The Match Discount Partners list has been recently updated! Check out all of the great ideas for your Match here! Here are two of our newest match discount partners!

Strides Against Stigma - As part of Mental Health Awareness Month, The Beautiful Mind Project in St. Cloud is hosting its Strides Against Stigma event. There's a 5K for runners, a ZeroK if you want to help but don't want to run, face painting, a dunk tank, food trucks and more! The event runs from 8-11 a.m. on May 20 outside the National Hockey Center on the SCSU Campus. For more information, click here.

Homegrown Festival and Free Concert - The St. Cloud Area YMCA is hosting the Homegrown Festival - and a free concert! On Friday, May 19, head to Wilson Park in St. Cloud from 4:30-8 p.m. for the festival, which includes a craft fair, farmers market and vendors. From 6:30-8 p.m., enjoy free music at The Arcanes Community Concert. For more information, click here.

Juneteenth Celebration - Juneteenth marks the day when, a month after the American Civil War officially ended, Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation. The Juneteenth Community Celebration is a great time to educate and connect with other members of the community. On Friday, June 16, this bash in the Park features all-day entertainment from a lineup of musicians, dancers, DJs, storytellers and poets, performing from 3-9 p.m., with The Westside Band headlining the entertainment. Food trucks and Saint Cloud FIRE/EMS/SCPD will also be at the park. Click here for more information.

Lake George Fishing Club - Reel in the big one this summer with the Lake George Fishing Club! Anglers of all ages are welcome every Tuesday and Friday from June 7 through July 26 from 10 a.m.-noon at the Lake George Boathouse/Shelter. Along with catch and release fishing there will be activities and prizes, and fishing equipment is available to use for free! Anglers 16 and older need a fishing license to participate. For more information, click here.

Lemonade Concert & Art Fair and Concert - Mark your calendars for the 50th Annual Lemonade Concert and Art Fair! On Thursday, June 22, head to the St. Cloud State campus for food, arts and crafts, and vendors. The art fair runs from 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m. and there is a concert to kick off Granite City Days starting at 7 p.m. Join the St. Cloud Symphony Orchestra from 7-8:30 p.m. in the Ritsche Auditorium for a free concert. Click here for more info.

Kumbayah: A Juneteenth Story - The United Way of Central Minnesota's Black Youth Network is hosting Rose McGee's Kumbayah: A Juneteenth Story. This free event is at 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 24 at the Paramount in St. Cloud. Kumbayah is a 90-minute, fictitious, two-act play that uses storytelling and music to address a factual and traumatic time in our history. This event is free but registration is required. Volunteers are also needed the day of the event. Click here for more info or to register.

Granite City Days Family Fun Fest - Granite City Days wraps up Sunday, June 25, with the Family Fun Fest at Lake George/Eastman Park. The festival includes fishing, Touch-a-Truck and bike rodeo, inflatables, a petting zoo, food trucks and more! The festival runs from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Click here for more info.

QueerConnect Monthly Meetups - QueerConnect Youth events are designed to help connect people in the LGBTQIA+ community. On the third Monday of every month, local middle and high school students are welcome at the QueerConnect Monthly Meetup. The meetup takes place from 5-8 p.m. at the St. Cloud COP House at 600 13th St. S. Follow St. Cloud Pride on Facebook or check out the website for more info.

Lake George Boat Rental - Do you want to get out on the water right here in St. Cloud? Rent a paddle boat at Lake George! Paddle boats, canoes and paddle boards are available to rent for $10 per hour from 3-8 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday from June 14 through Sept. 9. Click here for more information.

Arts Underground at St. Cloud Paramount - Every Thursday from Sept. 15, 2022, through May 18, 2023, head to the Paramount Center for the Arts in downtown St. Cloud to try your hand at various skills! Work with a studio mentor to try throwing a bowl on the wheel, piece together a mosaic or make a clay sculpture. Youth 19 and under are $5 each and adults are $10. Click here for more information.

Pop-Up Splash Pad - Beat the heat this summer at St. Cloud's first-ever pop-up splash pad! Saturday, July 15 this free event runs from 4-6 p.m. at Centennial Park. You can run through the spray of a fire hose, check out a firetruck and police car, and play lawn games with local police officers and fire fighters! No registration required, just bring a towel and dress in clothes that can get wet! Click here for more information.

