During this Holiday season I would like to say Thank You to our Appreciated Donors, Dedicated Staff, Wonderful Volunteers and Tireless Board Members for your ongoing support of our mission and agency. We could not be a positive influence in the lives of children within our community without you!

According to Philanthropedia, which surveys experts on their views of charities’ impact and organizational strength, Big Brothers Big Sisters is not just making a difference, but has been ranked the best of the best on a list of most recommended, high impact national nonprofits serving youth. BBBS received praise for its effective mentoring model that leads to positive and measurable youth outcomes for children who face adversity. This first place ranking was the result of recommendations from 88 national at-risk youth experts.

BBBSN follows the best practices of the national parent organization in the delivery of programs. The process and practice guidelines of our Service Delivery Models ensure quality programs delivered with a primary focus on child safety and the realization of positive outcomes. Measurable program impacts for the past year include: Little’s participating in our Site Based programs had an increase of 11.5% in their Reading scores from the first to third trimester report cards in the 2009-2010 school year.

There was a decrease of absences of 29% reported by Little’s in our Site Based program from the previous school year.

65% of the Little’s in our Community Based program reported increased scores in Social Acceptance on the Youth Outcomes Survey. Improved scores in this area are linked to improved educational achievement and avoidance of risk behaviors.

But with over 400 children on our waiting list we need your continued support as volunteers, clothing & household donors and financial investors in our programs. Please spread the word at work and in the community about our mission and results but most importantly the work will still have to do…..You can make a difference as a volunteer or a donor with our organization!

I would like to take a moment to let you know that January is National Mentoring Month. What better way to start the year than by supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters quality one-to-one mentoring relationships for children in need, based on a proven model that includes careful “matching” and ongoing support for mentors, kids and parents/guardians.

Happy Holidays and a Successful New Year to you and your Family!

Sincerely,
Gerry Shear, Board Chair
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Nevada

Holiday Bike Bonanza

Kindness is the greatest wisdom. -Anonymous

This Holiday Season we went Big and launched our newest annual fundraiser, the Holiday Bike Bonanza. During this special event we presented bikes to 70 Littles from our Site and Community Based Mentoring Programs.

The event was held on Saturday, December 3rd at the Element Hotel Las Vegas. With the help of our sponsors we raised over $30,000 to go directly to support our mentoring programs. Each supporter was given the opportunity to graciously present their sponsored Little with a bike.

We would like to especially thank all of our sponsors who made this event possible: Cardinal Health for their generous bicycle donation, Element Hotel for providing the venue and catering, Credit One our Presenting Sponsor, NV Energy and Nevada State Bank our Silver Level Sponsors; as well as our supporting sponsors, GENCO, American Family Insurance, Cragin & Pike, Teri Peers, Copper Mountain Solar, Paul Rhineberger, Tracey Chernay, Al & Lauren Barbarich, and EZ Pawn.

Nevada’s Big Give

On November 17th, 2011 Nevadans came together and participated in Nevada’s Big Give, a statewide annual giving campaign aimed at encouraging residents to “Give Where You Live”.

Here at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Nevada we held our monthly mixer in support of the Big Give. We had an overwhelming response in attendance that included, BBBSN Board of Directors, community partners, funders, Bigs & Littles.

Together, we raised over $400,000 that went directly to support local non-profits in Nevada. Thank you for supporting your community and BBBSN.

Big 101

By Dennis Tyson, Big Brother Alum

Many times I’ve been asked “What’s it like being a Big?” I usually answer that it’s gratifying, because it is, but for a Big the full answer to that seemingly simply question is anything but simple. So I thought I would articulate a few things for new Bigs to keep in mind as they grow into their role.

Being a Big is fun, difficult, challenging, rewarding, stressful, a journey and most importantly something to be experienced and enjoyed.

