The latest news from Big Brothers Big Sisters: 

The Children's Board of Hillsborough County Helps Keep Big Brothers Big Sisters on the Cutting Edge

The Children's Board of Hillsborough County has been a long time supporter of Big Brothers Big Sisters. Recently, we were awarded a grant to replace outdated computer equipment. With the purchase of ten new laptops, our staff is now able to work more efficiently and professionally. And it's not just about the technology...

The Children's Board also awarded BBBS $2,000 which helped defray the cost for several staff members to attend the National BBBS Convention in St. Louis, Missouri this summer. This year's conference marks a pivotal moment in the history of the national organization. The nationwide strategic direction will sharpen the definition of success and galvanize BBBS agencies across the U.S. around the impact we are making on children--and the community. Staff members were able to take away key messages, resource development tools, and insight which will help our agency grow.

 Sulphur Springs Elementary School students ride in style for making the grade...

 Thanks to Fifth Third Bank!

May 29, Tampa, FL--While most of their friends began walking home from school, five students were missing from the crowd: Wayneccia, Torel, Antonio, Brittanny, and Arquone. The fourth-graders are Littles in the Big Brothers Big Sisters school-based mentoring program at Sulphur Springs Elementary School. But for a few hours, they became 'bank executives' at Fifth Third Bank.

Fifth Third Bank, a partner with Big Brothers Big Sisters Association of Florida, believes in building a better tomorrow for the community. The staff wanted to honor some special students who've really worked hard this school year--academically and socially--by giving them an out-of-this world day: a ride to Fifth Third Bank in a limousine followed by a two-hour behind-the-scenes tour of the bank. Sulphur Springs Elementary School counselor Haven Felker had been holding in her excitement about this special trip for weeks, and waited until the day before to tell her students about the big surprise. “Some of these students may have been the ones who would normally get into trouble,” said Felker. “But over the past year, they really worked hard to make good decisions and not become a part of the fray. They deserve this!”

When the limo pulled up on Kennedy Boulevard, several bank employees were there to greet the students. Brittany and Wayneccia held hands as they walked up the steps; the three boys looked around, not sure what to expect.They were treated like royalty! And when they made it to the big board room on the 20th floor, they sat right across from the president.

"I thought we were going to meet the President of the United States!" said Antonio.

The president, in this case, was Fifth Third bank president in Tampa Bay, Brian Keenan. He asked them if they liked math (some did, some not-so-much) and explained that in his line of work, math is important after all!  For Keenan and the other members of the senior staff, spending time with the students was something they had been looking forward to for weeks. “We’re proud to support Big Brothers Big Sisters, it’s a great partnership, and an opportunity to build awareness in the community,” said Keenan.

The students traveled from floor to floor of the bank building: they practiced writing checks, learned the importance of saving money, found out the definition of the word 'mortgage', and some other life lessons they won't soon forget.

“I want to be able to buy a house one day!” said Brittanny. “I want to be a businessman!” said Arquone, who had already dressed the part that day in a two-piece green suit. The tour wrapped up with plenty of gifts for every student, and a present they will appreciate even more when they become an adult: a $50 savings bond. As they headed to the sidewalk they saw the shiny, black limo waiting to take them home. This trip is one they'll be talking about for some time; according to Brittanny, "This was the best day of my life!"

Sulphur Springs Elementary School faces several challenges; in 2006-2007 the school received an ‘F’ rating from the Department of Education. But thanks to support from the surrounding community and area businesses, the school is beginning to see improvement. Big Brothers Big Sister pairs children with caring mentors. Independent studies show children who have a Big Brother or Big Sister are more likely to graduate to the next grade level and less likely to end up in the juvenile justice system.  Last year 47 children at Sulphur Springs Elementary School were matched with a Big. Fifth Third Bank is a partner with Big Brothers Big Sisters and continues to invest time, resources, and people to help build a stronger community. For more information about Fifth Third Bank, visit www.53.com.

You've probably been reading about it for weeks: state budget cuts are affecting most every segment of our community, including non-profit agencies. That's why we appreciate the financial support of companies and agencies that have stepped forward to help us continue our mission during these tough economic times.The  Tampa Bay Lightning Foundation granted a $5,000 grant to BBBS for our comprehensive mentoring program. Those funds will support five matches for one year. Bay Area Media Networks also donated $500 to the agency. 

If you tuned into the game on Monday, May 12, you saw the Rays beat the New York Yankees 7 to 1. Big Brothers Big Sisters also walked away a big winner that night. This is the second year for the Rays Broadcast Auction, and it was a huge success. The auction held during the game raised more than $48,000 to benefit the Rays Baseball Foundation and Big Brothers Big Sisters. We appreciate the support from all of the fans who called in for some great prizes, including a trip to the All Star Game. The Rays will host a second auction this season on Monday June 30, details coming soon.

 Sports Buddies

Get in the Game, Become a Volunteer

Art of Helping Children

Little Brother Creates a Big Invention

Need for Mentors

Check out Big Brothers Big Sisters on www.jobing.com! The company is a leading edge recruitment media provider. On their site you'll find plenty of job opportunities, expert blogs,  information about workshops, community partnerships, career expo job fairs, and more. Recently, www.jobing.com found out many employers aren't just providing salaries and benefits, they're also encouraging their staff to give back to the community, too. Take a look at how it works at Rampello Downtown Partnership School.

Check out Big Brothers Big Sisters on www.jobing.com!