August 2022
Hello Friend!
“Bloom where you are planted” wasn’t just one of Marty Fetter’s favorite sayings, it was also a guiding principal of her life. Marty and her husband Jeff began hosting the annual Federated Challenge for Kids fundraiser in 2013. Marty passed away in December 2021 and continues to inspire us.
Their shared passion for youth mentoring started early on when they signed up to be a Big Couple through Big Brothers Big Sisters. They were matched with Mackenzie when she was just 11 years old. At the recent 2022 Federated Challenge, Mackenzie shared that she often reflects on her time with Jeff and Marty. With them, she learned the love of cooking and serving. This led to her becoming a trained professional chef. One never knows how sharing something simple, like a hobby or interest, can plant the seeds that inspire someone to blossom. We hear this all the time from our adult Littles. “My Big taught me how to make a picnic table” turned a Little into a carpenter. “My Big taught me how to start a lawn mowing service in my neighborhood” turned a Little into the owner of a property management company. We are often reminded of our mentors as we go through our everyday lives, putting to use what we learned from them.
This year’s Federated Challenge raised a record-breaking $3.8 million for the MN BBBS programs and the national BBBS office. We couldn’t be more grateful for Jeff Fetters, Federated Insurance Chairman and Event Chair, Julie Rethemeier, vice president – director of Public Affairs and Advertising at Federated Insurance and Master of Ceremonies, and the team at Federated, for making this a truly incredible event and partnership. This dedication to funding our agency has allowed us to imagine the possibilities of serving more kids, providing up to $50,000 in scholarships to our Littles and High School Bigs, and expanding our service areas.
Until next time, “Bloom where you are planted.”
|
|
Jackie S. Johnson
Executive Director
|
|
MEET FATMA & HOLLY!
Fatma and Holly have only been matched in our Dr. Potter Bigs on Campus program for five months, but have are already a standout match! They are always so excited to see each other when they are reunited on campus!
The duo loves to go bowling and play foosball together in the Atwood Underground, but their favorite activity of all was going ice skating! Fatma also enjoys the freedom to hang around campus and experience college life and just chat with Holly.
Fatma and Holly are already excited and helping us plan next year's events to make Bigs on Campus the best it can be! We can't wait to see where their friendship takes them next!
|
|
Merary Rangel and Anasya are!
|
|
A HOT NIGHT AT THE ROX GAME
Bigs and Littles braved the July heat and enjoyed an evening at Joe Faber Field to watch the St. Cloud Rox, who are at the top of the Northwood League standings in 2022.
Thanks to the generosity of Rita Rengel, Bigs and Littles were able to watch the game from the Your Home Improvement Company First Base Lodge. Not only are the seats directly above the Rox dugout, but everyone was able to beat the heat with an unlimited supply of soft drinks and a buffet of traditional ballpark foods.
Special thanks to Rita, who makes it possible every year for our matches to attend a game!
|
|
FOLEY FUN IN THE PARK
Summer fun was had by all at the Foley Fun in the Park match activity. It was a perfect summer weather – minus a little wind – for some summer outdoor fun.
Matches – and their families! – made good use of the playground equipment, played kickball and beanbags and took part in a water relay race.
|
|
HIKING AT QUARRY PARK
Several of the Sports Buddies matches conquered Quarry Park in July. The group survived the swarms of mosquitoes (thanks to the match that thought ahead and brought bug spray!) and took advantage of a gorgeous day to explore Quarry Park.
Not only did the matches find some cool birds and a lot of bugs and frogs, they also saw a baby deer, and everyone enjoyed some time in the great outdoors.
|
|
PIERZ FUN IN THE PARK
Matches in Pierz got together to enjoy a more comfortable evening temperature-wise and spend some time together at the Pierz Picnic as summer winds down.
Matches were able to connect and get to know each other while playing on the park equipment, checking to see what kind of fish were in the water and playing bean bags. Everyone had a great time enjoying each other’s company.
|
|
CHEERING THE ROX TO VICTORY
After one group survived the heat at the Rox game, another group of Sports Buddies and community-based matches enjoyed a fall-like evening to take in a ballgame to wrap up the month of July.
The group got to watch the Rox beat the Waterloo Bucks and enjoy spending a great night together. Thanks to the St. Cloud Rox for the tickets and giving our matches the opportunity to spend time together while enjoying America’s pastime – baseball!
|
|
Sports Buddies matches enjoyed a cool July evening and a Rox win! |
|
BBBS BOARD ANNOUNCES CHANGES
As the new year officially begins for Big Brothers Big Sisters, two new faces were introduced to the Board of Directors, which was named the 2021 Board of the Year at the BBBSA National Conference in June.
