Big Brothers Big Sisters Recognizes National Partners at Annual Conference

WASHINGTON, June 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Celebrating collaboration and partnership, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America recognizes five national partners for their committed support. The Annie E. Casey Foundation; Cargill; Comcast Corporation; syndicated radio host Michael Baisden; and PepsiCo. received special recognition today in Washington, D.C. at the Big Brothers Big Sisters National Leadership Summit, a gathering of leaders of the mentoring network's nearly 350 agencies.

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"We are proud to recognize the outstanding contributions of our national partners—dedicated corporations and individuals whose continued support allows Big Brothers Big Sisters to create strong and enduring, professionally supported mentoring relationships that lead to positive outcomes for children who are facing adversity," said Max Miller, co-CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.

The Annie E. Casey Foundation, a committed Big Brothers Big Sisters national partner for nearly 20 years, received the Chairman's Award.  The award recognizes longstanding partners whose engagement in philanthropic activities have had a significant impact on the advancement of Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring programs across the country.  One of the largest private foundations in America, the Annie E. Casey Foundation provides funding to organizations that effectively meet the needs of vulnerable children and families.  The Foundation's significant investment in Big Brothers Big Sisters has enabled the national mentoring network to enhance its family strengthening practices and better track youth outcomes. 

Earlier this year Big Brothers Big Sisters released its first-ever report of youth outcomes, which substantiated that its mentoring programs have proven, positive academic, socio-emotional and behavioral outcomes for youth in areas linked to high school graduation, avoidance of juvenile delinquency and college or job readiness.

Big Brothers Big Sisters presented its Community Impact Award, which honors a long-standing donor whose generosity has greatly impacted the community of the organization, to Cargill.  Since 2006, Cargill has provided $1.75 million in support to Big Brothers Big Sisters' Hispanic and School-Based Mentoring Programs in targeted communities across the network.  Funding has also supported funding Big Brothers Big Sisters' Enhanced School-Based Mentoring Study, as well as the Hispanic Mentoring Program at the national office.  Cargill employees are engaged with the organization as volunteer mentors, event participants, and donors.  In 2011, Cargill's chairman and CEO, Gregory R. Page, received the national mentoring network's highest volunteer honor.  Page is also a Big Brothers Big Sisters of America national board member and former board chair. 

PepsiCo. received the Enterprise Award, which celebrates partners that have made a significant impact on Big Brothers Big Sisters programs and continue to advance its mission to serve youth.  Through employee engagement, in-kind donations and support, PepsiCo has helped Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies execute successful Bowl for Kids' Sake events across the country.  Bowl for Kids' Sake, the mentoring network's signature fundraiser, raises more than $21 million nationally.  In addition, Tostitos, a brand of PepsiCo subsidiary Frito-Lay, presented Big Brothers Big Sisters with a $250,000 donation as part of Tostitos Fiesta Bowl festivities.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of America recognized nationally syndicated radio host Michael Baisden for his partnership and support of Big Brothers Big Sisters' Mentoring Brothers in Action campaign.  Baisden, who came to know the organization through his national mentor recruitment tour in 2010, has supported Mentoring Brothers in Action via financial contributions, as well as through advocacy and pro bono airtime on his popular nationally syndicated radio program.  The Michael Baisden Inspiration Award will become an annual award given to an individual who demonstrates consistent generosity and dedication to helping Big Brothers Big Sisters recruit African American male mentors and increase its service to the disproportionate number of African American boys who are ready and waiting to be matched with mentors across the country.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of America's President's Award went to Comcast Corporation.  The honor recognizes a partner who has made a significant and innovative investment in the national network.  Since 2008, the media and technology company has supported Big Brothers Big Sisters quality mentoring programs through donated airtime for public service announcements, program sponsorships, national board support, and through its own workplace mentoring program, Comcast's John Alchin "Beyond School Walls."  The program, which is the nation's largest workplace mentoring program run in partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, has directly impacted more than 300 young people in 12 cities across the country and brings mentees and their Comcast employee mentors together every other week at Comcast facilities.  Comcast has also been the presenting sponsor of the Big Brothers Big Sisters annual conference since 2008.

About Big Brothers Big Sisters
Big Brothers Big Sisters, the nation's largest donor and volunteer supported mentoring network, holds itself accountable for children in its program to achieve measurable outcomes, such as educational success; avoidance of risky behaviors; and higher aspirations, greater confidence and better relationships.  Partnering with parents/guardians, schools, corporations and others in the community, Big Brothers Big Sisters carefully pairs children ("Littles") with screened volunteer mentors ("Bigs") and monitors and supports these one-to-one mentoring matches throughout their course.  The first-ever Big Brothers Big Sisters Youth Outcomes Summary, released in 2012, substantiates that its mentoring programs have proven, positive academic, socio-emotional and behavioral outcomes for youth, areas linked to high school graduation, avoidance of juvenile delinquency and college or job readiness.

Big Brothers Big Sisters provides children facing adversity, often those of single or low-income households or families where a parent is incarcerated or serving in the military, with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one mentoring relationships that change their lives for the better, forever.  This mission has been the cornerstone of the organization's 100-year history.  With about 350 agencies across the country, Big Brothers Big Sisters serves nearly 630,000 children, volunteers and families. Learn how you can positively impact a child's life, donate or volunteer at BigBrothersBigSisters.org.

SOURCE Big Brothers Big Sisters