Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay Partners with Honey Dew Donuts® to Raise Funds for National Mentoring Month
Honey Dew will offer free donuts for every donation made the week of January 21

BOSTON – (January 21, 2019) – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay, one of the nation’s leading one-to-one youth mentoring programs and the largest Big Brothers Big Sisters affiliate in New England, today announced Honey Dew Donuts® will raise money on behalf of the organization by offering free donuts for every donation made at their shops from January 21-27. The week-long event is in recognition of National Mentoring Month, which takes place in January each year and promotes youth mentoring in the United States.

This promotion is part of a multi-year partnership between Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay and Honey Dew Donuts that was first announced in June 2018. During the week of January 21, Honey Dew shops across New England will be accepting donations of $1 or more, and in return, customers will receive a free donut coupon for a future visit. All money raised will go directly to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay mentoring programs, which provide tools that are essential for fostering healthy, sustainable and happy mentoring relationships between adults and youth enrolled. The organization offers a variety of innovative programs that make it easier for individuals to get involved and make an impact. From its technology-enriched Mentor 2.0 program that focuses on helping high school students form post-secondary education plans to a partnership with Uber that allows mentors to reach youth in areas hard to reach by public transit, the agency works to find every opportunity to provide children with safe, responsible mentors.

Research confirms that quality mentoring relationships through programs like these have powerful positive effects on young people in a variety of personal, academic and professional situations, and funds raised by Honey Dew will also be used to provide Bigs the opportunity to take their Little to sports games, museums, cultural events and more – giving Littles the chance to experience aspects of their community they would otherwise not have the opportunity to. This support is especially appreciated as Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay expands to serve more children, having added the New Bedford region to the areas in which it serves in 2018. The organization also served 3,629 youth in total and paired 1,177 new children with a mentor in 2018, a 19 percent increase from fiscal year 2017.

“Partnerships with businesses, foundations and organizations like Honey Dew are fundamental to supporting the children we serve and we are grateful to our corporate partners, who are instrumental in enabling us to continue positively impacting children’s lives,” said Wendy Foster, president of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay. “National Mentoring Month is an excellent opportunity to raise awareness for the power of mentors in helping ignite, defend and empower the potential of children across Eastern Massachusetts, especially because there are still more than 1,500 children in Eastern Massachusetts waiting to be matched with a mentor. Receiving this level of support plays a critical role in helping the agency encourage more volunteers to give those children the mentors they deserve.”

“Our goal for this week is to raise as much money and awareness for our partner Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay. We are committed to helping spread the word for this program as it continues to be one of the most impactful ways to positively influence a child’s life. A free donut is our way to say thanks for ‘dew’-ing good,’” said Richard Bowen, President of Honey Dew Associates, Inc.

To learn more about Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay and how to get involved, please visit: www.bbbsmb.org/volunteer.

About Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay is an innovative, energetic organization that is making a real difference in the lives of more than 3,200 youth annually by providing them with an invested, caring adult mentor. With research and proven outcomes at its core, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay is working to defend the potential of children facing adversity and ensure every child has the support from caring adults that they need for healthy development and success in life. The organization’s vision is to inspire, engage and transform communities in Massachusetts Bay by helping youth achieve their full potential, contributing to healthier families, better schools, more confident futures and stronger communities. For more information about this worthwhile cause and its important mission, visit www.massbaybigs.org.

About Honey Dew Donuts®
Founded in 1973 by Richard Bowen, Honey Dew Donuts® is one of New England’s largest locally owned coffee and donut franchises, with over 130 locations in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire. For more information, visit www.honeydewdonuts.com. Honey Dew Donuts® is a registered trade name of Honey Dew Associates, Inc. Stay in touch by becoming a fan of Honey Dew Donuts® on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram.