Monarch Legacy Fund awards funding to BBBS

The Monarch Legacy Fund of the Community Foundation of Shelby County recently awarded $3,000.00 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Shelby and Darke County. Big Brothers Big Sisters was chosen to receive funding because of its continued efforts to make a positive impact in “at risk” children. The funding will be used for the school mentoring program that pairs high school sophomores, juniors and seniors with elementary aged students twice a month and for the Mentoring Children of Prisoners program.

The High School Mentoring program known as “Big Buddies” is a nine-month commitment where volunteer high school students mentor elementary age children two times a month at an agency designation. This year the program operates at Northwood Elementary School, Longfellow Elementary School, Whittier Elementary School in Sidney with over 45 children being served in these programs by 50 mentors.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Shelby & Darke County is a nonprofit, United Way member, social service organization whose mission is to develop and mature quality relationships between children and volunteers. The relationship is meant to guide each child towards becoming a confident, competent, and caring individual.

Efforts are currently underway to recruit teams and corporate sponsors for the agency’s annual “Bowl For Kids’ Sake” event. The event is set for March 7 and 8, 2014, at Bel-Mar Lanes in Sidney and Treaty Lanes in Greenville. Bowl for Kids’ Sake is open to the public and local community members can form 4 – 5 person teams. Each team member collects donations and comes out to enjoy the party. Corporate sponsorships are available for $325 where a company enters a five-person team of the company’s employees; this includes a company lane banner. A Lane Sponsorship for $150 includes the company name placed on a large banner above one of the lanes during the day-long event. Corporate sponsor names are announced throughout the day. Many other prizes are involved including Gift Certificates to local restaurants and retail gift certificates. Anyone interested should call the office at 547-9622 or 492-7611 to obtain more information. Registration forms are available on the web at www.bigbrobigsis-shelbydarke.org.