In case you missed it… from BBBSCCI!
Dear Supporters,
I’m pleased to share the first quarterly newsletter with you. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cape Cod & the Islands has had a busy fiscal year so far, matching more than 65 new children with caring adults in our community across the Cape & Martha’s Vineyard. We’ve established new partnerships, and continue to grow as an agency to serve more kids throughout our region. Currently serving over 300 kids, we are on track to meet our goals for June and couldn’t do it without your support. Whether you are a parent, guardian, Big, donor, advocate, or referrer of youth into our program—know that we couldn’t accomplish these amazing things without your support.
Best,
JR Mell
Regional Director
508-771-5150 x101
jrmell@bbbscci.org
1. “Waiting Little of the Month” a Success!
In December we launched a campaign to help match some of our boys who have waited longer than usual for a Big Brother. Our first Waiting Little of the Month, Sean, was thrilled to meet his Big Brother in January! Because Sean’s mom wanted to help us match him and share his story, we were able to sign up several other Big Brothers who responded to the need in the area. Sean and his Big Brother Josh will have their first outing soon where they plan to take a tour of the Barnstable Police Station where Josh works as a Patrolman. Learn about our latest Waiting Little of the Month here!
2. BBBSCCI’s Big Council Hosts first Celebration of Mentoring Night at Cape Cod Beer
The recently formed Big Council, a group of Bigs who want to help further BBBS mission, hosted the first Celebration of Mentoring night at Cape Cod Beer on January 26th in honor of National Mentoring Month. Over 100 Bigs, supporters, and community members attended this fun filled event with raffle prizes, food, music and lawn games. Congratulations to our Grand Prize Raffle Winner Mary Marsters who won the Red Sox tickets and a stay at the Hotel Commonwealth. A special thank you to all the council members who helped raise almost $1200 in support of BBBSCCI and raised awareness about mentoring on the Cape & Islands. Because of their hard work 10 more volunteers signed up that night to become a Big with us! Big Council Members pictured with Beth Marcus, owner of Cape Cod Beer.
3. BBBSCCI First in State to Launch Bigs in Blue
Through a partnership with the Barnstable Police Department, BBBSCCI was the first BBBS agency in Massachusetts to launch the Bigs in Blue initiative. Bigs in Blue pairs local police officers with youth in either our Site Based Program at Hyannis West Elementary School or in our traditional Community Based Program throughout the Cape. In addition to providing a positive role model to a child, Bigs in Blue helps to improve community relationships between police officers and youth. Big Brother Evan and Little Brother Danny were interviewed by the Cape Cod Times in December at the announcement of this partnership!
4. BBBSCCI Needs Little Sisters!
Do you know a girl between the ages of 7-14 who could benefit from an additional positive role model in her life? With over 80 Big Sisters “waiting” to make a difference we are actively enrolling girls in all towns on the Cape & Martha’s Vineyard. We were thrilled to hear from a mother on Martha’s Vineyard who had enrolled her daughter into our program. Here’s what she had to say:
“My daughter has had her big sister for almost three years. My daughter has come out of her shell in the past three years and has done so many different things that she would never of done if it was not for her big sister. When Emma comes home from her weekly visit she couldn’t have any bigger of a smile on her face. This program is not just a friendship between the big and little it is friendship of our family. Thank you to Emma’s big sister Berta and to the Big Brothers & Big Sisters Of Cape Cod & The Islands for make this friendship happen.”
If you know a girl who could benefit from being in our program, please click here.
5. Little Sister Marta win $20k AKLU Scholarship
We were so excited to receive news of Little Sister Marta’s scholarship announcement through Mass Mentoring Partnership. Marta’s has been matched with her Big Sister Carol for X years in our program. Carol has helped Marta reach her dream of going to college to be a nurse by nominating her for this scholarship. To read the full story of Marta and Carole’s match, and scholarship award click here.
6. Holiday Parties on Martha’s Vineyard & Cape
Both Martha’s Vineyard and Cape Cod hosted their Holiday Parties in December. With over 200 in attendance in was a great time. Matches on the Island met at the Barn Bowl & Bistro for an afternoon of food, bowling and gift bags secured from Advisory Board Members Connie, Stanley, Mary-Jean and Jane.
Cape Cod matches had a great time at the Boys & Girls Club of Cape Cod playing games room activities, decorating cookies, doing arts & crafts projects, playing basketball and helping to navigate each other through the obstacle course in the gym. Special thanks to Dino’s Sports Bar for the donation of pizza at the party! To check out the photos please visit our Facebook page.
How You Can Help
- Join the Golf Committee
Do you have a love of golf, and want to help kids on the Cape & Islands? With long-time Golf for Kids committee Co-Chair, Rick Coville, Jr. stepping down from the committee this year we are going to need help planning this year’s event. For details on the requirements of the event, please get in touch with Melanie Fenstermaker 508-771-5150 x105 or mfenstermaker@bbbscci.org
- Join us for Mentoring After-Hours in Falmouth, Feb. 9th
BBBSCCI & VIPS (Volunteers in Public Schools) are hosting a joint after-hours event at Liam Maguire’s in Falmouth. Learn how a small investment of time spent with a young person can help change the direction that child takes in his or her life. Whether you choose to mentor in a school setting or in a community-based program, you can be a part of something positive. At this informational event, you will have the opportunity to speak to staff members and mentors from both programs! Free appetizers! Raffle! Cash bar.
Bring a friend or colleagues! RSVP here.
- Run for a Cause on the Vineyard!
BBBSCCI is excited to be one of the beneficiaries of the Martha’s Vineyard Marathon & Half Marathon happening this spring! To register or learn more about the event check out the website here.
- Refer Us for an Info Session!
Can you think of a company or group where your friends, family, or neighbors work? We would love to visit them for an info session and no company, or start-up, is too small. Fill out this Company and/or Group Recommendation Form and we’ll take it from there!
Children s safety is our number one priority; throughout the duration of the match, not just the beginning!