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!

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.

Llama Llama Read-a-Rama - The United Way of Central Minnesota is hosting Llama Lllama Read-a-Rama: Proud to Be Me! From 5-7 p.m. on April 25, join the United Way for story time, arts and crafts, a healthy snack, meeting a real llama, and more! Click here for more info.

YMCA Healthy Kids Day - On Saturday, April 29, head to the St. Cloud Area YMCA for a kickoff to a happy, healthy summer! From 10 a.m.-1 p.m., this free event features a bounce house, door prizes, goodie bags and various stations like face painting, fire truck tours, archery, crafts and more! No registration required. Click here for more info.

Free Park Day - Excited to get outside? Mark your calendar for Saturday, April 22, as it is Free Park Day! That day, all 75 Minnesota state parks and state recreation areas offer free admission to everyone. Explore a new park or visit your favorite park! Click here for more info.

Better Together: A Day of Wellness - Join the Bounce Back Project for an afternoon of family fun. On April 30 from 2-4 p.m., head to the Monticello Memorial Stadium for a free event featuring make and take stations, community resources, food trucks and a special performance from Koo Koo Kanga Roo! Follow the Bounce Back Project on Facebook to stay up to date on the event.

QueerConnect Monthly Meetups - QueerConnect Youth events are designed to help connect people in the LGBTQIA+ community. On the third Monday of every month, local middle and high school students are welcome at the QueerConnect Monthly Meetup. The meetup takes place from 5-8 p.m. at the St. Cloud COP House at 600 13th St. S. Follow St. Cloud Pride on Facebook or check out the website for more info.

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.

On Saturday, May 13, head to Evelie Blu in St. Cloud to shop the boutique, check out products from local makers, and support BBBS of Central Minnesota! That day, 15 percent of all sales will be donated to BBBS. There will also be donation jars at the register, or you can click here to donate to Evelie Blu's BBBS Fundraiser! From 10 a.m.-1 p.m. that day, Megan of Certainly Wildflowers Permanent Jewelry will be in the shop to design your own keepsake, and there will be refreshments. Thanks to Evelie Blu for supporting BBBS!

Support local youth by taking part in the 2023 Big Auction & Raffle! Raffle tickets are on sale now by emailing the office or calling 320-253-1616. Tickets are $10 each, and the winners will be drawn Friday, April 28. The online auction runs April 28-May 5. Register now or check to see if you're already registered at the 2023 Big Auction website. Items will be available for preview on Friday, April 14. All proceeds stay right here in Central Minnesota!

The newest Bigs on Campus initiative at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University has a handful of matches made since it started in January, but there are more Littles waiting! Faculty, staff, alumni and business professionals from CSB+SJU are paired with students from Kennedy Community School, and several Kennedy students still need a Big! If you or anyone you know would be interested in being a Big for the CSB+SJU Bigs on Campus initiative, email Emmitt Edwards for more information!

AmazonSmile is sunsetting at the end of the month, but we have a new and easy way for you to support local youth. When you sign up today to donate on the BBBS of Central Minnesota website, you can choose to 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!

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.

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.

The St. Cloud Parks & Recreation Department is having a job fair on Saturday, May 13. From 9-11 a.m. that day, stop by Whitney Recreation Center with copies of your resume in hand - and be ready for on-the-spot interviews! Job opportunities range from aquatics coordinator to concessions, gardener to lifeguard and more. Applicants must be 15 or older to apply - check out the full list of jobs and qualifications necessary here.

If you've ever thought about a career in welding or as a truck driver, Career Solutions and SCTCC has opportunity to learn more about both. CDL Discovery Day is May 10 from 1-4 p.m. at SCTCC. Connect with local trucking employers, learn about CDL requirements and climb in the driver's seat. Contact angela.schmitz@csjobs.org to register today. There is also a Welding Discovery Day from 4-7 p.m. on May 17 at SCTCC. Connect with local welding employers and test out tools and equipment. Email tom.hickey@csjobs.org to register.

If you're interested in a career in either imaging, check out the CentraCare open house. From 5-7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 10, get a free tour of the Radiology department and learn more about the diverse field at the CentraCare Plaza in the Windfeldt Room. (Masks are required at CentraCare.) Please call 320-251-2700, ext. 71269 for more information.

If you've got big goals and you're looking for the right job to achieve them, consider joining Career Solutions' Job Club. Job Club meets every Thursday from 10:30 a.m.-Noon and is open to anyone who is job searching. Job seekers must register to attend. Please click here for more information or to register.

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.

CareerOne is offering two free summer camps in Central Minnesota for youth looking to earn money while developing job skills. The St. Cloud Area camp runs June 20-July 20 from 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. on set days. Youth ages 14-17 in the St. Cloud area are welcome to apply. The Paynesville/Sauk Centre/Melrose camp runs July 24-Aug. 4 from 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, and is open to youth ages 14-17 in those areas. At both camps youth can earn a stipend while performing community work projects and earning certificates. Breakfast, lunch and a snack are provided each day along with work shirts and there is free transportation to/from work sites. Apply here or email info@csjobs.org for more information or a paper application.

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.