July 2023
Hello Friend!
Happy New Year!!! I’m neither late nor early - I am right on time for us. It is a new year here at Big Brothers Big Sisters, as our fiscal year (FY) starts July 1 and ends June 30. You may remember me writing about my disdain for New Year resolutions in the past. We don’t have resolutions here at BBBS, but rather we have a strategic plan with goals, with a very talented team developing the strategy and then implementing it. It is way more fun, and successful, than the New Year’s resolution I break by noon on Jan. 1 of any given year.
Like any worthwhile new year, we have to look at the last year, and what a year we had! We started not one, not two, but three new initiatives:
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We made 18 matches in our new School-Based mentoring program in Holdingford.
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Through our BIG (BBBS, ISD 742 & Granite Partners) Partners initiative, we matched 13 high school students with local business professionals providing support and connections to help them effectively navigate the business world or a path to higher education.
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We launched a Bigs on Campus program at a new site, in partnership with the College of Saint Benedict and St. John’s University and Kennedy Community School, providing the opportunity for more youth to experience the world of post-secondary education.
Other amazing accomplishments in FY23:
- We awarded more than $40,000 in exclusive scholarships to our Littles & Bigs
- We named our 2023 Bigs and Littles of the Year, and Nate Molitor (Big Brother), Olivia Bauerly (High School Big Sister) and Matthew Rothfork (High School Big Brother) all earned state honors on top of their Central Minnesota awards
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Ann Matvick, our very own Program Director extraordinaire, was the 2023 recipient of the Brick Award for Program Staff Person of the Year at the BBBSA National Conference in California. This award is presented to a program staff person who has gone above and beyond to achieve high quality matches and serve more volunteers and children, and it is well-deserved!
All the stars lined up for us to make some major changes to our technology as we:
- Eliminated our physical phones and now use our laptops to answer phone calls
- Switched out an antiquated payroll system and excel spreadsheets to one that is robust
- Eliminated our Google email suite and now use the Microsoft Suite
- Upgraded from an outdated CRM (customer relationship management) system, and are now utilizing a CRM designed specifically for Big Brothers Big Sisters
- Upgraded our shared meeting room with new chairs, tables, virtual capabilities and added a screen
You can expect BIG things from us in FY24:
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We will be launching a Bigs on Campus mentoring initiative in partnership with St. Cloud Technical & Community College and the Sauk Rapids-Rice School District
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We are kicking off a recruitment campaign – and we’ve got BIG goals to help whittle down our Waiting Littles list as the school year kicks off – stay tuned.
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We’re excited to dive into our endowment campaign, For Kids, Forever, which will help create a sustainable future for our program, give us the ability to adapt and grow our program in the years ahead, and invest deeper into our communities.
We will continue to focus on growing our School-Based & Community-Based mentoring programs, as well as our Sports Buddies initiative, to ensure we ignite and defend the potential of even more youth!
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Jackie S. Johnson
Executive Director
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MEET KARA AND BOBBY & KEAGAN!
Kara and Bobby Emmer have been matched with Keagan for 4.5 years! They love being active together including shooting hoops, rock climbing, bowling, and geocaching. They have also enjoyed going to movies, a Vikings game, and volunteering together.
Kara and Bobby encourage Keagan to try new activities as he finds what he enjoys the most. Since the match started, Kara and Bobby have had two kids and even through the busyness of life, they continue to spend time with Keagan whenever they can. Kara, Bobby, and Keagan have built a strong friendship together and we’re excited to see it continue!
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Bill Schroeder and Reese are!
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THANK YOU, EVELIE BLU!
This month’s Partner Spotlight goes to Evelie Blue Boutique! In May, Evelie Blu hosted an in-store fundraiser for BBBS of Central Minnesota, and raised $1,000! Not only did a portion of the store's proceeds from the day come back to BBBS, customers and store employees also made donations to help support local youth.
We are grateful to all our Community Partners. Check out these lists, and the next time you are at that business or organization, please thank them for standing with kids!
If you have questions about how your business can get involved with BBBS of Central MN, contact Emily Steinmetz at 320-258-4515 or [email protected].
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WRAPPING UP THE YEAR IN A BIG WAY
BBBS of Central Minnesota officially wrapped up the 2022-23 school year in mid-June with the annual Big Celebration. This year's celebration was at the Riverside Terrace in Sauk Rapids, and it was a wonderful night celebrating Bigs and Littles of the Year, award winners, scholarship winners, and spending time together to celebrate another great year. Thank you to everyone who attended and to APH and Wolters Kluwer for sponsoring the event, and to Bernicks and Coborns for sponsoring the food and beverages for the evening!
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FRESH CUTS FOR LITTLES
A handful of Littles had the opportunity to spend a Saturday morning at the barbershop recently! Barber Brian at Two Bits Grooming in St. Joe opened his salon to 10 Littles to get their hair cut. Not only did they leave feeling confident with their new cuts, current Big Tyler Walz - who helped connect BBBS with Brian - also sent them home with a goody bag including a comb, shampoo, and other hair-care accessories! Thank you to Brian for helping out our Littles!
