Volume 1, Issue 1
September 1, 2010
Inside this issue:
Match Spotlight 2
New Match 2 matched when I was hired at BBBS of Athens more than 5
Recent Activities 3
Upcoming Events 3
Event Photos 3 that Cheyenne had moved. She asked if I could help her find current contact info for Chey-
Sponsor Spotlight 3
Fabulous Funders 4
Our MISSION is to make a
positive difference in the
lives of area youth
through professionally
supported relationships
with mentors and volun-
teers.
Our VISION is successful
mentoring relationships
for all children and youth
who need and want them,
contributing to brighter
futures, better schools
and stronger communities
Contact us at 740-797-0037
director@bbbsathens.org
The BIG News
Director’s Corner
I received an e-mail from a former Big Sister this morning.
Ashley was one of the first Bigs that I recruited and
years ago. She was part of our School Mentoring Program
and was Big Sister to Cheyenne. Ashley visited Cheyenne
every week at her school for two years, until she gradu-
ated from OU.
But here’s the great thing. Even after moving back to her Ashley and Cheyenne in 2006
home community, Ashley made sure to keep in touch with
Cheyenne, even returning to Athens for visits when she could. In her e-mail she told me
enne and her family so that they could get back in touch.
The bonds of friendship that are formed between Bigs and Littles can (and often do) last a
lifetime. The positive effects last just as long. Ashley’s commitment to her Little is not un-
usual, but to Cheyenne it means the world.
Sincerely, Jamey Bouwmeester
The BIG Story— 25th Annual Bowl For Kids Sake!!
It’s Bowl for Kids’ Sake time again! This year
marks our 25th BfKS and we are excited. Our Help Big Brothers Big
staff and supporters have been working like
gangbusters to make this BfKS our biggest and Sisters continue
most successful ever. contributing to better
“But what IS Bowl for Kids’ Sake?”, you ask. schools, brighter futures
Each year over five hundred supporters in our
area come together to have fun and raise
and stronger communities
money in support of Big Brothers Big Sisters of for all – support Bowl For
Athens as we continue changing how our
Kids’ Sake today!
children grow up in Southeast Ohio.
Here’s how to participate in just three simple steps:
1. Register – Just sign up and get started!
Call 740-797-0037 or e-mail director@bbbsathens.org.
2. Raise money – Between now and the day of the Community Bowl (March 13th,
2011), ask your friends, coworkers, relatives to make a donation to BBBS of Ath-
ens. Continued on next page.
Visit us on the web at Send us mail to: P.O. Box 1199
www.bbbsathens.org Athens, OH 45701
Page 2 Big Brothers Big Sisters of Athens The BIG News

The BIG Story (cont.) - 25th Annual Bowl For Kids Sake!!
Give them a call, shoot them an email, send them a text message. You can even collect donations online.

3. Bowl – On the day of the Community Bowl (March 13th, 2011) all of the teams that have been raising money for
us will gather at Rollerbowl Lanes for a party. Take an hour and have some fun! Relax, bowl and enjoy spending
some time with your team. It’s our way of saying, “Thank you” for being Big enough to help vulnerable children and
transform your community.

Our communities face huge challenges – poverty, drug and alcohol abuse, poor school performance – Big Brothers
Big Sisters is a solution that works to solve these societal problems. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Athens makes a
measurable positive difference through caring relationships that have a direct and lasting impact on children, fami-
lies, schools and communities. Children in our program are less likely to skip class, less likely to begin using drugs
and alcohol, and more likely to graduate from high school.

Across the country, neighborhoods just like ours, are being transformed by Big Brothers Big Sisters and caring
people like you. Please call us at 740-797-0037 to sign up today.

