Inside this Issue: - Big Brother of the Year - Big Scholars Program - Dancing for the Stars - How Can You Be Involved?
Texas Big of the Year Nick Schreiber with Little Gavin and Senator Craig Estes
www.bbbstx.org I facebook.com/bbbswf I 940.767.2447 I 4822 Kemp Blvd, Ste 1200 I Wichita Falls, TX 76308 All Participants in Dancing for the Stars 2017
From Wichita Falls to Austin... Nick Schreiber is Texas Big Brother of the Year It’s a bond strong enough to be worth an award. Nick Schreiber, a Big Brother Big Sisters of Wichita County mentor, his “little” Gavin Thompson and Gavin’s mom, Marby, headed to Austin in late February. At a special event, Schreiber was recognized as Texas Big Brother of the Year. “The process began locally,” said Kem Hogue, Big Brothers Big Sisters regional director. “Volunteers and community leaders from Wichita County, the Lone Star region and at the state level evaluated the nominations. As Texas Big Brother of the Year, Nick was chosen from 5,500 mentors.” “This is a tremendous honor,” said Schreiber, who described how an interest in BBBS became mentorship. “The minimum requirement for Big Brothers is to spend 4 hours a month with their match, but I regularly go beyond that. You forget the commitment of time. It’s about the connection you make with a kid. Gavin’s basically my little shadow that talks a lot.”
“Nick hasn’t taken the place of Gavin’s absent dad. He’s just there for him,” Marby said. “Gavin thinks a lot of him.” “I wanted to be a firefighter, then a cop, then a teacher. Now I want to be a lawyer,” Gavin said. “I’d vote for Nick (as Big Brother of the Year) more than once.” Director of Marketing for SLA Architects, Schreiber is just as committed to his buddy. “Really, Gavin’s my ‘Little Brother of the Year,” Schreiber said. “I want to see him succeed, be a good man, a good father someday.” Article courtesy of Judith McGinnis, Times Record News
Schreiber, current chairman of the BBBS Wichita Falls board, and Gavin, an 11-yearold fifth grader at Petrolia Elementary School, were matched 2½ years ago. Movies, museum trips and visits to the Nick’s family farm in Windthorst are just a few of the experiences they have shared. Other activities have included a “Nature Day” in Mineral Wells, going to parks to play catch, and going to sporting events like an MSU football game, a Dallas Mavericks basketball game, and a FC Dallas soccer game in Frisco. They’re still trying to find a time capsule Schreiber buried near the farm when he was 10 years old.
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L-R: Kem Hogue, Representative James Frank, Little Brother Gavin, Big Brother Nick Schreiber
Texas Big Brother of the Year Austin Trip Photos
Nick and Gavin were able to enjoy parts of Austin during their trip. They spent a lot of time in Mueller Lake Park playing catch, walking the trails, and enjoying the exhibits at The Thinkery. They also visited a couple local restaurants and enjoyed touring the Capitol and the University of Texas Campus.
Activity Photos
Nick and Gavin enjoy outdoor activities like playing with animals on Nick’s family farm as well as exploring the creek and pastures. They also enjoy visiting museums and the Riverbend Nature Center. Gavin has been to many of Nick’s family get-togethers and events. Recently, Gavin signed up to play baseball for the first time and Nick is one of the assistant coaches.
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Big Sister of the Year - Zeltzin Reyes Outstanding Leadership with MSU Bigs and more comfortable talking and sharing things with me. Although I may not have known what to expect when I first met Stephanie, we are now very special friends. This relationship with Stephanie has been more than I ever expected. She randomly talks to me about her day, her friends, and even her crush! It all really makes me laugh! It makes me laugh because it’s like she’s a little gown up and because I’m glad she sees me as someone worthy to know and share what goes on inside her mini grown up world. Big Sister of the Year - Wichita County
“Becoming a mentor is something I always knew I wanted to do. My story with my Little, Stephanie began with a simple flyer in the Midwestern State University Student Center. Walking into the Big Brothers Big Sisters presentation one evening, completely sold me! I immediately submitted my application and was contacted by Big Brothers Big Sisters, to schedule my interview. The interview was like filling out a questionnaire for a dating website. It was pretty fun and easy. Within a few weeks I got one of the most exciting calls ever! I had a match, with a little sister!