Daine Billmark and Chris Owen officially joined the board – which was recognized for its engagement, governance, oversite and growth – in July. Billmark works at DAYTA Marketing and Owens joins the BBBS board from Deerwood Bank.
|
|
Daine Billmark - DAYTA Marketing |
|
Chris Owen - Deerwood Bank |
|
The addition of Billmark and Owen come as both Kevin Fitzpatrick and Jeff Gannon completed their terms and wrapped up their time with the organization in June. Fitzpatrick and Gannon were part of the leadership that guided the Central Minnesota chapter through the COVID19 pandemic and helped the organization remain strong through virtual events and limited in-person meetings. |
|
Kevin Fitzpatrick - Sentry Bank |
|
Jeff Gannon - Miller Welle Heiser |
|
“We are so grateful for our award-winning Board that continues to be our agency's North Star,” Executive Director Jackie Johnson said. “We are so grateful to both Kevin and Jeff for leading us through challenging times, offering their expertise as well as their support.
Daine Billmark and Chris Owen - our newest board members –are no stranger to our agency, and both have demonstrated long-term commitment to mentoring kids. We are also grateful to our Board members Patty Funk, Courtney Kunkel and Rick Roehl, for renewing their terms. We are confident that this Board will continue to lead and challenge us to serve more kids, and serve them better.”
|
|
THANK YOU, FEDERATED INSURANCE!
This month’s Partner Spotlight goes to Federated Insurance. Each year, Federated Insurance- led by Chairman and Event Chair Jeff Fetters – hosts the two-day Federated Challenge, which includes a gala and golf event. Thanks to Federated Insurance’s generosity, 100 percent of the money raised through the Challenge goes Directly to the three Big Brothers Big Sisters chapters in the state as the company offsets all expenses.
The 2022 event, held the last week of July, raised a record-breaking $3.8 million for BBBS. Eighty-three businesses from Minnesota and beyond – including 24 first-time sponsors – and more than 600 people attended the gala. Their generous support directly benefits not only youth mentoring in Minnesota, but also the Federated Challenge Scholarship Program, which provides qualified Littles or high school Bigs enrolled in a non-four-year program up to $5,000 per year to help them earn job-ready training degrees with little to no debt
“Those served by Big Brothers Big Sisters undoubtedly face challenges,” Fetters said. “You, Federated Challenge family, create opportunities for them they could never imagine were possible.”
We are grateful to all our Community Partners. Check out this list and the next time you are at that business or organization, please thank them for standing with kids!
If you are interested in serving on an event or sponsorship committee or have questions about it contact Emily Steinmetz at 320-258-4515 or [email protected]
The Federated Challenge® two-day gala and golf event is hosted by Jeff Fetters, Chairman of Federated Insurance. Jeff is a past member of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America® Board of Directors. Federated Insurance offsets expenses so 100 percent of the money raised through the Federated Challenge goes directly to Big Brothers Big Sisters. A portion of the proceeds goes to the Federated Challenge Scholarship Program.
|
|
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota Executive Director Jackie Johnson; Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Minnesota Executive Director Michelle Redman; Big Brothers Big Sisters Twin Cities CEO Patrick Sukhum; Federated Challenge Chair Jeff Fetters; Big Brothers Big Sisters of America President and CEO, Artis Stevens; Federated Challenge Co-Host and former Little, Sky; and Federated Challenge Co-Host and Little, Tayton proudly display a check for $3,876,000 raised during the 2022 Federated Challenge. |
|
Are you a current Big? Do you stand with youth? Let everyone know! Go to your Facebook profile and click to change your profile pic. Then click on frames, search BBBS of Central MN and add it to your profile pic! |
|
|
Khaldoun Ahmad, Daine Billmark, Jenna Binsfeld, Peggy Brown (DEI Officer), Debbie Clausen,
Patty Funk (Secretary), Isaih Handy, Lee Hurd, Courtney Kunkel (Treasurer), Bill Martin-Chaffee,
Lori Mohs, Emmanuel Oppong, Chris Owen, Curran Poganski, Marie Primus, Luke Riordan,
Rick Roehl (Vice Pres.), Alex Schoephoerster (President), Christie Schulte, and Vicky Welty (Past Pres.).
|
|
Barb Anderson, Mimi Bitzan, Mark Coborn, Joe Francis, Brad Goskowicz, Keith Julson,
Shelly Bauerly Kopel, Gary Marsden, Vince Mohs, Karla Myres, Steve Sauer, Kurt Scepaniak,
Chris Schellinger, Joyce Schlough, John Schnettler, Rob Schumann, Peter Spaniol, Eric Stalboerger, Perian Stavrum, Mark Traut, Joan Vincent, Don Watkins, Sue Wendt and Mike Ziemann
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
