2024 BIG AUCTION STARTS SOON!
The 2024 Big Auction is almost here! The online auction runs April 12-19 and features items from local vendors, handmade gift baskets and items, and gift certificates for experiences and locations around Minnesota. Register now to bid on these items - the site is live so you can see all the awesome items up for grabs! New this year are a week in the Boundary Waters, a special bottle of Pappy Van Winkel, a Rainbow Play System, and more! Thank you to Granite Partners and Marco for sponsoring the 2024 Auction!
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April 2024
Hello Friend!
On March 27, we were witness to the generosity and spirit that makes St. Cloud such a rich community. Earlier that month, we received a call from Mary Krippner with United Way asking if we had six Littles who could use a new mattress. Callan Furniture had reached out to her to help distribute their generous donations to our community. Callans has been known for their unwavering commitment to giving back to the community that has supported them.
After reaching out to our families, we soon had a list of 25 twin mattresses needed. We circled back to Mary and told her that we exceeded the original amount four times over. Mary re-connected with Callans, which committed to mattresses for all 25 requests - and even added three extra mattresses to our total, which we also quickly found homes for.
With that many mattresses being delivered, we needed volunteers to help load mattresses into vehicles, and we needed to connect with volunteers to deliver the mattresses. Ann, our Program Director, heard a “YES” from every person she asked to help, Bethlehem Lutheran Church provided beautiful quilts, and The Networking Team donated sheet sets for everyone.
On the morning of March 27, the Youth for Christ gym was full of people who had come to help. Callan Furniture sent over a team to deliver the mattresses and help us unload them into the gym. Deerwood Bank sent a group over to help unload, including our good friend Mike Markman, who also offered his services if more deliveries were needed. Over the course of the day, another handful of people filtered in and out to help load mattresses, secure them in cars, and make sure they would safely get to their new homes.
We heard so many comments that day that reinforced not only why this support of kids and families is so important, but also that St. Cloud is a giving community full of people who want to make a difference.
Pat Callan, owner of Callan Furniture, talked about his company’s focus on helping kids, and he voiced his appreciation of the combination of businesses working together with the social sector to meet the needs of our community. The parents picking up the mattresses were grateful and excited. A mattress seems like a basic necessity to most, but to some a new mattress - or a mattress of their own – is a special gift; a momentous occasion.
“My boys will be sleeping comfortable again,” one parent wrote. “This means so much to me and my kids. My kids really appreciate it so much,” another said. Perhaps the most excited note came from one of the kids who stopped by to help pick up their new mattress. “Yay! Thank you! No more lumpy bed handed down from my older brother. You’re the BEST,” they wrote. As the youngest of 12, I could relate to that comment!
As the day ended and the last mattress found its home, there was a sense of profound satisfaction in the air. For Callan Furniture and all those involved, it was not just about giving away mattresses – it was about giving hope, dignity, and a sense of belonging for our kids. They can rest easier knowing they belong in our community.
And as the stars twinkled overhead, casting their gentle glow, one thing was clear: dreams were being delivered, one mattress at a time, thanks to the kindness and generosity of Callan Furniture and the selfless volunteers who made it all possible.
Thank you to Pat and Tina Callan and Callan Furniture, United Way, our team and local heroes: Rick & Aleen Roehl, Eric Stalboerger, and from Deerwood Bank, Gabe Albachten, Ben Hanowski and Mike Markman.
Jackie
As you know, our Littles are not required to fundraise or pay to be a part of our mentoring program. Please consider purchasing raffle tickets or participating in our online auction, which runs April 12-19 (but you can check out all the items and register now!). Thanks to all the generous donors buying raffle tickets and making this auction AMAZING!
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Our village unloading mattresses on March 27: Pat Callan and Callan Furniture employees; Mary Krippner of the United Way; Mike Markman and two Deerwood Bank employees, Eric from Youth for Christ, and BBBS staff. |
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Jackie S. Johnson
Executive Director
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MEET DANI AND AALIYAH!
When she looks back at her younger self, Aaliyah didn’t even realize she needed help when her mom, Malynda, signed her up to be a part of Big Brothers Big Sisters. Now, she can’t imagine life without her Big Sister.
Aaliyah had a great relationship with her mom, and she was very smart, but something was missing. Malynda worried because she worked long hours to keep the family going.
When Aaliyah was nine years old, she and Dani Lovejoy were matched through Big Brothers Big Sisters, and over the past seven years, the relationship has become so much more than just a match for both Aaliyah and Dani.