The role of a Big can be demanding and evolves with each encounter with a Little. The worst expectation a new Big can place on themselves (and their Little) is immediate results. In fact your role as a Big requires tremendous patience and is not unlike a gardener. Where a gardener grows plants, Bigs grow a relationship.

Much like a gardener a Big cannot expect a plant to produce fruit prematurely. As a Big it is your responsibility to take your time, cultivate your soil carefully, plant many seeds (even the same seed repeatedly), provide water, nutrition, sun light and proper pruning. Even when these duties are performed well and consistent the Big may not see a return on the investment for quite a long time. This is perfectly okay! Remember you are not the only influence on your Little.

Aside from the gardener’s hat, at one time or another you may wear the hat of friend, parent, mentor, teacher, student, listener, lecturer, guide, reality checker, manager, coach, teammate, etc. A Big may even wear many of these hats simultaneously.

Be prepared to start with your boundaries set tight but clear. As your relationship progresses so too should your boundaries.

Finally: Lead by example, be fair and most especially, be honest. Encourage the basic Life Skills (honesty, morality, ethics, responsibility). Little’s are there to learn from you so be a good solid person to learn from.

It is getting cold outside but we are heating things up here at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Nevada. This Holiday Season we are going to be launching our first Holiday Bike Bonanza and participating in Nevada’s Big Give. You can support Big Brothers Big Sisters in Nevada’s Big Give directly at our Online Donation Page.

Thank you, for being a dedicated supporter and believing in our Vision: all children achieve success in life. We could not make a difference without you. Thank you!

Sincerely,
Barry Hulin, CEO
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Nevada

Holiday Bike Bonanza

Sponsor a bike for a Little this holiday season! Proceeds go to benefit
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Nevada.

Bicycle presentation:
December 3, 2011 at 12:00 p.m.
Element Las Vegas Summerlin
10555 Discovery Drive
Las Vegas, NV 89135

Bicycle Sponsorship: $500.00

Holiday Bike Bonanza Flyer

For more information, contact:
Kobbe Shaw or (702) 731-2227

Donate Used Clothing and Household Items

Do you have old Halloween costumes, jackets or winter clothes that you no longer wear anymore? Donate your used clothing and small household items to Big Brothers Big Sisters and make the difference in the life of a child. Scheduling a pick-up is easier than ever! Here’s how:

• Call (702) 222-9000
• Text “Donate” to 59925
• Schedule online

BBBSN Welcomes New Staff

BBBSN warmly welcomes Zachary Moyle as the Operations Manager of the Donation Center. Zac came to Big Brothers Big Sisters after working at various levels of politics over the last eight years. He has been a Nevada resident for the last 11 years, spending half that time in Reno and the rest here in Las Vegas. He considers himself a proud Nevadan with a strong background in retail management and political fields. Zac managed two large retail stores in Nevada before his time in politics where he worked closely with several high profile political organizations and campaigns.

Born and raised in Washington State, Zac saw how Big Brothers Big Sisters supported his own community and out of that came a desire to serve. Zac proudly served in the Marine Corps Reserves, currently sits on the board of Faith and Freedom Coalition of Nevada, and is the director of Men’s Ministries at Summerlin Community Baptist Church. In his spare time Zac enjoys the outdoors and all that Nevada has to offer as well as sports, history, and spending as much time as possible with his wife of two years, Tammy, and their young son Landon.

You can contact Zac directly at zmoyle@bbbsn.org.

Considering Being a Big Brother or Big Sister?

Guest Article By: Leon McKittrick

When I was considering volunteering for Big Brothers Big Sisters, I was hesitant since I do not have any children. What would I say? How do I interact with a young boy? I had no parameters, no guidelines, and no experience. My concern was that I would make a mistake and make matters worse. I talked with my friends who have children and received the following advice: They will lead. You just have to give guidance, support, and not be judgmental.

With this advice I decided to make the commitment and volunteer. It has been approximately two months and being a Big Brother has been one of the best decisions I have ever made. I show up. I listen. When he shares I let him know his feelings are normal. Others have had the same feelings he has when they were in the same situation.

