TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — When children succeed and thrive, so does the community.
Big Brothers Big Sisters has been changing the lives of young people for over 100 years and on Friday they received a big donation to help continue that work.
ABC 27 and The Scripps Howard Foundation donated $10,000 to the organization on Friday.
The donation was made at BBBS's Big Friday Tailgate luncheon celebrating former and current Bigs in the organization's mentoring program.
BBBS's CEO, Alva Striplin, says the money will be put to good use.
"Every bit of revenue goes into the staff, goes into what they do for the kids and the emotional support that they give to people inside our program," said Striplin. "So, it takes a lot of resources. A lot more than people realize on the outside, so we just couldn't be more grateful."
BBBS has over 400 children on a waiting list to be matched with a mentor in the Big Bend. Over half of those children are boys in need of a male mentor.
If you would like more information on how to become a mentor or want to donate to BBBS, click here.
ABC 27 and the Scripps Howard Foundation are donating $10,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Big Bend (BBBS).
On Friday, ABC 27 General Manager Matt Brown presented the donation during the Big Friday Tailgate event at the BBBS’ location on 545 East Tennessee Street.
“At ABC 27, we believe in giving back to our community through helping children and youth,” state Brown. “That’s why ABC 27 and our partners at the Scripps Howard Foundation have chosen to give $10,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Big Bend. The gift will support the on-going effort to create one-to-one mentoring relationships with youth in the Big Bend region.”
The donation will help support BBBS’s mission to provide children facing adversity with strong, professionally supported relationships that change their lives for the better.
Currently, BBBS has over 400 children on a waiting list to be matched with a mentor in the Big Bend and 68 percent of those children are young boys in need of a male mentor.
“Because of strong community partners like ABC 27, our agency can place a much needed mentor in the lives of even more children, helping them achieve their fullest potential,” stated Alva Striplin, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Big Bend.
BBBS helps children across the Big Bend area, targeting ages 6-16 in Leon, Gadsden, Wakulla, Taylor, Jefferson, Madison and Liberty counties.
“These dollars will stay within our local communities – recruiting mentors and pairing them for successful relationships,” said Brown.
From 2018-2019 BBBS of the Big Bend served 631 kids, with 75 percent of those ages 12 and under, nearly 70 percent coming from one-parent homes and 54 percent have a parent that is incarcerated. Children who have participated say they have higher aspirations, greater confidence, better relationships and educational success.
If you would like more information on how to become a mentor or want to donate to BBBS, click here.
This gift is made possible by the Scripps Howard Foundation, the philanthropic arm of ABC 27’s parent company E.W. Scripps. The donation to BBBS is part of ABC 27 and E.W. Scripps’ commitment to the families and communities they serve by creating awareness of local issues and supporting impactful organizations to drive solutions.
