Come Bowl With Us!

Bowl for Kids' Sake is a truly fun and special way to support Big Brothers Big Sisters and our work in Waco. We currently have sponsorship and team opportunities available!

What is Bowl for Kids’ Sake?

Bowl For Kids’ Sake is Big Brothers Big Sisters’ signature fundraiser. Each year half a million people across America come together to have fun and raise money to support Big Brothers Big Sisters as we change how children grow up! Bowl For Kids’ Sake is the perfect way for individuals to make an impact on our community - it only takes a little bit of effort to raise the money that is vital to our program’s success.

As a “thank you” for your support and enthusiasm, Big Brothers Big Sisters hosts a celebratory party at AMF Westview Lanes bowling center. No bowling expertise is required, only the willingness to share in our heartfelt and sincere thanks for helping us transform our community. Our event will be hosted on Saturday, February 25th from 3:00 to 8:00 PM at AMF Westview Bowling Lanes (West Waco Drive).

Where does the money go?

Big Brothers Big Sisters depends on donations to conduct background checks on volunteers to ensure child safety; and provide ongoing support for children, families and volunteers to build and sustain long-lasting relationships.

Your role in this effort to help local children cannot be over stated: We need your help to raise community awareness of the challenges faced by children in Waco, and to ask for the financial support need to help change the trajectory of a child’s life.

How can I get involved?

Step 1: Register your team! It’s easy to do online – just visit the website and sign up!

Step 2: Set a team fundraising goal- AIM HIGH! We suggest a minimum of $100/team member, but some of our top teams raise $2,500! To add some perspective, to reach the $100 individual goal you could ask 10 friends for just $10.00 each.

Step 3: Recruit 4 people to join your team. It could be friends, family, or co-workers. You’ve set an ambitious goal, so choose people who will help you exceed it!!

Step 4: Motivate your team to raise money for Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring in Waco!

·         Share information about the impact of Big Brothers Big Sisters on our community

·         Keep your team informed about incentive prizes, rules, games, contests, etc.

·         Communicate their success (Katie just got a $50 donation! Joe has already exceeded his goal of $200! Our team just surpassed the $1,000 mark!)

Step 5: Have Fun! Join us at AMF Westview Lanes to celebrate your team’s success! Remember, it’s not about how good a bowler you are, it’s celebrating the impact the money your team collected will have on our community!

Step 6: Say THANK YOU! Thank your team members for their time and commitment to participate! Don’t forget to say thank you to the people who donated to you! Call or e-mail them after the event to let them know how much money your team raised and thank them for supporting Waco children!

Please consider helping us spread the word throughout Waco about the importance of mentoring.  If this sounds like an opportunity you would be interested in participating in, please let us know.  We would love for you to join us!

Contact Lucy Devens, ldevens@bbbstx.org or 254.776.2824.

Big Picture Luncheon Recap

A BIG thanks to everyone who attended our Big Picture Luncheon on November 29th.  It was wonderful to see such strong support from our community, and to know we are all working together to improve the lives of children in Waco, one mentor at time.

Thank you to everyone who was able to join us last week!

 

Thank you Jason Rey, COO, for sharing your Big Brothers Big Sisters story.

A special thanks to Candie for sharing her daughter Madison's story.

Becky, Madison's Big Sister, shared her experiences in the program and the impact

Madison has had on her life.

 A special thanks to Carino's Italian for generously donating 

a delicious meal for our attendees!

Big Picture Luncheon!

Just picture it – you and a friend enjoying a complimentary lunch and knowing that you are starting something in our community.

Please join us for our Big Picture Luncheon on Tuesday, November 29^th at the Lee Lockwood Library and Museum (Waco Scottish Rite).  The Big Picture Luncheon celebrates our supporters, volunteers, and the young lives changed through the powerful impact of mentoring.

Waco is in need of a major change.  Mentors can provide a crucial outlet many children in our city yearn for.  What if every child was put on the right path today?  What if every child in Waco graduated high school, went to college, and gave back to their communities?  Help us start something in our community.

Learn about what our program offers and the myriad of opportunities for you to get involved, including: volunteering, hosting and participating in events, and supporting our matches through individual giving. The only cost to attend this event is an hour of your time.

