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!

The application for scholarships for Fall 2023 semester is now open. Thanks to the generosity of the Federated Challenge, BBBS of Central Minnesota is offering a scholarship for up to $5,000 for students to attend a non-four year education that focuses on obtaining an apprenticeship, certificate or associate’s degree. The deadline to apply is Monday, April 10.  Please click here eligibility requirements and application details.

Interested students may fill out the online application individually, but are encouraged to contact Ann Matvick, Program Director, at Ann@BigDefenders.org or 320-258-4517 for assistance with filling out the application and with any questions.

BriAnna's family honors her memory by awarding a current/past Little Brother/Sister or High School Big Brother/Sister with a $500 scholarship to a college of their choice. The deadline to apply for a scholarship for Fall 2023 is Saturday, April 1, 2023. Please click here for eligibility requirements and application details.

If you have any questions please contact Ann Matvick at 320-258-4517 or Ann@BigDefenders.org.

The Taco Bell Live Mas Scholarship is now open to students ages 16-26. Students must be on track to apply for or enrolled in an accredited post-high school/post secondary educational program, including two- and four-year colleges, universities and trade schools. Instead of a traditional application, interested students must submit a video explaining their passion and how they plan to use that passion to make a positive change in their community. The deadline to enter is Jan. 11, 2023. Click here for more information or to apply.

Each year, the Project S.A.V.E. Charity Foundation awards 16 college scholarships of $1,000 each to senior high school students. Students are asked to pick one of the following categories to apply: Sports, Arts, Volunteerism, or Education. Project S.A.V.E. has also partnered with Central MN Auto Care Association to provide five additional $1,000 scholarships for high school snioers looking to take automotive-related courses at an area tech school following graduation. Applicants must live in Central Minnesota, have applied to a four-year accredited college/university or a two-year tech school, and meet all academic requirements to graduate by June 2023. Applications are due by April 14, 2023. Click here for more information or to apply.

Jim's Team 4 Diabetes Foundation - located in Blaine - offers college scholarships for up to $1,000 for students with Type 1 Diabetes. Applicants must be a current high school senior that will graduate in 2023. Undergraduate students enrolled at a four-year accredited college or university or two-year tech school are also eligible to apply for a scholarship to help with diabetic supplies, room and board, or books. The application includes a letter from a physician or CDE certifying the diagnosis and an essay describing the impact Type 1 Diabetes has had on the student's life. Applications are due May 15, 2023, for high school seniors, May 1 for college students enrolled in summer classes in 2023 and Aug. 1 for college students enrolled in classes for Fall 2023. Click here for more information or to apply.

2023 Optimist Essay Contest - The 2023 Optimist Essay Contest is now open! The contest is open to students under the age of 19 who have not completed high school. This year's topic is: Who is an everyday hero that brings out the optimism in you? First place receives $500, second $250 and third $150. The local winner is entered into an area essay contest where the first-place prize is a $2,500 scholarship. The local contest entry deadline is Feb. 8, 2023, and winners will be announced Feb. 17. All completed essays should be sent to Aimee Minnerath. Mail paper copies to: Boys & Girls Club of Central MN, Attn: Aimee Minnerath 345 30th Ave N. St. Cloud, MN 56303.

YMCA School Day Out Camp - School will soon be out for winter break, but there's still plenty to do at the St. Cloud Area YMCA! The Y is hosting School Day Out Camps on Jan. 2 and 3 for kids ages 5-13. Kids can swim, climb the rock wall, do arts and crafts, play games and more! The camp runs 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day and costs $35 per child. Registration one week before the camp is preferred. Click here for more information.

2023 Winter Chill - Enjoy free winter fun at Riverside Park! From 1-4 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 21, enjoy sledding, Nordic skiing, arts and crafts, snow painting, refreshments and more! There will also be door prizes. Bring your own winter gear - snowshoes and skills will be available for use while supplies last. No registration required, but more details are available here.

Country Lights Festival Starts Dec. 1! - The Country Lights Festival at St. Francis Park in Sartell runs through Dec. 31. Lights are on from dusk until dawn every day of the week. There are fireworks on Dec. 31. Click here for more information.

Language Immersion Info Nights - Are you interested in your soon-to-be kindergartner learning a second language? St. Cloud Area School District is hosting a trio of language immersion info nights. Chinese immersion is at 4 and 5 p.m. on Jan. 12 at Madison Elementary and Spanish Dual Immersion is at 5 p.m. on Jan. 19 at Westwood and 5 and 5:40 p.m. on Jan. 23 at Clearview. Click here for more information.

Sons of Norway Bernelopet - The 15th annual Sons of Norway Children's Ski Event will be held Saturday, Jan. 22, 2023. Registration starts at 11:30 a.m. and the race is at 1 p.m. in Riverside Park in St. Cloud. This is a free event open to children ages 3-13. There will be hot chocolate and cookies, and limited free ski equipment is available if needed. Click here for more information.

Sledding/Skiing/Showshoeing Sundays - The shelter at Riverside Park in St. Cloud is available for public use on Jan. 8, 15 and 29, 2023. A limited supply of snowshoes are available for checkout during this time. Click here for more information.

Check out a Binge Box - Looking for something fun to do during the cold, snowy winter days? Check out a Binge Box from the St. Cloud library! Each box contains a handful of movies of all genres, and the checkout period is seven days. Click here for more information.

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.

BBBS of Central Minnesota recently secured a second location for its Dr. Potter Bigs on Campus Mentoring Initiative. Starting in January, students from Kennedy Community School in St. Joseph will be matched with faculty, staff, alumni and business professionals at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University. Matches meet twice a month for an hour at a time and will tour both campuses, do group activities and have time for one-to-one mentoring. If you or anyone you know would be interested in being a Big for the CSB/SJU Bigs on Campus program, email Emmitt Edwards for more information!

January is National Mentor Month, and all month long BBBS of Central Minnesota will be thanking current mentors and recruiting new Bigs into the program! Stay tuned on social media as we introduce and thank one current Big each day. If you're interested in becoming a Big, now is a great time to join! As part of Mentor Month, BBBS of Central MN is kicking off its 2023 Reasons to Be Big campaign, and we're looking to secure 100 new inquiries by Feb. 15! Check out our website to learn about all the ways you can Be Big in 2023, or email recruiter Emmitt Edwards for more info!

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 initiative 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!

Are you a Thrivent member with a Thrivent Action Team, or do you know someone who is? 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 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!

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/resources

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

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.