While Aaliyah needed an extra support system to help her work through troubles at school or with friends, Dani had just graduated college and moved to St. Cloud, and was looking for a meaningful relationship – a relationship that made a difference in someone’s life – so she signed up to be a Big Sister.
They were excited to get paired up because they both enjoyed reading, crafts, sports, and being outside. Early in their match, they would go to the park together to read Harry Potter, or do crafts together. After being matched for two years, Aaliyah and her family moved from the St. Cloud area to Watkins. Around that same time Dani moved to the Alexandria area, and later took a job near the Twin Cities – but the pair made sure to stay connected. Aaliyah struggled adjusting to her new school early on, but Dani reminded her to control what she can and let the rest go – and Aaliyah was able to push through and not let anyone get in the way of achieving her goals.
One of those goals has always been maintaining good grades, and those grades are currently propelling Aaliyah into a future career that both Malynda and Dani are so proud of. Before she had Aaliyah and her siblings, Malynda was in school to become a nurse. When Dani and Aaliyah first met, Dani was an RN at the ICU in St. Cloud, and Malynda was thrilled – not only because she and Dani shared a career path, but that Dani was a young, successful professional – someone Aaliyah could look up to.
Over the course of their seven-year match, Dani has helped Aaliyah decide on a career path – and then helped her in the right direction to get that career off to a solid start. She pushed Aaliyah to take PSEO classes, and helps Aaliyah decide what the best next steps would be for her to pursue a career as a Pediatric Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE). When Aaliyah first found out Dani was a nurse she became a role model. Now, as Aaliyah is immersing herself more into the healthcare field, she sees Dani as a hero.
When she’s not focusing on her studies, Aaliyah is very involved at school. After playing on the C-squad volleyball team as a freshman, Aaliyah decided she wanted to play football. Dani was nervous, but encouraged Aaliyah to pursue her passions and do what she thought was right. She’s now a consistent player on the school’s B-squad and dressed varsity several times – including the state championship game at U.S. Bank Stadium.
From reading and crafting to car rides and coffee runs, football games and weddings to texts and phone calls, Dani has built an incredible bond with Aaliyah – one they both are extremely grateful for.
“I don’t know where I would be without my Dani,” Aaliyah sad. “She is truly the best Big Sister I could have ever asked for and a best friend, all built into one. I cannot believe seven years have already gone by, but time flies when you’re spending it with the right people.
“I talk about Dani every chance that I get. She truly is my best friend, and holds a very special place in my heart.”
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MEET BRUCE AND KEAGAN!
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines serendipity as the phenomenon of finding valuable or agreeable things not sought for. Bruce Latterell defines serendipity as Big Brothers Big Sisters.
For nearly six years, Bruce has been matched with Keagan, and their relationship is one that neither Bruce or Keagan realized they needed in their lives.
Keagan’s mom, Katie, signed him up for Big Brothers Big Sisters when he was nine years old, and she had one request for Bruce when they were first introduced: consistency. Katie wanted someone in Keagan’s life not only for the male influence, but also to be a rock, and a consistent figure.
Bruce quickly became that consistent figure. Keagan was nervous and didn’t want to talk in the initial match meeting, but everyone agreed they were still a great fit. Keagan was still nervous the first few times he and Bruce hung out, but he slowly came out of his shell. The duo started meeting weekly – Monday is still their standing day to get together. Every week for almost six years, Bruce has shown up at Keagan’s house, and every time he learns more and more about his Little Brother.
Several years after they were matched, Keagan lost several family members in a short period of time, but Bruce never missed a Monday hangout, and showed up at the family’s door at 4 p.m. each week. Katie credits Bruce with helping to keep Keagan going by keeping him active and giving her son someone else to talk to; another adult in his life that he learned to trust.
Keagan is a very social, outgoing kid, and with Bruce’s help he found ways to channel that social energy for good. He received a book about tying balloon animals one year, and would tie animals for customers whenever he and Bruce went to the local Subway. That summer, Bruce signed Keagan up to tie balloons at Foley’s summer in the park events. At the party, Keagan soon had a line of kids waiting for his animals, Bruce had to recruit two adults at the party to help blow up the balloons, and Keagan tied 400 animals until his fingers gave out.
To keep Keagan busy and give him an outlet for extra energy, Bruce introduced him to the great outdoors. They enjoy biking, hiking and skiing, and in the winter when Keagan was little they went sledding – Bruce estimates the pair has sledded down every hill in the St. Cloud area. As Keagan grew up, Bruce taught him how to cross country ski and snowshoe.