Match Spotlight: Mary & Kim

"I love the water,"
Mary and Kim were matched in June of 2010 and hit the ground running with
summer adventures like hiking, playing minature golf and lots of swimming! "I says Mary, who is
love the water," says Mary, who is nine and attends West Elementary School, nine and attends
where her favorite subject is reading. She is currently reading "How to Speak
West Elementary
Dragonese," a book from the How to Train Your Dragon series. Kim and Mary both
share a love of reading and have been known to spend time hanging out at the School, where her
Athens Public Library, where they have found great reading resources above and favorite subject is
beyond just books! With the winter months bringing cold weather, Mary and Kim reading.
are turning more towards indoors adventures, such as going to movies and at-
tending sporting events at Ohio University such as swimming and diving meets and women's basketball games.

Welcome to a New Match: Evan & Brian

I can not say how excited I am to be matched with my new Little, Evan! We had our first
outing just recently and we decided to dive right into it and make a trip to the pool for a
swim lesson. Bad puns aside, we had a great time. Evan was a much more talented
swimmer than I would have guessed, and not only that, but He was much more
interested in shooting hoops and doing slam dunks in the basket on the edge of the pool.
We decided to forego the lesson and have a game of one on one instead. Brian (aka Kobe
Bryant) versus Evan aka (LeBron James). Kobe put up an good effort, but was easily
beaten by the far more talented LeBron. We finished up with some cannonballs into the
deep end and a trip out to eat. I have only been involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters for
a short time, but I already believe that me and Evan being matched will be a lasting and beneficial relationship!
-Brian Gibbons, Ohio University student

Contact us at 740-797-0037 Visit us on the web at Send us mail to: P.O. Box 1199
director@bbbsathens.org www.bbbsathens.org Athens, OH 45701
Page 3 Big Brothers Big Sisters of Athens The BIG News
3

Recent Happenings: Youth School-Based Mentoring

By Nicole Lanphier—Youth School-Based Mentoring Coordinator

It’s January, which means that the school-based mentoring program here at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Athens is
kicking off the second half of the school year. So far, the program has been running smoothly in each of the four
school districts we serve. Activities this year have ranged from board game days to Dino day, which featured a
simulated archaeological dig.
I am beyond proud of the students in the program this year. The Bigs have proven to be reliable, dedicated
individuals, and have forged real bonds with their Littles. The Littles, in their turn, have been eager to connect with
the Bigs, and seem to truly enjoy the time spent with their mentors.
Upcoming activities will include space day, where students will learn about various planets, and have a chance to
utilize a telescope. I am also planning a “found art day,” where students will create art out of recycled materials. This
activity is designed to allow the students to have fun and be creative, while simultaneously alerting them to the idea
of “going green.”
I look forward to the rest of my time with each of these outstanding students.

Below: Dino Day at Federal Hocking, Trimble, Alexander, and Vinton County

Contact us at 740-797-0037 Visit us on the web at Send us mail to: P.O. Box 1199
director@bbbsathens.org www.bbbsathens.org Athens, OH 45701
Page 4 Big Brothers Big Sisters of Athens The BIG News

Sponsor Spotlight: Ohio University Credit Union

For the 11th consecutive year, the Ohio University Credit Union is the
presenting sponsor for the 2011 Bowl for Kids’ Sake campaign. This
year the OUCU will be contribute a sponsorship of $5000. In addition to
their corporate gift, employees will be hosting in-house fundraisers and
forming BfKS teams to help us reach our campaign goals. We at BBBS
of Athens cannot fully express our gratitude to the continuing support
provided by the Ohio University Credit Union.

Ohio University Credit Union is a member-owned financial institution

whose board of directors, senior management, and staff are committed
to:

- offering a broad range of products and services which supports our members' financial well-being and success;
- providing products and services, in a cost-effective manner, that will protect the fiscal integrity of our
members' resources and the Credit Union;
- being active and contributing members of our community;
- maintaining a close relationship with our sponsor, Ohio University;
- offering educational opportunities to our members to assist them in meeting their financial goals;
- and developing and maintaining relationships with our members in accordance with the credit union
philosophy.