Kids Ride Free All Summer - The U-Go Free Summer Youth Program allows youth ages 17 and younger to ride Metro Bus Fixed Routes free. The program includes ConneX in Sartell. No registration or pass required. Tell the Bus Operator you are using the U-Go Free Summer Youth Program. Free how-to-ride training is available to everyone through the Travel Training program. Please click here for more information.

It's been another really BIG year at BBBS of Central Minnesota, and we want to celebrate with all of our Bigs and Littles! Join us for the 2023 Big Celebration Wednesday, June 14, from 6-7:30 p.m. at Riverside Terrace in Sauk Rapids. We'll share a meal, honor our Bigs and Littles of the Year, celebrate scholarship winners, and acknowledge our Bigs. You must RSVP in order to attend - click here to reserve your spot!

AmazonSmile is sunsetting at the end of the month, but we have a new and easy way for you to support local youth. When you sign up today to donate on the BBBS of Central Minnesota website, you can choose to round up every purchase on the credit card of your choosing. Every time you swipe that card, the total is rounded up to the nearest dollar - and that extra change stays right here in Central Minnesota! Your extra change could make a BIG difference to local youth - give it a try!

Have you ever thought about being a Big? Do you know someone who would be a great Big? BBBS of Central Minnesota is looking for 10 mentors to be a part of the Bigs on Campus initiative at St. Cloud State and the College of Saint Benedict/Saint John's University for Fall 2023. Meet with your mentee twice a month for an hour at a time at SCSU or CSB/SJU and help them get accustomed to life on a college campus! Click here for more information or to sign up to be part of the Bigs on Campus program!

Are you a Thrivent member with a Thrivent Action Team, or do you know someone who is? BBBS is partnering with Thrivent on a number of fundraisers that will utilize their generosity programs to further Thrivent's event impact. Get involved by reaching out to Emily Steinmetz at Emily@BigDefenders.org. Please click here for more information.

Welcome to a world of fun, learning, and resources - The Little Big Virtual Academy!

The Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota team has compiled a list of fun and interactive activities and resources for Littles and Bigs to do together (either in-person or virtually). Click here to check it out!

Please visit our BBBS Website to view resources and information for parents/guardians & Bigs including mentoring videos and parenting resources. We also have an extensive listing of community resources including tutors, food and housing assistance, and mental health resources. BigDefenders.org/resources

In addition, we also list past issues of the Big Happenings on our website. Please click here to access past issues.

If you've ever thought about a career in welding, Career Solutions and SCTCC has an opportunity to learn more. Welding Discovery Day is from 4-7 p.m. on May 17 at SCTCC. Connect with local welding employers and test out tools and equipment. Email tom.hickey@csjobs.org to register.

If you've got big goals and you're looking for the right job to achieve them, consider joining Career Solutions' Job Club. Job Club meets every Thursday from 10:30 a.m.-Noon and is open to anyone who is job searching. Job seekers must register to attend. Please click here for more information or to register.

Higher Works Collaborative in St. Cloud works to advance the lives and livelihoods of African Americans in Central Minnesota. They offer tutoring and classes to help prepare middle and high schoolers for life after high school. Please click here for more information.

CareerOne is offering two free summer camps in Central Minnesota for youth looking to earn money while developing job skills. The St. Cloud Area camp runs June 20-July 20 from 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. on set days. Youth ages 14-17 in the St. Cloud area are welcome to apply. The Paynesville/Sauk Centre/Melrose camp runs July 24-Aug. 4 from 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, and is open to youth ages 14-17 in those areas. At both camps youth can earn a stipend while performing community work projects and earning certificates. Breakfast, lunch and a snack are provided each day along with work shirts and there is free transportation to/from work sites. Apply here or email info@csjobs.org for more information or a paper application.

Minnesota Afterschool Advance helps Minnesota families who meet income requirements use the powerful but underutilized Minnesota K-12 Education Tax Credit to help them pay for educational afterschool programs like tutoring, music lessons, and art classes. Please click here to apply.

Career Solutions helps Central Minnesota find a job or career that's right for them. The WIOA Young Adult Program can help assess future careers, assess skills and interests and assist with job searches. Please click here for more information.