WHEN: Tuesday, November 29^th 12:00pm
WHERE: Waco Scottish Rite -- Lee Lockwood Library and Museum

                  2801 West Waco Drive

Lunch provided by Carino’s Italian.

Please RSVP to Lisa Robertson at 254-776-2824 or lrobertson@bbbstx.org

We hope to see you there!  Thank you again for your support of Big Brothers Big Sisters and our work in the Waco community!

TOMORROW is BBBS Day at Carino's Italian!

We are proud to announce that Carino’s Italian has named Thursday, November 10^th as Big Brothers Big Sisters Day!

Carino’s Italian has generously agreed to donate 10% of the entire day’s sales to our agency to support Waco matches. In return, we need to do everything we can to support sales. Be sure to make plans to grab a meal with your friends, family or coworkers tomorrow.

Remember to give our flyer to your server (see below) to ensure the proceeds are designated to Big Brothers Big Sisters.

A BIG thanks to Carino’s Italian for their support of Big Brothers Big Sisters!  We’re looking forward to a great day, and we hope to see you there!

Sarah Collins: A BIG Thank You!

With Lisa’s arrival to Big Brothers Big Sisters, we are saying goodbye to our former Regional Executive Director (RED), Sarah Collins.  Sarah has truly been invaluable to the agency and the children enrolled in our programs.  She began her involvement with BBBS Waco in 2001 in match support and was promoted to RED in 2003.  She stepped down in 2005 to pursue new opportunities in Waco, and was heartbroken when the former headquarters in Austin chose to shut the agency’s doors.  Sarah felt so passionately for the children enrolled in the program, and restarted the Waco office in 2009, partnering with headquarters in Dallas.  She has worked tirelessly advocating for mentorship in Waco and its positive effects on not only our Littles, but our Bigs as well.

A true advocate for mentoring, Sarah has been matched with her Little Sister Sydney since 2003.  We are proud to say that Sydney, a senior at China Springs High School, is on track to be the first member of her family to attend college!  “Big Brothers Big Sisters is such a part of my life and my heart -- and much of that is due to my relationship with Sydney,” says Sarah, “She's kept me grounded and focused so many times over the years.  She really has changed my life more than I've changed hers -- I know that any Big Brother or Sister in the program would say the same.  This program is a life-changer -- for everyone involved -- and I'm so proud of the work the agency and volunteers have done in Waco.” We thank Sarah for her dedication to BBBS and to her relationship with Sydney!

Sydney & Sarah - October 2003

Sydney & Sarah - January 2011

Join Our Team!

We are currently hiring! 

Big Brothers Big Sisters Waco & McLennan County is looking for a skilled, self-motivated person to serve as an AmeriCorps*VISTA member for one year.  Make a difference in your community by helping kids who need a positive adult role model in their lives.  Become an AmeriCorps Vista member and help Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) recruit more volunteers, promote BBBS and make a big difference in our community.  Would prefer someone comfortable working with faith-based institutions and large corporations.  This is a full-time, 12-month position. 

AmeriCorps*VISTA member will receive an annual living allowance of approximately $800-900 monthly, vacation & sick leave, along with extensive training, basic individual health insurance, and student loan deferment, as well as a post-service education award of $5350 to help pay for student loans or future college courses.  Some weekend and evening work may be required at times. Must be a self-starter, at least 18 years of age and have their own reliable transportation, love working with people, be highly organized and have good leadership, writing and computer skills. Some college preferred with experience with marketing, PR, or human services helpful. 

Hiring decisions will be made by September 28^th.  If interested, complete an online application at my.americorps.gov (select North/West Texas as the area you would like to serve), references and birth certificate required.  Call Lisa Robertson at 254-776-2824 for more information.

Pizza Day!

Our Bigs and Littles were extended a special invitation to Gourmet Gallery to join in a pizza cooking class!  The matches had a blast tossing around their dough, choosing their toppings and eating the final result of their work.  They made some fun creations!  A BIG thanks to Karyn Miller and Rachel Solano for a special afternoon, our matches really enjoyed the opportunity to visit with you.  And, another BIG thanks to our volunteer Sarah Lake for her photographing the event!