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!

Free Kiddie Matinees in Sauk Centre - The Main Street Theatre in Sauk Centre is offering free matinee showings of kids' movies. Each Saturday from Nov. 12 through Dec. 3 there will be showings at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the theater. Sonic 2, Minions: Rise of Gru and Sing 2 will be shown. Click here for more information.

Free Park Day on Nov. 25 - On Friday, Nov. 25, all 75 state parks and state recreation areas in Minnesota will offer free admission. Check out a map of the parks to find one closest to you, and get outside to go explore! Click here for more information.

Family Time at St. Cloud Library - Head to the Great River Regional Library in St. Cloud from 6-7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 16, for family time. The evening starts with a story being read out loud and then there's time for science, arts and crafts and more. Click here for more information.

Country Lights Festival Starts Dec. 1! - The Country Lights Festival at St. Francis Park in Sartell starts Thursday, Dec. 1, and runs through Dec. 31. Lights are on from dusk until dawn every day of the week. The kiddie train runs and hot chocolate is served from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday through Dec. 17, and there are fireworks on Dec. 31. Click here for more information.

MLK Jr Art & Essay Contest - Students from the St. Cloud School District and surrounding area are invited to express their thoughts and reflections on the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by submitting visual art, essay or spoken word pieces. Pieces are due by Friday, Dec. 2. This year's theme is 'Our Beloved Community,' and awards will be announced at the 10th Annual MLK Everyday Community Celebrations Jan. 14-16, 2023. Awards are given out by age group. Click here for more information or to register.

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.

Do you want to be a part of an award-winning, inclusive and impactful organization? We're hiring! BBBS of Central Minnesota is hiring both a Program Coordinator and a Donor Relations Specialist. Enjoy a rewarding and flexible career that changes lives! Click here to see position descriptions for both positions or to apply!

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 program at St. Cloud State. Meet with your mentee twice a month for an hour at a time at SCSU 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!

We couldn't do what we do without the generous support of our amazing donors and volunteers. This November, there are two opportunities to support youth in Central Minnesota! Thursday, Nov. 17, is Give to the Max Day in Minnesota, and Tuesday, Nov. 29, is Giving Tuesday. Your gift helps ensure that every kid in Central Minnesota who needs one-to-one mentoring gets it. Give to the Max Website. Giving Tuesday Website.

On Monday, Nov. 21, the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center is hosting a virtual training for Bigs, Parents/Guardians, and other adults in the community to help navigate the virtual landscape and watch for potential red flags. This presentation, which runs from 6-7:30 p.m., details the risks students are facing, and practical, positive ways that adults can respond. Click here to register by Nov. 16.

Are you a Thrivent member with a Thrivent Action Team, or do you know someone who is? Starting this Fall, 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.

Giving to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central MN is now as easy as sending a text! Simply text the word BIGS to 269-89 and you are able to donate right from your smartphone. Text today to help support one-to-one mentoring for local youth in the community!

Welcome to a whole 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!

We are looking for more Bigs to ignite the potential of our youth. Click here to get started today!

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

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

Big Brothers Big Sisters of America is partnering with KPMG’s Women of Risk Community (WORC) Employee Resource Group for a BIG Futures Workforce Development Resource. From 6-7 p.m. on Dec. 1, this virtual panel will focus on Women’s Entrepreneurship, and is open to teens, young adults, their Bigs, and KPMG professionals nationwide for an interactive conversation aimed to inspire innovation. Please click here to join the conversation on Dec. 1.

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.

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.

Around Cloud Tutors continues to provide free, virtual tutoring services to all K-12 students in the greater St. Cloud region. Please click here for link.