I realize that being a Big Brother is all about being authentic, being yourself. I have learned a lot about kids and about myself. Thanks Big Brothers Big Sisters for giving me an opportunity to give to the community.

School is out and summer is here! Here at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Nevada we are working on Big things to get Started for you in the fall. Look for our updates about our Monthly Mixer and get to know us better. We look forward to seeing you there!

As always, we want to thank you for letting us share our eNewsletter with you. We could not make a difference in the life of a child without your support. Thank you!

Sincerely,
Barry Hulin, CEO
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Nevada

Bowl For Kids’ Sake 2011

Savers Team

Bowl For Kids’ Sake is Big Brothers Big Sisters premier national fundraising event. Every year Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies from across the country gear up supporters to bowl a few strikes while helping kids in their community.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Nevada hosted our Bowl For Kids’ Sake on June 25, 2011 at the Strike Zone inside Sunset Station. The event drew a crowd of 175 bowlers and netted over $15,000 in bowling sponsorships and $1,400 in silent auction packages.

Bowlers competed in a Baker-style bowling tournament and snacked on pizza while they cosmic bowled. Bowling trophies were given in the following categories: Best Big Bowler, Christine Sheets; Best Little Bowler, Malkai; Team Spirit Award, Savers; Highest Team Score, TransAct Technologies.

We would like to especially thank our event sponsors, MoneyTree, Inc. and City National Bank for their generous contributions. Additionally, big thanks to Shira Wood, Mark Wayman, and Gerry Shear for their support in sponsoring the Big and Little Match Teams.

Thank you for helping make our event a Big success!

Annual Picnic: May 21, 2011

Brought back by popular demand, Bigs and Littles tug-of-war!

This year’s picnic was a blast!  We had over 200 attendees join us for our annual family picnic held at the Bill and Lillie Heinrich YMCA. The YMCA has been community partners through our Site-Based mentoring program since 2006. Our guests enjoyed a day full of games, arts and crafts, jump house, face painting, and sandwiches provided by Port of Subs.

Special thank you to our service men and women from Nellis Airforce Base who came out and spent their afternoon making a difference in a young child’s life.

We Want To Hear From You!

Calling all Bigs! Do you you ever wish someone would have told you what it was like being a new Big? Do you have great advice or tips you would like to share with others? We want to hear from you!

We will be featuring a guest article in our eNewsletter from a Big Brother or Sister from our program. If you have a story, advice, or challenge that you would like to share with new and seasoned Bigs, please email your story to Angela Harlan.

Article Topic Ideas

1. What made you decide to become a Big?
2. What did you think when you first met your Little?
3. What is your most memorable outing?
4. What did you find to be the most challenging obstacle?
5. What advice would you share with other Bigs?

Article Guidelines

1. 1. Please keep all articles a maximum of 3 paragraphs.
2. 2. Include your Full Name, Little’s name, and Match Support Specialist.
3. 3. Be creative and have fun!

Disclaimer: BBBSN reserves the right to publish and modify stories/articles as necessary.

Summer is almost here! We hope that you enjoyed the beautiful spring weather as much as we did. From all of us at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Nevada (BBBSN), we want to thank you for letting us share our eNewsletter with you. Thank you for Starting Something Big for the children of Southern Nevada. We could not do it without your continued support.

We have Big plans for 2011, our primary focus is on the quality of our programs and community collaboration. We are actively looking for for Bigs in our Community Based Program. If you know someone who you think will make a great Big, please refer them to Athena Jones-Gould.

To make a direct donation to support our programs, Click Here to Start Something.

Sincerely,
Barry Hulin, CEO
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Nevada

Texting 4 Textiles

Is Spring Cleaning Becoming Overwhelming?

BBBSN-Newsletter-Texting-For-Textiles

Here is an easy way to get rid of old stuff and help out your favorite charity. Donate your used clothing to BBBSN! AND – help us go green – now you can text us to set up a pickup!

