Creative Pin Action, Fresno - $1,385

Top Big and Little
2 Tickets to Great America

Kristina and Lydia, Fresno -  $630

Thank you to our 2010 Sponsors for their Support...

Spare Sponsors

Utility Cost Management

Wal Mart Distribution Center Hanford

Pin Sponsors

Adventist Health

Best Buy Bakersfield

Best Buy Clovis

Central Valley Entertainment Systems

Educational Employees Credit Union

Eye-Q

Madera Kiwanis Club

Sam's Club

True North Properties

The Wiehl Family

Media Sponsors

KFSN ABC 30

Mega 97.9

Waiting for a Big...

Eddie, Age 9

Tulare County

According to Tulare County Program Manager, Laura Scott, Eddie wants a Big Brother more than any child she has ever met.

Unfortunately, Eddie's mom is disabled and as a result, he doesn't get to get out of the apartment and be active too much. He really would like a Big Brother to take him fishing and to the mountains.

Eddie loves to play with his remote control cars and video games and his favorite football team is the Raiders.

For more information about being a Big to someone like Eddie, CLICK HERE

Board Spotlight

Greg Mason

Greg has served on the Big Brothers Big Sisters Board of Directors since 2002, making him one of our agency's longest running board members.

As an attorney for McCormick Barstow LLP, Greg provides valuable insight to help our agency make astute legal decisions.

His involvement helps him to feel connected to the community and a small part of helping our children achieve success. Greg and his wife Ann have two children of their own and are expecting a third any time now.

As a Board Member, Greg loves being able to work with a variety of wonderful people - including the staff, fellow board members and those involved with the program.

Big Brothers Big Sisters is lucky to have Greg and our other board members looking out for the best interest of our organization. To see who else serves on our Board of Directors, click here.

A Word From Our Bigs
So tell us.. how have you seen your Little change since he/she met you?

"He's done much better in school and has gone to the principal's office only 2 times this year (was 2 times a week before we met)."

- Big Brother Bryan Barsness

____________________

"She is more open to different ideas and concepts."

-Big Sister Kala Parker

____________________

"He has become a lot less angry and his mom told me he has become a lot more patient."

-Big Brother Pete Duarte

____________________

"When Angelina and I first met, she was extremely shy to the point where she didn't talk - now she talks non-stop and is never quiet!"

-Big Sister Marissa Welch

www.bigs.org

Fresno County Kings County

905 N. Fulton Street 124 C. Street

Fresno, CA 93728 Lemoore, CA 93245

(559) 268-2447 (559) 283-3866

Madera County Tulare County

2300 W. Industrial Ave. 948 N. H Street #2

Madera, CA 93637 Tulare, CA 93274

(559) 673-4863 (559) 687-1108

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