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!

2023 Summer Reading Program - The Great River Regional Library 2023 summer reading program starts Monday, June 5! This year's theme is Find Your Voice!, and features programs for early learners (ages 0-3) and kids (age 4 to grade 6). Head to the library to find your voice and start reading! The program runs through Aug. 5. Click here for more information.

Community Hope Fest - On Aug. 13, head to the Sherburne County Fairgrounds for the Community Hope Fest. From 2-6 p.m., enjoy food, music, games and activities, a community resource table and more. This event is free and open to everyone. Click here for more information.

Downtown St. Cloud Art Crawl - On Friday, June 16, head to downtown St. Cloud for the June Art Crawl! Check out work by Central Minnesota artists while also spending time at downtown shops and restaurants. Click here for more information.

Minnesota Scoop Passport - After scooping snow all winter, scoop something more fun - and better tasting - this summer! Sign up for the free Minnesota Scoop Passport for a tour of summer across Minnesota. Check in at participating ice cream shops for deals and discounts! Check in May 15-September 4 to take advantage of the tasty deals! Click here for more information.

Summertime by George - The 2023 Summertime by George summer concert and festival starts Wednesday, June 14, and runs through Wednesday, Aug. 16. The free festival runs from 5-9 p.m. every Wednesday at Lake George and features music, vendors, artisans and a kid's zone. Click here for more information.

Foley Fun Days - The 2023 Foley Fun Days celebration runs June 16-21, and features music, concerts, a parade, and more. There's the Lemonade Fund Days Concert at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 18; the Heavenly Hot Rod Show on Tuesday, June 20, a bike safety rodeo, parade, and concerts each night on June 19, 20, and 21. Click here for more information.

Big Lake Spud Fest - Make plans to be in Big Lake June 22-25 for the annual Spud Fest celebration! From a run to firework, games and activities to a potato spud car derby, there's something for everyone Click here for a full schedule of events and more information.

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.

Fare for All Food Distribution - Fare for All food distribution, which sells fruits, veggies, and frozen meats, will be distributing from 3:30-5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 29. The distribution site will be Salem Lutheran Church in St. Cloud. Everyone is welcome, and cash, credit, debit, and EBT cards are accepted. Click here for more info.

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.

Summer Kids Dream Family Film Series - This summer, see your favorite family friendly movies at Marcus Theatres! Now through Aug. 5, a new kid-friendly film will play each week for a discounted price. You can also purchase the Kids Dream Passport, which entitles the passport holder to see all of the films in the series for just $15! The first films include: Shrek 2, June 13-17; The Bad Guys, June 20-24; and Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile, June 27-July 1. Click here for a full schedule or to buy tickets.

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 gone, 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, St. Cloud Tech & Community College, 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, SCTCC, 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 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.