Big Brothers Big Sisters Chosen as Partner in Members Project, New Social Action Effort by American Express and TakePart

PHILADELPHIA, April 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Big Brothers Big Sisters is proud to be a chosen partner in Members Project, an innovative online initiative that provides those with passion for philanthropy and interest in giving back an opportunity to take small steps to make a big difference.  Supporters of the organization can go online to www.takepart.com/groups/big-brothers-big-sisters/54120 to vote for Big Brothers Big Sisters to receive funding from American Express.

Every three months, the five charities that receive the highest number of votes will be chosen to each receive $200,000 in funding from American Express. For this initial round, Big Brothers Big Sisters is one of 49 charities competing for support. The funding will help the nation's largest donor-supported volunteer network match some of the country's most vulnerable kids with adult mentors.  

"By simply casting your online vote for Big Brothers Big Sisters, you can help us obtain much needed funds that enable us to help children of single, low-income or incarcerated parents beat the odds in and out of school," said Karen J. Mathis, President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters.  "Donations make it possible for us to carefully match children with volunteers and provide necessary ongoing match support to the volunteers, kids and their parents to sustain the matches so that they yield successful results."

The Members Project is a joint venture from American Express and TakePart, a content-driven social action network, to drive citizen engagement and social action and is part of a multi-year relationship to help people make a difference in the lives of others. The program encourages everyone, whether an American Express card member or not, to do their part by giving people numerous ways to get involved, share their stories and inspire others, and providing tools to support the diverse causes global citizens care about most, like Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Supporters can vote for Big Brothers Big Sisters in the Members Project, or sign up to volunteer or make a donation, by visiting www.takepart.com/groups/big-brothers-big-sisters/54120.

About Big Brothers Big Sisters

Big Brothers Big Sisters helps vulnerable children beat the odds.  The organization depends on donations to help conduct background checks on volunteers to ensure child safety; and provide ongoing support for children, families and volunteers to build and sustain long-lasting relationships, key to successful mentoring.  Big Brothers Big Sisters is proven by independent research to improve children's odds for succeeding in school, behaving nonviolently, avoiding drugs and alcohol, and breaking negative cycles.  Headquartered in Philadelphia and with nearly 400 agencies across the country, Big Brothers Big Sisters serves more than a quarter million children. Learn how you can change how children grow up in America by going to BigBrothersBigSisters.org and MentoringBrothers.org.

SOURCE Big Brothers Big Sisters