Big Brothers Big Sisters has served children in Northwest Arkansas for over 15 years by matching more than 1,000 local youth with dedicated mentors who have made a lasting impact on their lives. Today, the organization will host their annual golf tournament fundraiser at the Fayetteville Country Club as part of its BIG Event for 2009.
This two part fundraising effort began on Saturday, September 26th with “Celebrate the Taste of Provence”, an event featuring hors d’oeuvers, a live and silent auction, and wine tasting at the French farmhouse of Billie and Joe Fred Starr, and culminates with the “Ken Shields Memorial Golf Tournament” at Fayetteville Country Club today, Monday, September 28th. It all adds up to one BIG Event, with all proceeds going to help Big Brothers Big Sisters match area children with caring mentors.
The golf tournament begins at 11:30 with lunch at the Fayetteville Country Club, and golf beginning with a shotgun start at 1:00. Cost is $500 for a foursome team, and $175 for a single golfer.
Big Brothers Big Sisters is the oldest and largest mentoring organization in the country, serving nearly 250,000 youth annually and over 3 million since its inception. The mission of the organization is to help children reach their potential through professionally supported, one-to-one relationships with mentors that have a measurable impact on youth. Through its programs, trained professionals recruit, screen, match and support Big and Little Brothers and Sisters through a network of more than 400 agencies throughout the country.
The local organization is currently seeking adults to serve as “Bigs”, or adult mentors, as individuals, couples, or families. There are two options for participation which include community-based mentoring and site-based mentoring. Community-based mentoring would involve meeting with a child 2-4 times a month for a couple hours each time with the personal flexibility to choose dates and activities. Site-based mentoring entails meeting with a child once a week for about one hour at school or at a community facility to eat lunch, play games, help with home work, etc.
Those who may have a child, or know of a child, who can benefit from a one-to-one mentoring relationship with a caring adult can get the child signed up as a “Little”. Children who qualify for the program are typically between the ages of 6-14, live in Washington or Benton County, lack the involvement of one or both parents, and are capable of and willing to establish a relationship with a “Big”.
For more information about becoming involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters of NWA, please contact the organization at (479) 756-5683 or toll-free at (877) 756-5683. You can also visit their website at www.bbbsnwa.org.
Jason Minton is a guest contributor for the Fayetteville Flyer. Jason lives in Fayetteville, and is involved with several Northwest Arkansas Non-Profit Organizations. For more of Jason’s contributions, visit his author page.