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PLAYING IN THE SAND
Matches took advantage of a beautiful summer evening in June and hit the sand for some friendly sand volleyball competition on the St. Cloud State campus! They started with some eliminations games to warm up, then played 4-on-4 to wrap up the night. Everyone got in on it and had a great time diving around and getting dirty to help their team!
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TAKE ME OUT TO THE ROX GAME
Matches were treated to a night at the ballpark thanks to Rita Rengel! Their seats were right above the Rox dugout to watch the Rox take on the Mankato MoonDogs, and the team mascot - Chisel - came over to take pictures with matches during the game. The weather couldn't seem to make up its mind, but overall it was a great evening of baseball!
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SOME FRIENDLY COMPETITION
Sports Buddies matches competed against each other in a yard game tournament in late June! It was a small group, but they had fun with spike ball, ladder golf, bean bags, and 4-square volleyball to determine the champions!
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BBBS BOARD ANNOUNCES CHANGES
As the new fiscal year officially begins on July 1 for BBBS of Central Minnesota, a trio of new faces were introduced to the agency's Board of Directors and will start their new terms with the agency beginning with the August 2023 board meeting.
Melinda Gau, Mardi Noyes, and Jason Primus all joined the board in July. Gau worked at Quinlivan & Hughes before retiring, Noyes is employed by Microbiologics and Primus works at BerganKDV. All three are currently or have been Bigs through the agency.
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Melinda Gau, Quinlivan & Hughes - Retired |
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Mardi Noyes, Microbiologics |
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The addition of Gau, Noyes and Primus come as both Peggy Brown and Marie Primus wrap up their terms with the agency. Both started with the board in 2011 and wrapped up their time on June 30. Brown served as the board's DEI officer. Both helped guide BBBS of Central Minnesota through the COVID19 pandemic, have helped the agency grow and change with technology and expanding needs in the community, and have helped guide the agency through adding a handful of new programs such as the Dr. Potter Bigs on Campus initiative and several school-based programs. |
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"The only way a nonprofit agency can do its best work and continue to move forward is to have a trusting relationship between the staff and the board," BBBS of Central Minnesota Executive Director Jackie Johnson said. "At our agency we don't take these trusting relationships for granted. Our current board has the 54-year benefit of all of the previous boards, and they use that wisdom to help us to continue to better serve youth in Central Minnesota." |
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CINDER BOUTIQUE FUNDRAISER
On Thursday, July 27, a local boutique is giving customers the chance to shop local and support local youth! Cinder Boutique in Cold Spring is hosting a fundraiser for BBBS of Central Minnesota. The boutique, located at 308 5th Ave S in Cold Spring, will donate 20 percent of proceeds from online and in-store sales that day back to BBBS. Wandering Cow ice cream will have a truck outside the store from 4-7 p.m., and there will be activities for kids and a kid's drawing from 4-7 p.m. We hope to see you there!
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CLEAN CAR = POTENTIAL DEFENDED
Come on out to Crew Car Wash for a clean car and the chance to defend the potential of local youth! On Saturday, July 15, 50 percent of all profits from every Ultimate wash sold at Crew Car Wash in St. Cloud will be donated back to BBBS of Central Minnesota! The fundraiser runs all day (7 a.m.-9 p.m.) at 4118 Division St. in St. Cloud, and BBBS staff will be on-site from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Stop by for a clean car and to support local youth!
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SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR BBBS!
Show your support for BBBS of Central Minnesota to everyone in your neighborhood and help us recruit new mentors with a branded yard sign! Email [email protected] if you're interested in putting a sign in your yard or stop by the St. Cloud office today to pick one up! (The signs measure two feet wide by 1 1/2 feet tall and come with a metal stake to keep it in the ground.)
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BIGS ON CAMPUS NEEDS YOUR HELP
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 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!
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SUPPORT BBBS WHEN YOU SHOP!
Every time you shop, your spare change can help to support local youth! When you sign up today to donate on the BBBS of Central Minnesota website, you can 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!
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Khaldoun Ahmad, Daine Billmark, Jenna Binsfeld, Debbie Clausen, Patty Funk (Secretary), Melinda Gau, Isaih Handy, Lee Hurd, Courtney Kunkel (Treasurer), Bill Martin-Chaffee (DEI Officer), Lori Mohs, Mardi Noyes, Emmanuel Oppong, Chris Owen, Curran Poganski, Jason Primus, Rick Roehl (Vice Pres.),
Alex Schoephoerster (President), Christie Schulte, and Vicky Welty (Past Pres.).
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Barb Anderson, Mimi Bitzan, Mark Coborn, Joe Francis, Keith Julson, Lori Kloos,
Shelly Bauerly Kopel, John Mahowald, Mike Markman, Gary Marsden, Vince Mohs, Steve Sauer,
Kurt Scepaniak, Joyce Schlough, John Schnettler, Rob Schumann, Peter Spaniol, Eric Stalboerger,
Perian Stavrum, Mark Traut, Joan Vincent, Bob Walter, and Don Watkins.
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