GEARING UP FOR A GOOD TIME
Woodstock & District Big Brothers Preparing for 2nd Annual Big Bro Car Show
(September 6, 2005 – Woodstock) Once again plans are underway for Woodstock & District Big Brothers 2nd Annual Big Bro Car Show.From 9am to 2pm on Sunday September 25, 2005 the parking lot of our sponsor, Woodstock Canadian Tire, will be revving with activity.
The Big Bro Car Show promises to be an exciting event for all involved.Vehicle registration is a $10 donation to Big Brothers. The first 150 pre-paid registrants will be guaranteed a dash plaque. The day will include an engine blow up, BBQ, prize raffle, 50/50 draw, Big and Little Brother’s Choice awards, door prizes and much more.
Last year, more than 200 cars and trucks registered for the show. “The number of classic car and truck enthusiasts in attendance was extraordinary.” says Marnie Fallowfield, Development Officer for Woodstock Big Brothers “We are hoping to meet and possibly surpass these numbers during this year’s event.”Fallowfield adds, “The proceeds from the car show provide the means to continue mentoring programs for the youth of our community. Our challenge is to maintain our matches as well as find volunteers for the 56 children who are presently on our waiting list.”
September is Big Brothers Big Sisters month and marks the annual recruitment drive, so come on out to the Big Bro Car Show and learn how a LITTLE time can make a BIG difference.For more information, please call Big Brothers (519) 539-7469.
“Magic Is Just a Click Away”
MasterCard issues Website hits Challenge for September 23, 2005
MasterCard has renewed their partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada (BBBSC) in 2005 to help raise awareness for mentoring. MasterCard and BBBSC will be conducting the second annual “Magic Is a Just Click Away” campaign on September 23, 2005.
“Like many charitable organizations, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada works with the corporate community to strengthen our cause and improve our ability to increase service delivery.Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada is excited about the 2005 BBBS Month campaign and the unique projects that will help us reach thousands of Canadians”, said Bruce MacDonald, President & CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada.Woodstock & District Big Brothers would like to invite members of the community to log onto www.sharealittlemagic.ca on September 23 to learn more about the mentoring programs they offer. If the website receives 25 000 hits on that day, MasterCard will donate $75,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada.
A MONTH TO CELEBRATE
Mayor declares September Big Brothers Big Sisters Month
(August 29, 2005 – Woodstock)With the help of Mayor Michael Harding, Woodstock & District Big Brothers have met one of their goals.In early August, the National Big Brothers Big Sisters office issued a challenge to all of the 160 member agencies to have their community declare September Big Brothers Big Sisters month.With the help of Mayor Michael Harding, Woodstock & District Big Brothers have met this goal.
Alex Frerichs and his Big Brother, Brian Matheson, will be at the city council meeting September 1 to accept the proclamation.In addition to the proclamation, City Hall will be flying the Big Brothers flag for the month-long celebration. Matheson says “I would like to that the mayor for proclaiming September Big Brothers Big Sisters month. May this heighten the awareness to the general public of the need for more participants in Big Brothers/Big Sisters and also to make everyone more appreciative of this program and its ability to serve youngsters’ needs in the community.”
Matheson and Frerichs have been matched for a year and a half.Matheson says “I enjoy being a Big Brother as it provides the opportunity of sharing moments of quiet reflection to more ambitious projects like building a picnic table.” He adds “I enjoy sharing in Alex’s eagerness and enthusiasm.”
Big Brothers Big Sisters month also marks the annual recruitment drive. With over 50 children on the waiting list, volunteers are always needed. To find out how you can help make a difference in the life of a child, please call Woodstock & District Big Brothers (519) 539-7469.
Canadian Corporations & Municipalities Share A Little Magic With Big Brothers Big Sisters!
September is Big Brothers Big Sisters Month and many communities as well as some of Canada’s largest corporations are helping to spread the word!
New in 2005 is the rally to have every community with a Big Brothers Big Sisters agency proclaim September as Big Brothers Big Sisters month.To mark the occasion supporting municipalities will be raising the new Big Brothers Big Sisters flag to fly at city hall in September.To date there are fifty communities across the country who have proclaimed September as Big Brothers Big Sisters month!
MasterCard Canada, EDULINX, and Nokia are launching nationwide campaigns to help raise awareness for mentoring and the impact positive role models bring to the healthy development of children and communities throughout Canada.
“Like many charitable organizations, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada works with the corporate community to strengthen our cause and improve our ability to increase service delivery.Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada is excited about the 2005 BBBS Month campaign and the unique projects that will help us reach thousands of Canadians”, said Bruce MacDonald, President & CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada.“MasterCard Canada, Nokia Canada, and EDULINX Canada Corporation are long standing partners of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada.Together, these four companies are pioneering a fantastic campaign that will ultimately help our organization to serve more children. We are both proud and honoured to have the renewed support of four of Canada’s largest corporations.”
MasterCard Canada
MasterCard will be leading the charge with a Friend to Friend e-mail campaign entitled “Magic Is Just A Click Away” on September 23rd, 2005.The e-mail message has a direct call to action encouraging friends to visit the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada website www.sharealittlemagic.ca.
Mark September 23rd in your calendar - If 25,000 visitors hit the website on this day MasterCard Canada will donate $75,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada.
Listen to radio morning shows in Toronto, Edmonton and Quebec city on September 23rd as the media networks rally behind the MasterCard challenge!
Nokia Canada
Announcing the NEW Nokia Innovation Fund.
Nokia has sponsored a grant opportunity for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada agencies beginning this September.
Money will be made available for projects which focus on two areas of success: agency’s ability to Serve More Children or to build Sustainable Growth.
"We are encouraging the development of new mentoring programs that connect the needs of different groups of children with the availability and interests of new volunteers." said Grace Belmonte, the Director of Marketing for Nokia Canada. "We are challenging the member agencies to think of innovative, break-through programs that will ultimately help Big Brothers Big Sisters serve more children."
“The Nokia Innovation Fund will provide member agencies with the opportunity to pilot innovative projects that will help them to better serve their community and more children.This is a wonderful and exciting opportunity that we are very thankful for,” said Melanie Snyder, Director of Marketing, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada.
EDULINX Mentoring Awareness Tour
EDULINX Canada Corporation has been the title sponsor of the Mentoring Awareness Tour since 2001.In 2005, five time World and Olympic track champion, Donovan Bailey will be the Tour’s spokesperson.
“Donovan Bailey is instrumental in helping us recruit enough mentors to ensure that every child in Canada who needs a mentor has a mentor”, said Bruce MacDonald, President & CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada. “Children look at adult mentors as more than guides, or friends, they look at them as heroes.And Donovan Bailey is definitely a Canadian hero”.
The tour brings together members of the local business and education communities to discuss the power of mentoring, and to seek their support for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada’s mission.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada is the nation’s largest youth mentoring organization providing quality adult mentoring services for 20,000 children in more than 300 communities.For more than ninety years Big Brothers Big Sisters organizations in your community have been there to help provide a positive influence in the life of a child when one is needed.At Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada we believe that “Every Child In Canada Who Needs A Mentor Has A Mentor”.