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Welcome to the November 2012 Edition of the Big E-Newsletter |
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FEATURE STORY: Bags, Bling & Bubbly Raises More Than $43,000 for Countywide Mentoring Programs
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Linda Fisher (left), Mary Praiswater and Mary Cox look at purses that are part of the silent auction during the Bags, Bling, and Bubbly Luncheon, an event to benefit the Big Brothers Big Sisters, at the Las Posas Country Club. Photo by David Yamamoto, Special to the Ventura County Star
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The fourth annual Bags, Bling and Bubbly champagne luncheon dazzled nearly 200 women at the Las Posas Country Club last week. Through their participation more than $43,000 was raised to support Big Brothers Big Sisters and its high impact, countywide mentoring programs. During the luncheon the "Wise, Wonderful Woman of the Year" Award was presented to Tracey Gold and the audience listened to the difficult life experiences of Miss California International Tiffany Allen, a Big Sister in the program.
 Click here to read the story that appeared in the Ventura County Star about the success of Bags, Bling and Bubbly.
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Support our End of Year Appeal with a tax-deductible donation for youth mentoring programs impacting children and youth facing adversity.
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BIG EVENTS
Mark your calendar and visit us online to get all the sizzling details about ways you can participate and lend your support. Wild Card Dance Studio Grand Opening 
Sunday, November 18, 2012
11:00 - 4:00 p.m. 28854 Roadside Drive, Agoura
Join us for a day of FREE dance classes, shopping and more. A $5 suggested donation benefits us!
Click for more info!
Dos Vientos Holiday Window Competition
December 3 - 21, 2012
During Shopping Hours
350 Via Las Brisas, Newbury Park
Cast your vote for our holiday window display and help us win $500 at the Dos Vientos Plaza in Newbury Park.
Benefit Concert with Herman's Hermits
 Sunday, January 13, 2013
Doors Open at 6:00 p.m.
6:30 p.m. Showtime
Fred Kavli Theater - Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Auditorium
Enjoy a groovy evening with
Rock n Rolls finest
Herman's Hermits featuring Peter Noone.
Click for more information!
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Are you connected with Big Brothers Big Sisters through social media?
For every "Like" we will receive $1, up to $500. Click to Like!
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BIG Match Anniversaries  | Little Samantha and her Big Sister Carlee celebrating
5 years matched. |
NOVEMBER Marissa & Mallory (5) Savannah & Carolynn (5) Samantha & Carlee (5) Gabriel & Bill (4) Cody & Justin (3) Jordan & Alexis (2) Robert & Larry (1) Kailye & Racheal (1) Trevor & David (1)
( ): Parenthesis indicate the number of years of service as a Big mentor.
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Antenna Balls Benefit Our Kids 
Jack in the Box® restaurants has launched a holiday fundraiser benefiting Big Brothers Big Sisters. For just $1, plus tax, guests may purchase a limited-edition Nutcracker Jack ornament with all proceeds benefiting the youth-mentoring programs and services of the Big Brothers Big Sisters, the top ranked youth mentoring organization in the nation.
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Thanks for your investment! Click to learn more!
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Give through CFC
 Through the Combined Federal Campaign, federal employees (including military personnel) can support Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County. Your donation Starts Something that has a positive impact on a child's life. Start Something today by investing in our youth for tomorrow. You can pledge online here.
Our agency code is 41559.
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Watch a video honoring the service of local Rotarians.
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Rotary Clubs Go Big!
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Check out the new site and Start Something today!
Whether you start a team, become a corporate sponsor, or make a donation, your efforts ensure that more Bigs and Littles can be paired up, more friendships can begin, and improved outlooks on life can take hold. Join us at Bowl for Kids' Sake and Start Something BigI bfks.bbsvc.org |
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From CEO Lynne West...
As we approach Thanksgiving it is the perfect time to look back and recognize all those who gave their time, talents and treasure to us throughout the year. To all of the Bigs, donors, and volunteers who work beside our staff to change how children grow up in Ventura County, we offer our heartfelt thanks. So often people ask how one person can possibly make a difference in the world. Well, all of us at Big Brothers Big Sisters know how that can be done. It takes time, patience, and most of all a BIG heart for children but together it can be done, one child at a time. Wishing everyone a happy and healthy Thanksgiving!
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Holiday Angels
 It's that time of year when a caring group of BIG donors and supporters share the holiday spirit by providing children and youth in our community-based mentoring programs with gifts for the holidays. Children and youth are carefully screened to determine eligibility.
If you would like to become a holiday angel, please contact Lynne West at 805.484.2282 x 20 or lwest@bbsvc.org. Your generosity goes a long way in supporting children who otherwise would not have a holiday experience.
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40 Under 40 Awards Ceremony
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BBSVC Staff Member Kelly Dooley and her mom Tami.
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Big Brothers Big Sisters was well-represented this year at the prestigious 40 Under 40 Awards, presented by the Pacific Coast Business Times and Wells Fargo. Honored were Grant Blindbury, a Big Brother and Partner at FMB Wealth Management and Big Brothers Big Sisters Board member, and Kelly Dooley, our foster youth mentoring program manager.
Both enjoyed an evening at the Tower Club in Oxnard, which included a special reception, sit-down dinner, and awards ceremony. Community awards opportunities provide invaluable exposure for Big Brothers Big Sisters to industry leaders and organizations through a well-respected media outlet.
