Big Brothers Big Sisters Bowl-A-Thon

Ophir teachers Erika Frounfelker, Brittany Ellis, Emily Herlihy, Stephanie Kissell, Julia LeGrand and Hatton Littman and Hatton’s sons: Ben Littman Roeder and Weston Littman Roeder recently took part in the Big Brothers Big Sisters Bowl for Kids’ Sake.

These fine women and young men raised $650 for the organization and Weston donated a whopping $20 from his own piggy bank.

The Big Brothers Big Sisters Mission is to help children reach their potential through professionally supported, one-to-one relationships.

The Big Brothers Big Sisters Vision is successful mentoring relationships for all children who need and want them, contributing to brighter futures, better schools, and stronger communities for all. Big Brothers Big Sisters’ one-to-one youth mentoring has been shown to have a significant and positive impact on the lives of children, according to the first-ever nationwide impact study of a mentoring organization.

Researchers found that after 18 months of spending time with their Bigs, the Little Brothers and Little Sisters were: 46% less likely to begin using illegal drugs, 27% less likely to begin using alcohol, 52% less likely to skip school, 37% less likely to skip a class, more confident of their performance in schoolwork , one-third less likely to hit someone and getting along better with their families

Big Brothers Big Sisters volunteers had the greatest impact in the area of alcohol and substance abuse prevention. For every 100 youth between ages 10 and 16 who start using drugs, the study found, only 54 similar youth who are matched with a Big will start using drugs. Minority boys and girls were the most strongly influenced; they were 70 percent less likely than their peers to initiate drug use.

“We have known all along that Big Brothers Big Sisters’ mentoring has a long-lasting, positive effect on children’s confidence, grades, and social skills,” said Judy Vredenburgh, Big Brothers Big Sisters’ President and CEO, “and the results of this impact study scientifically confirm that belief.”

Big Brothers Big Sisters is a proven prevention program for youth, providing needed support to children in our local Gateway/ Big Sky community through professionally supported one-to-one relationships. Each individual can remember a special adult who made a difference in their lives when they were children. Big Brothers Big Sisters can ensure that children in our community have positive adult role models in their lives. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Gallatin County matches children aged five through 15 with adult and young adult volunteer mentors. The program has tremendous impacts on the lives of both the children (Littles) and volunteers (Bigs). The organization is dedicated to providing opportunities to enjoy the magic that comes from making a new friend.

This Saturday, Shop For A Cause gives you the opportunity to help Big Brothers Big Sisters of Gallatin County. Purchase a $5 Shopping Pass for exclusive savings and special offers in every Macy’s store on Saturday, October 17th. As a participating charity we keep 100% of the proceeds from the sale of each pass. Plus, you can enter to win a $500 Macy’s Gift Card. To purchase a pass, just give Big Brothers Big Sisters a call at 587-1216.