January 2024
Happy New Year Friend!
As we wrap up 2023 and step into 2024, I am filled with gratitude and hope. Our journey together as a community has been nothing short of extraordinary. I want to take a moment to consider our growth and achievements and look to the new year and the exciting opportunities ahead.
Speaking of gratitude, first and foremost, I want to thank each and everyone of you who has given your time, resources, and passion to our mission of mentoring kids. The deep impact that Big Brothers Big Sisters has in Central Minnesota is made possible because of the steadfast support from our volunteers, donors, staff and, most importantly, the incredible Bigs and Littles who inspire us every day. Your dedication is the driving force behind our success, and I can’t thank you enough for your commitment to changing lives and igniting potential. Please know that as you read this, you are appreciated!
2023 was filled with great strides and achievements that we all should be proud of:
· We continued to build on recent initiatives (Sports Buddies, Holdingford)
· We had a successful recruitment campaign with a record 115 potential Bigs inquiring
· We built on our longstanding Community-Based mentoring program achieving higher than the national average in match length. Our average Community-Based match length is 39 months!
· We received the Nonprofit Innovation Award from the Greater St. Cloud Development Corporation for our BIG Partners Initiative, recognizing our collaboration with Granite Partners and ISD742
· We expanded our Dr. Potter Bigs on Campus Mentoring Initiative to include College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University and St. Cloud Technical & Community College
· We awarded more than $40,700 in post-high school scholarships to our Littles and High School Bigs
· We kicked off our $10 million endowment campaign, For Kids, Forever, to ensure that our mission will be offered long into the future
· Robin Hadley received the BriAnna Kruzel Growing Up Big Award
· Danielle Rogers, a current Big in the St. Cloud Area School District, received the St. Cloud Morning Optimist Club’s Youth Appreciation Award
· I was very honored and humbled to receive the St Cloud State Alumni Service Award. It was wonderful to hear about how the other award winners are giving back to their communities, and a reminder of why I am so invested in this work of helping kids.
Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion continues to be a cornerstone of our work, and we are making great strides in ensuring that every child who asks us for a mentor, regardless of their background, is matched. This has not been without challenges, and when that happens, we revisit our mission to keep us focused. We are here so that kids can have mentors who believe in their potential.
As we embark on 2024, I want to share my enthusiasm for our journey ahead. Our remarkable team will build on the successes and lessons learned from the past. Please join us in welcoming 2024 with hope, gratitude, and unwavering determination. Stay with us, because together we will continue to make a profound and lasting difference in the lives of kids who need us most.
Wishing you a joyful and rewarding New Year!
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Jackie S. Johnson
Executive Director
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MEET NEVAEH AND DUKE!
Nevaeh Beack and Duke are one of our matches in the Foley School District! The two have been matched since April 2022.
Nevaeh and Duke enjoy doing a variety of activities together! They have recently been playing tennis, ‘Guess Who’, and Legos. Neveah’s consistency and dependability have helped this match flourish. We can’t wait to see what these two continue to do through out their match!
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Clint Buchner and Ben are!
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THANK YOU, ADVANTAGE1!
This month’s Partner Spotlight goes to Advantage 1 Insurance! To help make the holidays extra bright for local families, Advantage 1 took the wishlists of several kids and parents in our programs and went shopping for items on those lists. Throughout the month of December, employees dropped off gift bags of toys, clothes, household supplies, and other items families were needing - all to help make the holidays bigger and brighter. Thank you for supporting our families during what can be a stressful month!
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!
BBBS of Central Minnesota is always looking for businesses to host or sponsor match activities. If you or your business are willing to sponsor or host a match activity, contact Emily Steinmetz at 320-258-4515 or [email protected].
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GETTING IN THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT
Our school-based matches in Foley had the chance to get in the holiday spirit a little early with a fun art day! The matches got together and made holiday decorations out of an ordinary household product - toilet paper tubes! The Santas, snowmen, Christmas trees and elves then adorned the tables at the Foley High School Minnesota Honor Society's Breakfast with Santa, which benefited BBBS!
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PRE-HOLIDAY HOOPIN'
Our Sports Buddies matches got together to hang out and get rid of some extra holiday energy in late December with some time spent in the Youth for Christ gym! Basketball was the most popular activity, and the group had a great time playing various games together. One Little even declared his crocs were in 'sport mode' to help him play harder!
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TAKING OVER THE LANES
One of the most popular match activities of the year is a trip to Great River Bowl, and this December was no exception. We rented out the suite lanes, so matches got to hang out together in the party room while bowling and spending time together on their own private lanes. Everyone had a fantastic time!
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PAINTING PARTY
Matches got to show off their creative side with some canvas painting in December. Shae, a current Big in the program, led the activity with her Little, and everyone busted out their inner Picasso - and got a beautiful canvas to take home after. Thanks to Shae for sharing her time and talent with our group!
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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. 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, Andy Knoblauch,
Shelly Bauerly Kopel, John Mahowald, Mike Markman, Gary Marsden, Vince Mohs, Steve Sauer,
Kurt Scepaniak, Joyce Schlough, John Schnettler, Peter Spaniol, Eric Stalboerger, Perian Stavrum,
Mark Traut, Joan Vincent, Bob Walter, and Don Watkins.
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