Thank you to all those who nominated these extraordinary recipients and to the Pacific Coast Business Times for honoring young professionals who are making a significant impact in our community.  Click to view photos from the 40 Under 40 Awards.
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Scarecrow Spectacular
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BBSVC Board Member
Grant Blindbury with
Aviara Realtor Keli Dahl.
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Aviara Realtors really get into the spirit of giving and of course, Halloween, through their annual Scarecrow Spectacular. While enjoying the festivities, families got a chance to vote for their favorite scarecrow. Each scarecrow represented a local charity. Aviara Realtor Keli Dahl and her business partner, Leisa Schwartz, created a scene with a Big and a Little scarecrow enjoying a sporting game.
Big Brothers Big Sisters extends its appreciation to all who made this event possible, and especially to Keli and Leisa for making Big Brothers Big Sisters their charity of choice. A special thanks to all those Big supporters who voted for us with their generous contributions; we placed 3rd in the competition and will be receiving a donation to support our mentoring programs.
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Big Splash in Moorpark
 Local families came together at the Big Splash, Moorpark's first community giving day. Barbara Arnold-Herzer, a local business owner who has a passion for giving back to the community, created this community event to bring a town together for the greater good. Big Brothers Big Sisters joined several charities serving the Moorpark community and was one of the beneficiaries of the event proceeds, which will support the Big Brothers Big Sisters community-based mentoring program for Moorpark children and youth facing adversity.
If you live in Moorpark and would like to volunteer as a mentor to one of 15 children and youth who are waiting for a Big Brother or Big Sister match, please contact Monica Apodaca at 805.484.2282 or sign up online.
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Alumna Receives Prestigious Award
 The William Randolph Hearst/CSU Trustees' Award for Outstanding Achievement is given each year to those students who have demonstrated financial need, experienced personal hardships, and have attributes of merit, including superior academic performance, exemplary community service, and significant personal achievements.
We are proud to announce that Chloe Keller, a Big Brother Big Sisters alumna was one of the recipients of this prestigious award. Chloe participated in our Fillmore site-based mentoring program as both a Big and a Little. The Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring impact was one of the reasons Chloe attributed to her success in school and life. Read more...
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Road to Independence
 Big Brothers Big Sisters joined Casa Pacifica in supporting this year's Road to Independence, an interactive event that prepares foster youth for life on their own. Big Brothers Big Sisters advocates Kevin Allen, Pedro Chavez, Francisco Estrada, and Stephanie Reichman Allen spent the morning providing youth with a workshop on life skills essential for their future success. From tips on managing their money, buying a car, or simply learning about housing or the job market, youth gained practical knowledge that they can use as they move into adulthood.
To learn more about Big Brothers Big Sisters volunteer opportunities that do not require a one-year commitment, contact Pedro Chavez at 805.484.2282 or pchavez@bbsvc.org.
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Halloween Fun 
Littles from the Big Brothers Big Sisters Lunch Buddies mentoring program at Montalvo Elementary School enjoyed a Halloween costume contest. The three finalists were a G.I. Joe, a Star Wars Clone Trooper, and a Raggedy Anne.
Facebook fans overwhelmingly voted for our Star Wars Clone Trooper, Captain Rex. Congratulations to this Little guy, who also received Halloween treats and a pizza gift certificate to PizzaMan Dan's.
Our Lunch Buddies mentoring program provides opportunities for volunteers to spend their lunchtime, one day a week, at Montalvo Elementary School (East Ventura), Sheridan Way Elementary School (West Ventura), Cesar Chavez Elementary School (Oxnard), or Ramona Elementary School (Oxnard). To get involved, call us at 805.484.2282 or sign up online.
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Chasing Mavericks 
Big Brothers Big Sisters, 20th Century Fox, and Walden Media are looking to the new film, Chasing Mavericks, to inspire more men to become mentors.
At Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County, we encouraged our network to be there for opening night at the Muvico Theatre in Thousand Oaks and the Century Theatre in Ventura. The film touches the human spirit and demonstrates the value of mentoring on the Big screen. We hope that moviegoers were inspired to help children who are excited and waiting to catch the Big mentoring wave.
If you are up for the challenge of becoming a Big Brother or Big Sister, to mentoring a child facing adversity by sharing your passion for life, sports or the outdoors, call us at 805.484.2282 or sign up online.
Watch a message from Actor Gerard Butler, click here.
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 To bridge the gap between research and practice, a new newsletter is available for those interested in learning about the science behind the field of mentoring. The Chronicle of Evidence-Based Mentoring offers resources that highlight new research findings and ideas about youth mentoring and gives practitioners the opportunity to ask questions and share their local community experiences. If you're interested in learning about the science behind mentoring, click here. |
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No Cost Giving Provides Big Rewards
 The No Cost Giving program matches Big Brothers Big Sisters with local real estate professionals who have agreed to donate 20% of their commission directly to Big Brothers Big Sisters every time you 'buy' or 'sell' your home. When you, or your friends and family use our dedicated network of real estate professionals, a donation is made! It's an easy, cost-free and sustainable way for you to increase funding for the valuable work that Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County does in our communities. If you know of anyone who is in the market to buy or sell and wants to support Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County, please direct them to the Community Funding Solutions website.
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