As Bruce has introduced Keagan to more activities and shown him how to do various projects around the house, Keagan has taken an interest in how things work. He recently told his mom that he’s interested in going to college to be a mechanic – something he’d never brought up before. Katie attributes this newfound interest in college and building a plan for his future to Keagan’s time with Bruce.
Katie isn’t the only one who’s noticed how Bruce’s guidance has shaped Keagan. While Bruce is in awe of Keagan’s social skills and his ability to strike up a conversation with anyone, and his willingness to try new things and pick up new hobbies, Keagan credits Bruce with helping him grow all of those skills.
“If I never had a Big, I would be very different,” Keagan said. “Bruce has helped me develop social skills and more ways of understanding people, which I’ve been using every day whenever I talk to someone. He helped me widen my understanding of the world and what’s going on around me at all times.
“I strongly recommend everyone try enrolling in Big Brothers Big Sisters at least once, and who knows: it might change their life like it did mine.”
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Delaney Griffin and Gia are!
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THANK YOU, COBORN'S!
This month’s Partner Spotlight goes to Coborn's! Coborn's is once again donating the 'Mystery Bottles' of wine to the 2024 Big Auction. Each bottle is $20, but you won't know until you pick it up what you're getting! It might be a vintage red, it might be a $25 white - you never know what you might get! This year Coborn's also donated a wine fridge that would be the perfect addition to a bar area, man cave, or she-shed to keep your favorite wines just the right temperature! Thank you, Coborn's, for your continued support of local kids! The 2024 Big Auction is online April 12-19 - be sure to register early here!
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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PRE-SNOWSTORM MARCH MADNESS
Matches had the chance to hit the gym and run off some energy before the snowstorm hit at the end of the month. The group was a mix of Sports Buddies and school-based matches, and everyone had a great time shooting hoops, hanging out, and spending some time together before the late-spring snowstorm shut everything down for a few days!
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THE ART OF SCREEN PRINTING
Matches had the opportunity to try their hand at manual screen printing thanks to our friends at Krillan! The group got a tour of Krillan's space, then everyone got to print their own Kelly Green BBBS T-shirt! Using the manual screen printing machine was a lot more work than most everyone was expecting! Thanks to Krillan for hosting and showing off how all of the awesome T-shirts our agency gets are made!
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PICKLEBALL LESSONS WITH NORTHERN PADDLES
For the second year in a row, our matches had the chance to learn about one of the fastest growing sports in the country from the Northern Paddles Pickleball Club! Kurt Lemke and other volunteers from the club met with matches and used games and drills to share some of the basics of pickleball, and matches had the opportunity to compete against one another. This event filled up quickly, and matches wanted to stay and play even after the event ended, so it's safe to say there's some new pickleball fans in Central Minnesota!
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MONEY SMARTS
Our St. Cloud State Bigs on Campus matches got to learn about banking and fiscal responsibility thanks to BBBS board member Chris Owen and Deerwood Bank. Chris and his colleagues spoke about being a banker, budgeting, spending habits, and money goals. Thanks to Chris and Deerwood Bank for taking the time to come and speak with our matches!
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ADVENTURES AT BLACKLIGHT
Sports Buddies matches got to spend some time at Blacklight Adventures in March and tried their hand at laser tag! Everyone had a blast running around and dodging the lasers, and they especially enjoyed a quick trip into the laser maze while they waited for their pizza to come out! Thanks to Scheels for sponsoring our Sports Buddies initiative!
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RAFFLE TICKETS FOR SALE
It's raffle time again in Central Minnesota! Tickets for the 2024 Big Raffle are on sale now through any BBBS employee or at the agency's office in St. Cloud. Tickets are $10 each and there are 10 cash prizes - including a $1,000 grand prize! The raffle drawing will be held at 5 p.m. Friday, April 12 - winners need not be present to win. Email BBBS, call the main office line at 320-253-1616, or stop by the office at 203 Cooper Ave. N, Suite 162, to purchase your tickets today! A BIG thank you to Advantage 1 Insurance for sponsoring the 2024 Big Raffle! Tickets can be purchased at the agency's offices in St. Cloud, Albany, Melrose, Pierz, Holdingford, and Sauk Centre.
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DOUGH FOR DOLLARS COMING SOON
This month, stop by Backwards Bread in St. Cloud to get a delicious loaf of bread and help local kids! From April 22-27, Backwards Bread is hosting its annual Dough for Dollars campaign, and this year BBBS is the featured nonprofit. That week, seven percent of funds raised from ever loaf of bread sold comes back to BBBS to support kids! Thank you, Backwards Bread Co., for choosing BBBS and for your support of local kids! Click here to learn more about Backwards Bread.
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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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