January 2019 Hello Friends, Welcome to 2019, this being our 50th year of empowering kids. We have some exciting plans and announcements that will be coming to celebrate these 50 years and prepare for the next 50. Stay tuned. I’ve been following Brene’ Brown’s work and one of her scientific findings is something my mother knew all along: In order to find joy, one must first be grateful. My mother would add: from that gratitude, develops a sense of giving back. We were all recently reminded of President George H. W. Bush’s dedication to service and it is arguably what he is most remembered for.  It isn’t a complicated formula: Gratitude + Joy = Service to others. As we look back on 2018 we are incredibly grateful and filled with joy for your support. It was a pivotal year for us, in part because of our leadership on the national level. Along with the new branding, this January we are a part of The Big Resolution movement. We have all benefited from great mentors in our life and January in particular asks us to celebrate mentorship and to support it. Please dig in and learn more about this life-changing movement, check out our new website – we hope that it will help you accomplish what awaits for you in 2019 ... Be a Big ... Get a Big ... Give and learn more about our incredible mission, to unleash our biggest possible future! Jackie Johnson Executive Director

THIS YEAR. MAKE. THE BIG RESOLUTION. It’s the same thing every January: gyms are overflowing, kale is selling like hotcakes, and everyone is trying to be their best for the New Year. But what if this year, you could resolve to do something even more important than deciding to stomach a green smoothie once a week. What if you could make a resolution worth keeping—one that inspires more resolutions? That’s why we’re asking you this January to make the BIG RESOLUTION and sign up for an Info Session to find out more!

ARE YOU ON THE LIST? We  have been busy making new matches! Check out our current list of new Matches - thanks to our new Bigs for standing with kids! We would also like to congratulate these Matches who are celebrating milestone anniversaries ! We ask all Bigs to commit to at least one year of mentorship- that one year of consistency makes a BIG difference in the life of a child.

BOOKS FOR POTENTIAL We are holding a book drive for kids' books ages 0-18. Not only does this put books in the hands of kids, it's also a service project that qualifies Big Brothers Big Sisters to earn Walt Disney World tickets for our gala auction on March 29. Win - win - win! You clean out your kids' bookshelf with the books they no longer read, kids in our community get books to read and BBBS gets an awesome item for our auction! Please drop off books at our office at 203 Cooper Ave N, Suite 162, St. Cloud by Jan 14. You can also email Tasha or call her at 320-258-4516 if you have any questions. Thank you!

GALA TICKETS & SPONSORSHIPS NOW AVAILABLE! A healthy nonprofit has a fund development strategy as diverse as a professional investment portfolio. Proper stewardship of nonprofit funds is vital for financial sustainability and to advance the mission of the organization. At BBBS of Central MN we believe in and adhere to these best practices. Events are a special piece of our fund development pie chart. Our events create community, inform, celebrate, motivate, educate, inspire and generate financial support year after year. BBBS of Central MN is 50 years old and we are excited to celebrate that milestone at our upcoming Gala – 50 Years of Big Magic. Now is the time to stand with us to defend the potential of Central MN youth and make an investment in the next 50 years .  We are looking for event partners to provide auction items, purchase raffle tickets and event tickets and to be an event sponsor. For more information on how to get involved visit Magic Moments Gala 2019 or contact Emily@BigDefenders.org Thank you to our Defender and Protector sponsors: Marco, Vince and Lori Mohs, Anderson Trucking Service, Custom Catering, SC Times/LocaliQ and PCI!

‌

by Rebecca Fonss, MA, Program Coordinator Meet Kalie Schuster and Makayla. These two have been matched since August of 2014! Some of the things this Big Sister and Little Sister like to do are: go to plays, get their nails done, go to movies, go out to eat, go to bookstores, baking, going to the library, doing art projects, and sharing gifts at holidays. Kalie and Makayla have continued their match even after Kalie moved to the cities.  Makayla recently performed in a play at school and Kalie was excited to be able to attend! Kalie and Makayla have attended a number of BBBS activities. Most recently they came to our Holiday party. One of the favorite activities of Makayla’s was a photography activity they took part in! We are so glad to see this match have such a great relationship for over 4 years!

THANK YOU MATCH DISCOUNT PARTNERS! One of the first concerns of new Bigs is, "what am I going to do with my Little?" Thanks to these awesome Match Discount Partners, our Bigs and Littles can pick from a whole list of ideas. These partners directly help Bigs develop life-changing friendships with their Littles. One of our great Match Discount Partners is Marcus Theatres - the Little is free with the paid admission of the Big for most showtimes. Thanks Marcus Theatres! Check out this list and the next time you're at that business, please thank them for standing with kids!

‌ ‌ ‌