Bigs of the Year: Don Freer - Big Brother
Our congratulations go out to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta’s Big of the Year finalists: Big Brother – Don Freer and Big Sister – Carla Stocker. The finalists scored extraordinarily high with both their Littles and parents/guardians. Winners were selected by written nominations of parents or guardians, children and their peers as outstanding mentors that are present physically, mentally and spiritually for their Littles. Both Don and Carla demonstrated exceptional mentoring support that includes attending sports events, helping with homework and establishing good study habits. They were instrumental in helping their Littles build self-confidence and develop coping skills to deal with all sorts of challenges in their young lives.
Don’s Little, David’s father passed away about 8 months prior to their match. Additionally, David suffered an accident that almost caused him to lose his left hand. He became less active, gained weight, and was teased at school. Don helped him to get involved in activities and motivated David to get in great physical condition. His sense of humor and self-confidence returned. David also became the highest decorated cadet in the ROTC and lettered in track/pole vaulting.
Don and David have a special handshake every time they meet and say goodbye. He attends important events including his Little’s orchestra concerts and lacrosse games. Don has never missed a birthday since they were matched in 2007. According to his Little’s mom, Paula, Don is considered part of his Little’s family. Paula also notes that Don, “has really instilled an impressive work ethic in David.”
Announcing our new spokesperson, Lawrence Sidbury of the Falcons!
So many wonderful things are happening at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta! We’re settling into our new home in Midtown and we are also very proud to announce Lawrence Sidbury, of the Atlanta Falcons, as our new spokesperson! Lawrence is an NFL defensive end for the Atlanta Falcons and has stepped up to become a spokesperson for Big Brother Big Sisters for 2013. Lawrence has always been a high-achiever. In high school he was an honor roll student. Having personally experienced the positive impact mentoring and coaching can have in a person’s life, he is eager to give back to Atlanta’s youth. It is because of supporters like Lawrence that our organization keeps growing and soaring. We look forward to a year of unlimited possibilities for Big Brothers Big Sisters. Our thanks and congratulations go out to Lawrence Sidbury. We wish him and the Falcons the best of luck in the playoffs and beyond!
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta Celebrates the Holiday Spirit at New Home
Atlanta, GA (December 13, 2012) - - Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta (BBBSMA) hosted a holiday celebration Thursday, December 6th at their new home located at 1382 Peachtree Street. Since relocating to Midtown this summer, BBBS has opened their home as a place of love and support in the community offering a warm, fun environment where children and teenagers receive mentoring guidance by forming one-on-one relationships with selectively matched men and women in the metro Atlanta area.
Attendees included board members, staff, sponsors, partners, volunteers, friends, supporters, “Bigs” and “Littles.” Guests enjoyed delicious foods, beverages and desserts thanks to donations from Publix, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Mac’s Beer and Wine and OMG Cup and Cakes. The home was decked out in holiday décor with support from Edgewood’s Lowe’s Home Improvement Center. BBBSMA would also like to thank Gloriosa Events for donating tables and linens. Photography was provided in kind by Ben Brown and Roshika West, Owner of 20 West Entertainment, in addition to a fun photo booth.
Read more: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta Celebrates the Holiday Spirit at New Home
Black Men Must Volunteer to Save Black Boys
At Rolling Out, Yvette Caslin makes a plea for African-American men to intervene to disrupt the school-to-prison pipeline.
You know the saying, when a door closes, a window opens. In this case, the alienation from school opens a window of opportunity for our young black men to often end up on the wrong side of the law and land in prison. Our young black men are "at risk" and three times more likely to be incarcerated than non-African American males. And that's a fact. There's one organization who has opened its doors wide to mentors of color to address and banish these statistics, and save our black boys from criminalization. The sad part, though, is that black boys are waiting too long for a match. At press time, 455 children were on the waiting list and 95 percent were young males in metro Atlanta. Seventy-seven percent of that number were African American ...
Be a big brother or big sister. Our children need us. McKenzie-Crayton writes in a recent AJC Op-Ed, "There are over 350,000 children [in metro Atlanta] that could benefit from the positive impact of having a mentor. BBBSMA, one of the largest one-to-one mentoring programs in the southeast, reaches only 3,400 each year. The need is great."
Source [Theroot.com]
Perkins and Will welcomes Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta to the Neighborhood!!!
On Friday, October 5, Perkins and Will, former owners of 1382 Peachtree Street, officially welcomed the organization to the neighborhood in their own special way!
Staff of the swank architecture firm mixed and mingled with staff and volunteers from BBBSMA in a social atmosphere on a perfect fall afternoon. Perkins and Will were ecstatic to learn that Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta wanted to purchase and preserve their former office space. The building is one of the last few mansions located on Peachtree Street in the heart of midtown Atlanta.
“I can’t say it enough, 1382 Peachtree was waiting on BBBSMA, it is the perfect location and the space was adequately designed to meet the needs of our program, says Janice McKenzie-Crayton, President and CEO of BBBSMA. “We see the new location as vital to our ability to better brand ourselves; and provide the right kind of service space for the children, families and volunteers that come to us. Finally, we are now situated in a location so rich with the potential mentors we need for the children we serve. Our new home is just perfect for BBBSMA's present and future.”
Perkins+Will Architecture Firm was founded 1935 and the firm has been designing award-winning sustainable buildings since that time. In 2007, Perkins and Will, became the first multi-office company to commit to the 2030 Challenge, pledging to immediately move toward designing buildings that reach carbon neutrality by 2030.
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