Page 8 - BusinessWest 2023 Giving Guide

BIG BROTHERS
BIG
SISTERS OF
WESTERN
MASS. INC.
Franklin County Office: 16 Court Square, Greenfield, MA 01301
(413) 772-0915; www.bbbs-fc.org
Hampden County Office: 266 Cold Spring Ave., West Springfield, MA 01089 (413) 781-4730; www.bigbrothers-sisters.org
CEO: David Beturne
YEAR ESTABLISHED
Both the Hampden County and Franklin
County organizations were established in 1967; they merged and incorporated as BBBSWM in 2023.
OPERATING BUDGET
$899,800 (FY 2024).
MISSION STATEMENT
To create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth.
UPCOMING EVENTS
• Bowl for Kids’ Sake. Hundreds of bowlers from individual teams and corporate teams fundraise, and the event culminates in a bowling bash with pizza, sodas, raffle prices, and giveaways.
• Point 5K. Runners and non-runners alike fundraise and then come together to walk a half-mile of food, beer, and fun.
• Summer Picnic. Hampden County-area Bigs, Littles, and kids from the waiting list gather together for an afternoon of grilling, games, swimming, and more.
• Family Picnic. Franklin County-area Bigs, Littles, families, and kids from the waiting list and the community hang out together for an evening of hot dogs, cookies, snacks, and games.
• Brews Bites & Bids. More than 20 local brewers pour samples that are paired with a variety of gourmet snacks, and the event also features a silent auction and large range of raffle prizes.
• Holiday Party. This event is a chance for Bigs and Littles to celebrate the holidays and features a visit from Santa and a magic show.
WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO
The recently formed Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western Massachusetts (BBBSWM)
is the result of a merger between Big Brothers Big Sisters of Franklin County and
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampden County. Founded separately in 1967, both
BBBS agencies provided one-to-one mentoring services to youth (ages 6-18) facing adversity. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western Massachusetts will continue to serve young people in Franklin and Hampden counties while expanding services to Berkshire County. As an affiliate of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, the agency’s mission is
to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. This is achieved through two core programs: community-based mentoring and site-based mentoring.
GIVING OPPORTUNITIES
We welcome financial support from individuals and from corporations. Anyone interested in supporting Hampden County can donate at www.bigbrothers-sisters.org. For Franklin County, donors can visit www.bbbs-fc.org. Throughout the year, we run a number of small group events for our matches, so donations of items (such as arts and crafts) to help us run those activities are much appreciated. And, of course, corporate sponsorship of special events is a key source of revenue for the agency.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
In our community-based program, adult mentors are paired with children ages 6-15, and matches see each other out in the community for eight hours per month. In the school-based and site-based programs, mentors are matched one-to-one with youth and meet weekly at a specific site. We work collaboratively with local schools, afterschool programs, and other sites to match youth with volunteers. With youth waiting to be mentored, we always need volunteers. No special skill is required — just a few hours a month. To find out more, visit the agency’s websites (www.bbbs-fc.
org for Franklin County and www.bigbrothers-sisters.org for Hampden and Berkshire counties).
Sponsored by:
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Dan Morrill, President
Eizabeth Johnson, 1st Vice President
Amy Ashford, 2nd Vice President
Mary Rawls, Co-treasurer
Michael Oleksak, Co-treasurer
Sharon Cross, Secretary
Graeme Bazarian Mike Buckmaster Shelia Harington Christina Jette Geoff Medeiros Kevin Murray Bart Rankin Tiffany Ruffino Jeff Tirell
Jane Wolf
34 DECEMBER 11, 2023
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