July 2024
Hello Friend!
Happy New Year! Here at Big Brothers Big Sisters, we are lucky enough to have two new years to celebrate: one on Jan. 1 when the calendar flips from December to January, and one on July 1 with the start of our new fiscal year (FY).
As I’ve mentioned in the past, I’m not a huge fan of new year’s resolutions, but I do enjoy the opportunity to take a look back at everything we’ve accomplished in the last year, and also look ahead to all of the exciting new initiatives and plans in place for the upcoming year – calendar or fiscal.
We have many reasons to celebrate as the new fiscal year begins. From July 1, 2023, until June 30, 2024, we did some pretty BIG things:
- We lunched a third section of our Bigs on Campus mentoring initiative at St. Cloud Technical & Community College. This initiative paired kids from the Sauk Rapids-Rice School District with faculty and staff from SCTCC, as well as local professionals, and we ended the school year with 12 matches.
- We are more than halfway to the $10 million goal in our For Kids, Forever, endowment campaign! Thanks to the forward thinking of so many of our generous donors and supporters, we have raised nearly $6 million in less than one year of the campaign. This sets us up to continue to serve local youth far into the future.
- Our fall recruitment campaign brought in the names of 115 people interested in becoming a mentor and helped us reach several of our benchmark goals! We surpassed our goal for new community-based matches this fiscal year, and several of our school-based programs also reached and passed their average length of match goals.
There is also much to be excited about as we look ahead.
- Our agency turns 55 this year! BBBS of Central Minnesota was started in June of 1969, and has been supporting kids and defending the potential of local youth ever since. We are proud to continue what our founding directors started 55 years ago!
- We will start a new cohort of mentors and mentees with our BIG Partners initiative. The first cohort of mentees graduated from St. Cloud Tech and Apollo high schools this spring, and we look forward to bringing a new group together to help each other grow this fall.
Even as we look ahead with excitement, we know there are also financial challenges ahead for our agency in the coming fiscal year. Fundraising is down for nonprofits across the country, and we are no exception. Models for donating at places like United Way, as well as local businesses, are changing as the companies change ownership, employee engagement, or funding priorities, and that affects our bottom line. We are more appreciative of our donors than ever, and urge everyone to consider becoming a monthly donor or connect with us to determine how your company would like to support our work.
As always, we continue to focus on making sure that our program provides the support our kids need, and ensuring our services grow with a growing and changing population. Thank you for your support, and for helping us defend the potential of local youth! Here’s to the next 55 years!
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Jackie S. Johnson
Executive Director
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MEET THE HENDRICKSONS & ILLEANA!
Last summer, Heather Hendrickson decided she wanted to become a Big because she had a Big growing up on the East Coast! She wanted to be able to give back the same way her Big gave to her, and she didn't want her kids to miss out on the fun - or the joy that comes from spending time with others. So Heather, along with her two children, Kasey and Owen, joined her in becoming a Big Family with their Little, Illeana.
Heather still talks to and visits her Big, and she has talked about the nostalgia of doing similar activities with Illeana, which really helps her stay motivated as a Big. As a match, they like to stay active and do laser tag, bowling, and helping out on the Hendrickson family farm! They have been matched for almost nine months, and have a strong match relationship that we have no doubt will continue to grow!
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Maggie Holmberg and Kira are!
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THANK YOU MOSS
& BARNETT!
This month’s Partner Spotlight goes to Moss & Barnett. Moss & Barnett has sponsored match activities in the past, but in June, the law firm sponsored a night out for families. This event allowed our Littles, along with their parent/guardian and siblings, to head to Summerland for a night of go-karts, bumper boats, and mini golf - at no cost to them! Families were so grateful to be included in the fun night. Thank you, Moss & Barnett, for helping us show our families that they are an important part of our organization!
We are grateful to all our Community Partners. Check out these lists, and the next time you are at that business or organization, please thank them for standing with kids!
BBBS of Central Minnesota is always looking for businesses to host or sponsor match activities. If you or your business are willing to sponsor or host a match activity, contact Jackie Johnson at 320-258-4510 or Jackie@BigDefenders.org.
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TAKE ME OUT TO THE ROX GAME
Matches had the perfect summer weather for a night at the ballpark with St. Cloud Rox Baseball in June - and they got to see one heck of a ballgame! Matches got to sit in the First Base Lodge, which meant they got to enjoy traditional baseball food like hot dogs, hamburgers and pop all night! They got to visit with Chisel, the Rox mascot, and took in an extra-innings game (the Rox came up just short, but there was plenty of excitement). Thanks to Brian Fierst for donating the tickets and providing such a fun summer experience for our matches!