TEXT “DONATE” to 88704 and we will pick up from your house within 7 days!

Or, you can call us at 222-9000, or Email Us

Thanks for your support!

Big of the Month

Sola, a native of South Korea was referred to BBBSN by his aunt after expressing that he missed his own biological siblings back home. A sophomore in High School, Sola signed up to become a Big in our High School Big Program and was matched with his Little Brother Jordy, a 3rd grader who was falling behind in school and fighting constantly with his older and younger brothers.

Realizing that homework help every week was not enough to help his Little Brother excel, Sola started studying with his Little during the summer time as well. He did not let the language barrier deter him from developing a strong relationship with his Little Brother. Because of their hard work and dedication together, Jordy’s grades went from “F’s” to all “A’s” and “B’s”. Aside from academics, Sola and Jordy enjoy doing origami and playing outdoors. Jordy says that “He is the best Big Brother I ever had”.

Congratulations to Sola for being our Big of the Month!

Featured Match Story: Lazara & Desiree

“We have developed a sister-like relationship. She has grown in the last 4 years and developed into an amazing young woman.” -Lazara

Desiree And Lazara

Desiree was a smart, popular, 9 year old, who loved to help others. Her grades were not bad, but she didn’t really put forth much effort in school. Her mom was always supportive of Desiree and her older brother. As a single mom, she worked hard to provide for her family. She knew the importance of education and wanted Desiree to have a role model who embodied this trait.

Soon after, Desiree was matched with Lazara, a kind, intelligent woman who works for the Cancer Institute and does advocacy work in her free time. Lazara helped Desiree to focus more on school and start looking more toward her future. Because they are both Cuban, Desiree had an opportunity to learn more about her heritage.

The pair has been together for 4 years now. Lazara and Desiree say that they feel like real sisters. Desiree goes to volunteer events with her Big Sister and is learning more about issues facing the world. Last year, she received an award from school for getting straight A’s the entire year. She also received awards in the community for helping her peers. Lazara is one of Desiree’s biggest cheerleaders at all of her activities and events.

There is Big News happening at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Nevada (BBBSN). We hope to provide you with great stories and information about our organization and our impact throughout the community. We thank you for your continued support and being a part of something Big!

Sincerely,
Barry Hulin, CEO
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Nevada

LVICC Hosts Holiday Party at Culley Elementary

LVICC Members and VIPs

The Las Vegas Indian Chamber of Commerce made a donation that provided a holiday party for BBBSN program participants at Paul Culley Elementary on December 17th. Members of the LVICC were on hand to welcome VIPs that included State Senator Valerie Weiner, City Councilman Ricky Barlow, Sue Manteris from Channel 3 News, and a jolly fellow in a red suit.

The LVICC members served a bountiful menu of pizza, cupcakes and punch to the Bigs and Littles from the Culley program. The staff at Culley are great program partners for BBBSN and it was wonderful to include the LVICC as new partners at this location. After visiting a sing-a-long assembly in the multipurpose room, Santa Claus made a grand entrance to the party where he greeted the group and spent time with each Little to learn about their hopes and dreams for the holiday season. Each Little received a holiday blanket and pillow set, a toy, and a grocery gift card to share with their family.

7-Eleven Clothing Drive – Jan. 10 through Feb. 28

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Nevada is pleased to announce a community partnership with 7-Eleven. Starting on January 10th, 7-Eleven stores will host our 1st Annual 7-Eleven Clothing Drive! Please visit any 7-Eleven location within the valley and donate your gently used clothing in the barrels provided in the stores.

If you have gently used clothing or small household items you are no longer using, please give us a call at 222-9000 and we will schedule a pickup for you. All donations are tax deductible and your donations go to serving the youth of Las Vegas. If you have a car that is taking up space or not working anymore – donate that as well! Just give us a call, 222-9000.