At this point, Stephanie’s family may not have the financial stability to help her become a veterinarian like she aspires to be, but I hope that our time together inspires her to continue to work toward her dreams, to hold on to them with all her might and never let them go! I’m not sure what to expect once I graduate from MSU and possibly leave Wichita Falls, but I’m sure Stephanie and I will continue to be friends.” Zeltzin Reyes - Big Sister of the Year
I headed over to her house not knowing what to expect, but definitely excited! Stephanie and I are now going on three years and the memories we’ve made are priceless. At first we were both a bit shy but after many Wildcats hockey games, Nighthawk football games, trips to the zoo, various visits to the animal shelter, and even just days at the park, we’ve become special friends. Throughout these activities I’ve gotten to know her, what she enjoys and what she aspires to be. It has reminded me of how ambitious we tend to be when we’re young. Over time I’ve noticed how she has become more Zeltzin with Little Sister Stephanie
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BBBS Generations Programs Dedication, Compassion, Experience
50 Plus Zone
With decades of knowledge and a wealth of experiences, those on the leading edge of the baby boomer generation have much to share. We love teaming up with seniors in our community so they can share their lifetime of experiences with children needing a Big Brother or Big Sister through the Generations mentoring program.
Rolling Meadows
Presbyterian Manor
Mentors in the Generations program are beyond the demands of entry-level jobs and pre-school children. They are milder versions of the athletes they used to be and travel more than stay home. They are empty nesting, grand-parenting and reinventing retirement. Simply put, they are changing the lives of children by sharing their time and life experiences. The Generations program for mature volunteers encourages seniors to share their time and experiences through youth mentoring. The Generations program is gaining momentum within our community and we are partnering with retirement communities, assisted living centers, and senior groups. To date, our program is enjoyed by members of the 50+ Zone, Presbyterian Manor, and Rolling Meadows.
50 Plus Zone
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Big Scholars Program - Scotland Park New Program with Big Results “Scotland Park staff has been working extremely hard through school initiatives and home visits to make Scotland Park Elementary the very best. Last spring, during the 2016 school year, I realized that we had a weak link in our plans which was the lack of a successful mentoring program. Not sure of what direction to take, I contacted Vicki McCann with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Wichita County. We met and discussed our need for mentoring and off we went. BBBS and Scotland Park have partnered up to provide an excellent opportunity to better our students and their education. We currently have three programs in which we participate. They are the Scotland Park scholars with our third graders, MSU Collegiate Scholars with our 4th graders, and a community-based program. Our partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters continues to grow, and in its first year, has already made a big impact with our Scotland Park community. We have seen the impact in the positive attitudes, improved behavior and reading skills of these 3rd graders. Our 4th graders look forward to going to the MSU campus, meeting with their mentors and being encouraged by these outstanding young people.” Courtesy of Joe Clement At Risk Coordinator Scotland Park Elementary School
To get started, contact us today: • BBBS: Vicki McCann 940.767.2447 vmccann@bbbstx.org
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Through the Big Scholars program at Scotland Park Elementary, we provide lunch once a month for the Bigs and their Littles. Big Scholar Program details: • Individually match students in a 3rd grade classroom with mentors. • Meet as a group once a month during the classroom’s lunch time. • Work on social skills by interacting with mentors on a one-to-one friendship. • Work on how to write pen pal letters and address envelopes. • Work on reading skills that are enhanced by the one-to-one mentoring.
MSU Bigs Presents... On-Campus Mentoring Program Big Brothers Big Sisters of Wichita County is excited to provide mentors through a new partnership with Midwestern State University. This new program is on-campus mentoring that matches the children on our waiting list with MSU students. This is an opportunity for college students who would like to be a mentor to kids in our community. It’s a great way to learn more about community involvement, to network with other future professionals, and to start adding to your resume before graduation. • Through this program, our Littles benefit from being matched with young, energetic, active and positive role models.
The requirements for you to be involved are: • • • • •
Must be 18 years of age. Must commit to a year. Complete the initial application. Interview with the BBBS staff. BBBS will run a background and reference check.
To get started, contact us today: • BBBS: Vicki McCann 940.767.2447 vmccann@bbbstx.org
• Students will be matched with a Little Sister or Little Brother through the BBBS program. • Activities that can be enjoyed through this program include homework help, reading, games, sports, and other fun activities. • BBBS transports the Littles from Scotland Park Elementary to MSU twice a month. • Students meet with their Littles from 3:50 to 5:00pm. Meeting dates will be scheduled by early September for Fall and Spring semesters.
