Big Brothers Big Sisters Recognizes National Partners at Annual Conference

DENVER, June 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, recognizing the growth and importance of its corporate, foundation and media support has presented six of its distinguished partners with the national mentoring organization's National Partners Awards.  Clear Channel Radio,  Channel Radio, Beiersdorf USA, Thrive Foundation for Youth, Nerium International and NIKE Black Employees and Friends Network  received their awards at Big Brothers Big Sisters' national conference in Denver, Colorado.  

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"We are privileged to have such a strong group of dedicated national partners, whose generous contributions have helped us build and maintain the systems that lead to the positive outcomes for which Big Brothers Big Sisters is known," said President and CEO Charles Pierson.  "Our partners are a fundamental component to providing youth facing adversity with a healthier outlook, a brighter future with increased opportunities and ultimately better communities for all.  We are extremely grateful for their ongoing commitment."

The Thrive Foundation for Youth is the recipient of Big Brothers Big Sisters' Enterprise Award. This award is given to a new partner whose vision and investment led to innovations in the mentoring network. Thrive Foundation will partner with local Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies to study the effects of a new youth-centered approach to professional mentoring match support.  Match support specialists thoroughly screen each volunteer and provide ongoing assistance for mentors, mentees and families to help sustain the long, successful relationships that yield educational and socio-emotional outcomes unique to Big Brothers Big Sisters. The careful and consistent monitoring of the match relationship and the ongoing communication with the family, mentee, and mentor is why Big Brothers Big Sisters is at the forefront of youth service organizations.

The President's Award, recognizes a donor whose investment has promoted a standard of excellence throughout the Big Brothers Big Sisters network.  Beiersdorf USA has an employee-led, work-based mentoring program that focuses on supporting youth in the local community.

Big Brothers Big Sisters' partnership with Beiersdorf is one of the most successful cause-marketing efforts in the organization's 100-year history.  With the more than $1.5 million Beiersdorf has donated, Big Brothers Big Sisters has been able to provide more children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported mentoring relationships that change the lives of children for the better, forever

Big Brothers Big Sisters' Community Impact Award was presented to Nerium International.  This award is given to a long-standing donor whose generosity has greatly impacted the community of the mentoring organization.  Nerium International believes in investing in others, which is what inspired them to launch the Nerium Ripple, a program based on "individually taking responsibility, collectively change the world."  Nerium has encouraged its independent representatives, known as Brand Partners, to join with Big Brothers Big Sisters in a variety of ways: becoming a Big, giving a percentage of their commissions and/or participating in local Bowl for Kids' Sakes events.  Nerium and its Brand Partners have donated over $285,000  to Big Brothers Big Sisters nationally and locally over the past year and many have volunteered to be Bigs.

Clear Channel received the Common Good Award for providing services that benefit the common good of the organization and brand as a whole. Earlier this year as a part of a new national partnership, Clear Channel Communities™, the community engagement brand of Clear Channel Media and Entertainment created a series of pro bono public service announcements (PSAs) to help Big Brothers Big Sisters change the lives of kids facing adversity across America.  The ads invite listeners, including Big Brothers Big Sisters alumni, to go to BigBrothersBigSisters.org to Start Something by volunteering, donating or sharing their own "Big" mentoring stories. The PSAs aired on all Clear Channels 850 radio stations in all 150 markets -- an estimated value of $3.0 to $3.5 million.  Clear Channel Media and Entertainment, with 243 million monthly listeners in the United States, has the largest reach of any radio or television outlet in America.

This year's winner of the Michael Baisden inspiration Award was the NIKE Black Employees and Friends Network.  First presented in 2012 to broadcaster, author and philanthropist Michael Baisden for his partnership and support of Big Brothers Big Sisters' Mentoring Brothers in Action campaign, the Baisden Inspiration award is now an annual award given to individuals demonstrating consistent generosity and dedication to support Big Brothers Big Sisters' African American mentoring programs.  The passionate NIKE employees support Big Brothers Big Sisters as volunteer mentors, donors and volunteer recruiters. They selected the national mentoring organization as its partner after learning that children waiting for "Bigs" are disproportionately African-American boys. The employee group's support for Big Brothers Big Sisters includes an annual Day of Service, Bowl for Kids Sake fundraisers and the Iconic Sneaker Ball.  In 2013, they hosted an online Black History Month auction for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America that raised more than $90.000.  They collaborated with celebrity designer Don C, and his Just Don brand to offer 3 Just Don® Snapback hats and 7 exclusive pairs of Air Jordan 1 sneakers and signature NIKE Black History Month.  In three years, they've raised more than $400,000 for the organization.

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.  Big Brothers Big Sisters Youth Outcomes Survey Report reinforces the mentoring program's evidence base of 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. The organization is engaged in a nationwide search to reunite with alumni mentors, mentees, donors, and family, staff and board members.  Learn more at BigBrothersBigSisters.org.

SOURCE Big Brothers Big Sisters