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BBBS ANNOUNCES BOARD CHANGES
As the new fiscal year officially begins on July 1 for BBBS of Central Minnesota, a pair of new faces were introduced to the agency's Board of Directors and will start their new terms with the agency beginning with the August 2024 board meeting.
Preston Kopel and Jake Krippner both joined the board in July. Prestonis employed at Piper Sandler and Jake works with the Wheelock Investment Group at RBC Wealth Management. Both Preston and Jake have been or are currently Bigs with the agency.
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The addition of Preston and Jake come as both Debbie Clausen and Vicky Welty wrap up their terms with the agency. Vicky joined the board in 2012 and served as secretary, president, and past president during her 12-year tenure. Debbie joined the board in 2015 and served for nine years before wrapping up her time on June 30. Both helped the agency with fundraising events, establishing new programs, and working through the COVID19 pandemic.
"A hardworking board that maintains a level of trust with employees and the community is so important for agencies like ours, and our board is one of the best," BBBS of Central Minnesota Executive Director Jackie Johnson said. "Our board knows how important our mission is, and they work hard every day to make sure we are able to continue to serve kids across Central Minnesota."
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RECRUITMENT CAMPAIGN KICKOFF
Back to school will be here before we know it, and that can be a tough time for kids as they transition back to the classroom. New teachers, new friends, new classes - maybe a new school - it can all be a lot. From July 22 through Aug. 30, BBBS of Central Minnesota is looking for 60 new adult Bigs to help going back to school a little easier for kids across Central Minnesota. To kick off the campaign, join BBBS at Back Shed Brewing. From 4-7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 23, head to Back Shed to talk to BBBS staff, learn more about being a Big, and sign up to be a mentor! If you've ever thought about becoming a Big, or have a friend who would be a great Big, now's the time! If you stop by Back Shed and bring a friend who wants to be a Big, we'll give you both a ticket for a free drink! Check out the Facebook event here.
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CLEAN CAR = POTENTIAL DEFENDED!
Summer can be tough on your car. Keep it clean with an Unlimited Wash from the St. Cloud Crew Carwash location - and support local kids at the same time! On Saturday, July 27, BBBS and Crew are teaming up once again for the annual Crew for Kids car wash event. During Crew's opening hours that day, half of the proceeds from all Ultimate washes purchased at the car wash will come back to BBBS of Central Minnesota! BBBS staff will be on hand with local radio personnel from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., and there may even be special guests! Save the date to head to Crew Carwash at 4118 Division St. in St. Cloud on July 27! Click here for more details.
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BBBS WINS TWO NATIONAL AWARDS
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota brought home two awards from the national conference in Dallas in June. The agency was one of 100 from around the country to receive a Growth Award for growing the number of kids served year over year, and it also won a Bronze Biggie Award for the 2023 Annual Report. Biggie Awards are given to the top three marketing pieces each year. This marks the third straight year BBBS of Central Minnesota has won at least one national award.
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BE BIG IN THE 2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR!
Have you ever thought about being a Big? Do you know someone who would be a great Big? BBBS of Central Minnesota is looking for mentors to be a part of the both the Bigs on Campus initiative and at all six of our school-based locations. Bigs on Campus mentors meet with their mentees twice a month for an hour at a time at St. Cloud State, St. Cloud Technical & Community College, or College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University and help them get accustomed to life on a college campus. School-based matched meet once a week for 30 minutes at the Little's school in St. Cloud, Sartell, Sauk Rapids-Rice, Pierz, Holdingford, or Foley. Click here for more information or to become a Big!
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BBBS YARD SIGNS AVAILABLE
Show your support of BBBS of Central Minnesota and encourage your neighbors to become Bigs with one of our yard signs! Email recruiter Emmitt Edwards to come pick up a yard sign today or set up a delivery to your home or business. Put up a sign and support kids - it's that easy!
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Khaldoun Ahmad, Daine Billmark, Jenna Binsfeld, Patty Funk (Secretary), Melinda Gau, Isaih Handy, Lee Hurd, Preston Kopel, Jake Krippner, Courtney Kunkel (Treasurer), Bill Martin-Chaffee (DEI Officer), Lori Mohs, Mardi Noyes, Emmanuel Oppong, Chris Owen, Curran Poganski, Jason Primus, Rick Roehl (Vice Pres.), Alex Schoephoerster (President), and Christie Schulte. | |
Barb Anderson, Mimi Bitzan, Mark Coborn, Joe Francis, Keith Julson, Lori Kloos, Andy Knoblauch,
Shelly Bauerly Kopel, John Mahowald, Mike Markman, Gary Marsden, Vince Mohs, Steve Sauer,
Kurt Scepaniak, Joyce Schlough, John Schnettler, Peter Spaniol, Eric Stalboerger, Perian Stavrum,
Mark Traut, Joan Vincent, Bob Walter, Don Watkins, and Vicky Welty.
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