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Match Activities! Fun, Safe & Low-Cost Activities Match activities are scheduled every month by our Match Support Specialist, Deborah Halvorson to provide fun, low-cost or free, and safe activities for our Bigs and Littles. Just this past year, our matches have enjoyed movie nights, a trip to the Dallas Mavericks game, Nighthawks games, a trip to the Boomtown Bay Family Aquatic Center in Burkburnett, and Lego night. Mark your calendars for these upcoming events: • • • • •
June - Big Picnic June - Outdoor Day October - Halloween Party November - Thanksgiving Party December - Holiday Party
Donna with Little Nataskie
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Newman with Little Chris
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Jason Jessica with Little Mya Take Your Little to Work Day
We Served 155 Children in 2016 Thanks to our Community Support! It takes a community of donors and volunteers to provide one-to-one mentoring to children in Wichita County. We are especially thankful for the following foundations and community organizations for their continued support: • • • • • • • •
Bryant Edwards Foundation Gene Conley Foundation J.S. Bridwell Foundation James N. McCoy Foundation North Texas Area United Way Wichita Falls Area Community Foundation Junior League of Wichita Falls Kadane Foundation • The Fain Foundation • The Priddy Foundation
L-R: Shambreka Jones, Kem Hogue, Cliff Harris and Jessica Edwards Mr. & Mrs. Big
Our staff and board don’t rely solely on support from our community foundations. We host many fundraisers throughout the year which not only raise funds to support our matches, but also creates awareness for our programs. These annual fundraisers include: • • • •
Bowl for Kids’ Sake Taste of Texoma Texoma Gives Dancing for the Stars
Sept 24, 2017 Oct 19, 2017 Sept 7, 2017 TBD, 2018
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Dancing for the Stars 2017 Recap Our Fourth Annual Event Was a BIG Success! Dancing for the Stars raised the roof at MPEC earlier this year. Twelve dancing pairs, each with a celebrity dancer and professional instructor raised over $148,000. This event benefits Big Brothers Big Sisters and America’s SBDC at Midwestern State University. With this year’s total, the event has raised well over half a million dollars in four years. “I can’t say enough about all of our celebrity dancers and professional instructors, emcees, judges, volunteers, sponsors and media who all worked to make sure Dancing for the Stars was an amazing evening,” said Kem Hogue, director of Big Brothers Big Sisters. “Thank you to everyone who purchased tickets and voted for your favorite dancers. I am so proud to be a part of the Wichita Falls community that has a heart for mentoring.”
“It was an awesome experience,” Kuhrt said Saturday morning. “I’d like to congratulate all of the participants last night. They were all awesome and gave so much of their time and effort to put on a great show for all the sponsors and community members that came out in support of the event.” Article courtesy of Deanna Watson, Times Record News
Mirror Ball Trophy
Winners from 2017 DFTS: top: Dottie Morrison with Mike Sherry; left: Debi Walters with Chandler Smith; right: Mike Kuhrt with Erin Sherry
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Best Female Dancer
Best Male Dancer
One-to-One Mentoring You Can Be A BIG! Sign up for Community-Based Program
Many relationships between Bigs and Littles are part of our Community-based programs. Community-based mentoring relationships involve one-on-one outings and activities, doing things the Big and Little enjoy together, like: • • • • •
Taking a walk in the park Going to museums and nature centers Attending Match Activities Listening to music or going to movies Simply just hanging out and talking
Some Bigs meet their Littles on the weekends and others get together during the week. Each match is unique and develops a schedule that works for them. Role models make an impact Studies show that children who have role models are more likely to improve in school and in their relationships with family and friends, and less likely to skip school or use illegal drugs or alcohol. Students who are successful in school are less likely to drop out, abuse drugs, or commit crimes.
Sign up for our School-Based Program
It may sound obvious, but sometimes the best place to help a child realize their potential is at school. Kids enjoy having their Bigs meet with them there, whether it’s in the classroom or on the playground. And parents know what a positive impact it makes. Some of the biggest supporters of our SchoolBased Mentoring program are teachers. They see students come back from their time with their Bigs happy, confident, ready to learn and eager to succeed. Learning about life. Although it takes place at schools, our SchoolBased Mentoring program isn’t limited to academics. Of course, some Littles do talk with their Bigs about class, or do homework, or read together, but it’s perfectly fine to shoot hoops in the gym or play on the playground. At the end of the day, it’s really all about starting a friendship, providing guidance and inspiring them to reach their potential. To get started, contact us today: • BBBS: Vicki McCann 940.767.2447 vmccann@bbbstx.org Or, complete an online application at: • www.bbbstx.org/applications
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Thank you to our Sponsors!
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