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The BIG News
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio |
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Warm Thoughts On Cold Days
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January is National Mentoring Month, and as this record cold month draws to a close, it is the perfect time to think warm thoughts about the amazing volunteers, donors and supporters who make our work in central Ohio possible. On behalf of the thousands of children whose lives were touched by our agency's programs last year, we thank you!
When National Mentoring Month rolls around each January, we also encourage everyone in the community to reach out and give a heartfelt thanks to those who mentored them. Teachers, coaches, relatives, friends...those people who listened to you as a child or young adult, showed they care, and helped you grow and succeed. |
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Come Bowl With Us...and Party, Too!
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If you've never joined in, now's your chance to get involved with Bowl for Kids' Sake presented by KPMG, our largest fundraising event of the year. There's still time to form a team, register and fundraise online, then join in the bowling bash at Columbus Square Bowling Palace on February 15, 2014! It's a family-friendly celebration with free food, kids' activities and fun for all! For more information and to register, please click here.
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Huge thanks go out to our generous sponsors! Our Presenting Sponsor is KPMG. Platinum Perfect Game Sponsors are Clear Channel Outdoor, Rockbridge and WNCI 97.9. Gold Strike Sponsors include Cardinal Health, Columbus Square Bowling Palace and UBS Financial Services and Silver Spare Sponsors include AEP Ohio, Champion Real Estate, Hamilton Parker Company, Kimball Midwest, Ohio Custodial Management Corp., Ohio Support Services Corp. and Schoedinger Funeral & Cremation Service.
Mark your calendar for our premier black-tie gala, A Taste of Class for Kids, on April 12! Watch for more information.
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Our Family Has Grown!
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Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Ohio has aligned with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio, and we are extending a BIG welcome to their dedicated staff, Board, volunteers, kids and families!
Headquartered in Chillicothe, Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Ohio serves kids in five counties through its Community-based and School-based Mentoring programs. The Board and leadership of Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Ohio determined that the agency could better serve the community by developing a more formal relationship with another, larger Big Brothers Big Sisters agency. Following thorough consideration and discussions between the two agencies, the formal alignment became effective on January 1, and it is an important step toward the goal of providing the impact of mentoring to more children.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Ohio will retain its staff, name and independent 501(c)3 status. Its Board will remain in place and will continue to provide vision, direction, governance and local support. With the alignment, Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Ohio will draw upon the resources of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio for some essential office functions, including accounting and information technology. There are many benefits for the kids, including their eligibility to attend Camp Oty'Okwa.
Together, we are one of the largest Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies in the country, serving children in 11 Ohio counties!
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20 Years and Going Strong
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American Showa, Inc. has provided amazing support for our Delaware County program for twenty straight years! Over the years, the golf outing has provided more than $300,000 in funding to support Big Brothers Big Sisters' work in Delaware County. The 2014 golf outing is scheduled for July 26. Many thanks to American Showa, Inc. Executive Vice President Jim Wiebe (pictured on the right side of the green), and Committee Members Steven Carpenter, Joanne Hall, Bill Purtee and Tabby Shaw.
American Showa, Inc., in Sunbury, is a U.S. company and is owned as a joint venture between SHOWA Corporation, located in Japan, and American Honda Motor Company, headquartered in California. American Showa, Inc. specializes in the development and manufacture of shock absorber and power steering systems for two and four wheeled vehicles.
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| We Know How To Celebrate! | |
Winter brings holidays and celebrations...and our kids know how to have fun! There were lots of happy faces at the annual skating party in Columbus, where mentoring matches enjoyed the skating and the pizza!
 
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And in the Hocking Hills, nothing says winter like a December party at Camp Oty'Okwa. This year, more than 70 kids attended the two-day camp session, and there was fun for all...cookie decorating, a pageant, tree trimming, reindeer games, choir performances and an exciting Rockettes live dance performance!
 
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About Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio
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Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio, a United Way member agency, has been matching children with mentors since 1933. One of the largest Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies in the country, we serve thousands of children each year through our Community-based Mentoring program, School-based Mentoring program (including Project Mentor) and mentoring programs at Camp Oty'Okwa in the Hocking Hills. We serve children in Franklin, Delaware, Union, Clark, Madison , Champaign, Ross, Pike, Pickaway, Fayette and Highland counties through our offices in Columbus, Delaware, Marysville, Springfield and Chillicothe plus Camp Oty'Okwa. In addition, our Mentoring Center of Central Ohio is helping increase the quality and quantity of mentoring throughout Ohio. Big Brothers Big Sisters makes meaningful, professionally-supported matches between volunteers and children. We provide ongoing evaluation and support which independent studies prove have positive impacts: helping children perform better in school, avoid violence and illegal activities, and have stronger relationships with their parents and others. Learn more at bbbscentralohio.org, projectmentorcolumbus.org, campotyokwa.org, amachiohio.org and mentoringcenterco.org.
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MENTORING CELEBRATION
When central Ohio came together to celebrate our Community Heroes on January 21, there were many stories of wonderful gains experienced by mentees with help from their mentors. The 2014 Mentoring Celebration at the Ohio Statehouse was hosted, as always, by our Mentoring Center of Central Ohio. The Mentoring Center works with 40 partner organizations, helping boost the power of mentoring through no-charge program guidance, background checks and centralized training for mentors and staffs. Mentors from the Mentoring Center's partner organizations -- and their mentees -- were introduced at the evening event. At the podium were Emcee Mike Jackson of NBC4, Keynoter Priscilla Tyson of the Columbus City Council and Mentoring Center Executive Director Marilyn Pritchett.
THANKS AND MORE THANKS
Without the generous donors and sponsors who provide essential operating support to our agency, kids in our community would not be receiving the proven benefit of having a mentor in their life. We would like to say a special thanks to our friends at Impact 60 Golf Outing and Coke Refreshments for providing significant support during the month of December. and to the Clark Kellogg Tip-Off Classic for contributing significant funds in January. Central Ohio rocks!
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MAKING A DIFFERENCE
AmeriCorps Service Members make a huge difference for the kids we serve! Our special thanks go to ServeOhio, Ohio's commission on service and volunteerism, which administers the grants that make this possible. A talented group of AmeriCorps Service Members are supporting and sustaining mentoring matches and recruiting more volunteers for our programs!
SERVING CHILDREN FACING ADVERSITY
Did you know Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio leads a collaborative of Ohio Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies serving children of incarcerated parents (Amachi Ohio), and also foster care youth (Connecting the Dots)? Both of these programs help Ohio kids who face additional challenges in their lives. A recent independent study by Public/Private Ventures found that higher-risk youth like these who were paired with mentors reported better grades, greater acceptance by peers and fewer depressive symptoms. Mentoring Works!
LOOKING FOR MEETING SPACE?
Dawson offers two unique meeting rooms with a capacity of up to 100. In lieu of a rental fee, they ask for a donation benefitting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio. For more details, contact Dawson at 614-255-1400.
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