Military and civilian personnel at Scott AFB were recently invited to meet Karen Mathis, President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. She spoke about the work Big Brothers Big Sisters is doing to provide mentors for children whose parents are deployed and efforts to recruit military volunteers.

Mathis has worked with all five branches of the U.S. military and lobbied successfully on behalf of servicemen and women, as well as their families. Scott AFB Airman and Family Readiness Center has partnered with Big Brothers Big Sisters by combining the Big Brothers Big Sisters technological and management resources and resources of the Airman and Family Readiness Center that will directly impact how children of military families grow up to be successful and productive members of society.

Mathis is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Denver and received a law degree from the University of Colorado Law School. She has been honored by many organizations, including the National Network for Youth, the U.S. Air Force, and the National Association of Women Lawyers.

Mathis served as the third woman president of the American Bar Association, the world's largest voluntary professional organization, where she created the Youth at Risk program.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwestern Illinois is one of 22 Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies in the country that received a grant from the T. Boone Pickens Foundation to mentor children whose parents are deployed. The agency serves youth in St. Clair, Madison, Clinton and Monroe counties by providing them with a Big Brother or Big Sister mentor. Forty volunteers from Scott AFB serve as Big Brothers and Big Sisters volunteers and ten military children are enrolled in the program.

Pictured above in the first row (L to R) are Big Sister Sheri Jackson SSgt USAF; Big Sister Diedra Mister TSgt USAF; Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwestern Illinois President and CEO Barbara Cempura; Big Brothers Big Sisters of America President and CEO Karen Mathis and Big Sister Shelia Ford SMSgt USAF. Second row (L to R) Big Sister Beronica Estrada SRA USAF; Big Sister Cheryl Bievenue, Civilian Contracted USAF; Chief of Airman and Family Readiness Center Amy Uptergrove and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Senior Vice President, Agency Development and Mentoring Programs Cindy Mesko. Third row (L to R) Big Brother Jerrill Jones, USAF Retired and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Senior Vice President, Philanthropy and External Affairs Nick Booth

Katie Martin & Veronica Seabaugh volunteered at Big Brothers Big Sisters from June to August as VISTA summer associates. They assisted with golf tournaments, house raffle and office tasks.

Katie will be a sophomore at Vanderbilt University this fall and is majoring in Human & Organizational Development with a minor in French. Katie was a Little Sister in our program growing up and became a Big Sister while attending Belleville Township High School East through our school program. Katie has also traveled to Belize for spring break where she helped to construct a house.

Veronica will be a Junior at St. Louis University this fall and is majoring in finance. She is a member of the Gamma Phi Beta Sorority at SLU. Veronica volunteers as a Big Sister. She enjoys traveling and recently spent a semester in Spain where she visited 7 countries.

 

Several children in our program were able to participate in a fun day of learning at the Fairview Heights Old Navy store. They received hands on training and instructions to understand what it would be like to work at the retail store. Managers taught them everything from how to run a cash register to folding clothes, as well as good customer service skills.

 

Alpha Big Brother, Pierre Smith and his Little Brother Akeem recently spent the day participating in the Illinois Avenue Park build in East St. Louis on July 31. They helped with many of the jobs on site, including pouring concrete. Way to go guys!

 

If so, shop during Borders Benefit Days Aug. 20 - 22 & you can help Big Brothers Big Sisters. Coupon can be used at either the Fairview Heights or Edwardsville stores and for on-line purchases.

 

The Belleville News-Democrat and Big Brothers Big Sisters will be hosting the Readers' Choice Awards banquet on August 26 at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows. The top three nominees in each of the 30 categories will be honored. The Masters of Ceremonies will be Jay Tebbe, Belleville News-Democrat President and Mike Leopold. Proceeds from the banquet ticket sales will benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters. Seats are $40 per person. If you would like to make a reservation to attend, please contact Summer at 398-3162 or email summerl@peaknet.net

 

Ameren Golf Tournament
August 27
Spencer T. Olin Golf Course - Alton, IL
$125 per person entry fee
Contact Summer Little at (618) 398-3162

 

The Big Brothers Big Sisters House Raffle is back, with another beautiful Fulford Home and thousands of dollars in cash up for grabs. Each purchase of a $100 certificate gives you a chance to win one of 45 prizes, including the grand prize: a Wisconsin Ranch Design house in the Illini Trails Subdivision of O'Fallon, Illinois (valued at $199,900) - or $125,000 in cash.

Purchase a raffle certificate by August 19 and be eligible to win $1,000 in the Early Bird drawing. The grand prize drawing will be held on September 30th at St. Clair Square Shopping Center. To enter, call us at (618) 398-3162 or order online.

 

Thank you to all of our friends at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Belleville for thinking of our children and volunteers by donating tickets to a Cardinal's game. Pictured having fun at the game is Big Sisters Ashlea Hibshman and her Little Sister Anita.

 

If your company is interested in hosting an event or donating an event prize, please contact Missy at missya@peaknet.net