Putting the FUN in funding: Ohio Criminal Justice Services

Ohio Criminal Justice Services has awarded BBBS of Athens a 2010 Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) of $33,373.00.
The JAG Program, administered by the US Bureau of Justice Assistance
(BJA), is the leading source of federal justice funding to state and local
jurisdictions. The JAG Program provides states, tribes, and local govern-
ments with critical funding necessary to support a range of areas including
law enforcement, prosecution and court, prevention and education, com-
munity corrections, drug treatment and enforcement, planning, evaluation,
and technology improvement, and crime victim and witness initiatives.

This grant (in conjunction with other funding) will allow us to continue our
Community Mentoring Program through the end of 2011. We will match a total of 50 children, ranging in age from
6-16 with a trained adult mentor. All children mentored with OCJS funding will be from our target population of
youth from low-income and/or single-parent households, because these children are at greater risk for delinquency,
dropout and crime.

Our Current Needs: Can you spare one hour a week?

Currently, our biggest need is for male mentors. We currently have
over 50 children on our “Ready-To-Be-Matched” list, most of them
are boys. Little Brothers can sometimes wait for more than a year
before being matched. Our Community-Based Mentoring Program
creates one-on-one matches between youth, ages 6-17, and adult
community members. Together, they build their friendship and to
develop a positive relationship, through activities such as playing
sports, going to the movies, or just hanging out.

If you would like to share time with a Little Brother or Little Sister, or if
you have any questions about the program, please give us a call today.

Contact us at 740-797-0037 Visit us on the web at Send us mail to: P.O. Box 1199

director@bbbsathens.org www.bbbsathens.org Athens, OH 45701

Page 5 Big Brothers Big Sisters of Athens The BIG News

Please Join Us In Out Partnership with Op4G

Every now and then an idea comes along that is so compelling it doesn’t take long to say, “Can I play?” Op4G, one of
our newest partners, is a perfect example because it’s a win-win for us all.
It’s no secret that these are challenging economic times. BBBS of Athens works each day within a regularly squeezed
budget. Op4G’s program allows you to help us while also sharing your feelings and experiences with organizations
eager to pay for that insight. You’ll be paid for it, with at least 25% of your compensation being donated to us!
Op4G (Opinions 4 Good) maintains a database and sells access to it for consumer and market research. Advertising
agencies and consumer-oriented companies do such work on a daily basis. But Op4G is different from other re-
search companies because its database is comprised of people just like you – supporters of Non-Profit enterprises
like ours.
We agreed to partner with Op4G after they satisfied us of a number of things, all of them as impor-
tant to us as to you if you choose to participate.
First, no one ever has access to your personal information,
not even us. You are anonymous, identified only by the
username you select.
Op4G makes it possible for people like
you to earn money for themselves and Second, your personal information is private because it is
their favorite Non-Profits by participat- maintained in a secure database entirely separate from the
marketing database.
ing in internet-based market research
anonymously at a safe and secure web- Third, neither Op4G or any other third party ever has access
site. Your identity is never known, can to our internal list of supporters.
never be sold, and you’re never inun- Fourth, you get to decide what Op4G programs you want to
dated with SPAM as a result of Op4G be involved with, and you will only be contacted by Op4G
Membership. Plus, all research activities based on those selections.
are determined by you at the myOp4G
And, finally, you will be paid for any research activity you
website, which is filled with a variety of choose to participate in with at least 25% going to BBBS of
fun information and activities. Athens. Op4G is paid by its market researchers, not by tak-
ing a share of your earnings.
But it’s all up to you to decide whether to join us as an Op4G Member. You can resign your Membership any
time you want, and all of the information you provided will be immediately erased by Op4G.
Check them out at www.op4g.com. If you want to sign up, enter the code BBBS1234. That identifies
BBBS of Athens as the Non-Profit you are there to support.
Please consider giving it a whirl. We are sure you, too, will discover Op4G is an organization we can be proud to as-
sociate with. We think everyone wins.

Contact us at 740-797-0037 Visit us on the web at Send us mail to: P.O. Box 1199
director@bbbsathens.org www.bbbsathens.org Athens, OH 45701