The BIG Mix

The Bigs and their Littles walk the runway at Big Mix.

Big Brother Big Sisters of Southern Nevada welcomed guests to the Big Mix on November 4th. The Big Mix is our premiere fundraising event and was held at the Fashion Show Mall and featured an exciting fashion show starring Bigs with their Littles strutting on the runway. Local news anchors Denise Valdez and Rachel Smith hosted the runway and were emcees for the event. The area around the runway was draped for privacy and provided a luxurious ultra lounge atmosphere for the event.

Sponsors of the Big Mix included Wells Fargo, NV Energy, Bank of America, The Sands Foundation and Nevada State Bank. Each of these sponsors had a reserved seating area that was filled with lively guests. Guests munched on delicious hors devours and sipped hosted drinks donated by liquor sponsors 21 Vodka, Blue Moon Beer and VnC Mixed Cocktails.

The silent auction and raffle items generated shopping excitement for the party goers. Raffle items included airline tickets, hotel stays, exciting experiences, luxury baskets, and sports memorabilia. The silent auction items included high end electronics, a scooter and UFC event tickets.

BBBSN Warmly Welcomes New Staff Members

BBBSN welcomes Barry Hulin as the new Chief Executive Officer of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Nevada. Hulin, a fifteen year resident of Las Vegas, has over 40 years experience in the financial services industry, most recently as CEO of Valley Bank, which he helped establish in 1997. After the sale of the bank, Hulin was searching for a way to use his talents in the not-for-profit sector, having served on numerous boards over the years. “When the opportunity at BBBSN presented itself I jumped at the chance to help make a difference in the lives of young people in our community. We have many challenges in today’s economic environment, but at BBBSN we have a team that is ready to take them on and continue to deliver our quality services to our kids.” You can contact Barry directly at bhulin@bbbsn.org.

BBBSN welcomes Angela Harlan as the new Executive Administrative Assistant. Angela was raised in Las Vegas and has been a Big Sister since 2008. Previously she worked with the Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth where she was responsible for fundraising, grant writing, donor management, and social media marketing. Angela graduated at University of Nevada, Las Vegas with a bachelor’s of arts in Political Science and a minor in Sociology, and is committed and dedicated to serving her community. You can contact Angela directly at aharlan@bbbsn.org.

Athena Jones-Gould is the newest member to the programming department here at BBBSN. She will serve as the Match Support Specialist for community based mentoring. Although her degree is in Computer Information Science and English Language Studies, Athena has been involved in youth development for over 10 years. If you are interested in learning more about our Community-based mentoring program, or in becoming a BIG, please contact her at ajones@bbbsn.org.

Desiree was a smart, popular, 9 year old, who loved to help others. Her grades were not bad, but she didn’t really put forth much effort in school. Her mom was always supportive of Desiree and her older brother. As a single mom, she worked hard to provide for her family. She knew the importance of education and wanted Desiree to have a role model who embodied this trait. Soon after, Desiree was matched with Lazara, a kind, intelligent woman who works for the Cancer Institute and does advocacy work in her free time. Lazara helped Desiree to focus more on school and start looking more toward her future. Because they are both Cuban, Desiree had an opportunity to learn more about her heritage.
The pair has been together for 4 years now. Lazara and Desiree say that they feel like real sisters. Desiree goes to volunteer events with her Big Sister and is learning more about issues facing the world. Last year, she received an award from school for getting straight A’s the entire year. She also received awards in the community for helping her peers. Lazara is one of Desiree’s biggest cheerleaders at all of her activities and events.
Desiree and Lazara are a great example of how you can START SOMETHING Big. If you are interested in learning more about being a Big Brother or Big Sister, contact our office.

Laser Quest Las Vegas will host our Halloween party on October 28th from 6:30 to 9:00. This is the night before the Nevada Day holiday and the perfect night for a Halloween party. Free games of laser tag, pizza and soda will be provided. Costumes are not recommended