Media Kit - Traditional & Electronic

2720 6th St #100
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
Phone: 205-758-5734
www.bbbswestal.org
ORGANIZATION FACT SHEET
Big Brothers, Big Sisters is a donor and volunteer-supported youth mentoring organization. The
organization offers one-to-one mentoring relationships with at-risk youth ages 6-18. BBBS sets
up big and little relationships in which a big volunteers their time to participate in activities with
an at-risk child known as a little.
Mission
Provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one
relationships that change their lives for the better, forever.
Impact
Big Brothers Big Sisters has a positive impact on children’s lives. Independent research shows
that Little Brothers and Little Sisters were:
• 46% less likely to begin using illegal drugs
• 27% less likely to begin using alcohol
• 52% less likely to skip school
• 37% less likely to skip a class
• 33% less likely to hit someone
Target
Big Brothers Big Sisters targets the children who need help the most, including those living in
single parent homes, growing up in poverty and coping with parental incarceration.
Brief History
BBBS was originally founded by Ernest Coulter to help children who were getting in trouble. In
1977, Big Brothers joined Big Sister International, a group mentoring young women. Together,
they became Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. By 1994, the BBBSA federation had matched
75 thousand children from single-parent homes with caring adult volunteers through more than
500 agencies in all 50 states. BBBS is the world’s largest mentoring program and a nonprofit
organization. They help over 270 thousand children around the world.

2720 6th St #100
Phone: 205-758-5734
www.bbbswestal.org
Accountability Statement
BBBS partners with parents/guardians, volunteers, and others in the community and hold
ourselves accountable for each child in the program achieving:
• Higher aspirations, greater confidence and better relationships
• Avoidance of risky behaviors
• Educational success
Prominent Corporate Sponsors
• Allison and Partners
• Great Wolf Edge
• 7 Eleven
• American Eagle
• Arby’s
• Jack in the Box
• Hertz
• Comcast
• Nivea
• Minor League Baseball
Headquarters
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
230 North 13th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
For more information, contact:
Kristyn Schwiep
BBBS media director
813-695-2932
kschwiep@crimson.ua.edu

2720 6th St #100
Phone: 205-758-5734
www.bbbswestal.org
EVENT FACT SHEET
What
Big Brothers Big Sisters UA Play Day
Where
University of Alabama Recreational Fields
Purpose
Similar to the NFL’s Get Out and Play Day, bigs and littles can come and hang out with UA
athletes. UA Play Day will provide an opportunity for mentors to interact with their littles.
Special Speaker
Nick Saban
Event Participants
University of Alabama Football Players:
• T.J. Yeldon
• AJ McCarron
• DeAndrew White
• Kenyan Drake
• Tana Patrick
• Blake Sims
• Amari Cooper
• Derrick Henry
Date
June 15, 2013
Time
11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Food and refreshments
Subway will be catering the event and soda will be provided.
Tickets
$5.00 for adult, $3.00 for kids
Kristyn Schwiep,BBBS media director
813-695-2932

2720 6th St #100
Phone: 205-758-5734
www.bbbswestal.org
Backgrounder
In 1903, a 23-year-old businessman witnessed a young boy, Tom, in Cincinnati, Ohio
rummaging through a trashcan looking for food with his dog. Irvin Westheimer provided a meal
for the boy and got permission from Tom’s parents to take the boy on various outings to act as a
getaway from the impoverished state of his family. Years later, Westheimer founded the Big
Brother Association of Cincinnati (Big Brothers Big Sisters, 2013).
A year later in 1904, Coulter began his own journey of fostering adult-youth relationships with
those who came through the court system. Coulter approached the men’s club at Central
Presbyterian Church and told them about a young boy who was sentenced 18 months in jail for a
minor offense. Following that meeting, 40 men registered to become mentors for various boys in
the court system making them their first group of Big Brothers. In 1909 the first BBBS’ agency
was founded in New York.
Big Sisters developed as its own organization at the same time as Big Brothers. The Ladies
Charity of New York was the first program whose goal was to mentor young girls. Mrs. John
O’Keffe was the first big sister who founded the organization. Her earliest volunteers were wives
of influential businessmen and civic leaders in Manhattan (Big Brothers Big Sisters, 2013).
In 1914, planning for the first national Big Brothers and Big Sisters organization began.
Westheimer and Coulter were influential in the movement for collaboration between the different
agencies. In 1958 the United States Congress officially chartered a new Big Brothers of America
and in 1970, Big Sisters International was chartered. These two organizations merged in 1977 to
form Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, establishing the national headquarters in Philadelphia.
By 1994, the BBBSA federation had matched 75 thousand children from single-parent homes
with caring adult volunteers through more than 500 agencies in all 50 states (Big Brothers Big
Sisters, 2013).
Kristyn Schwiep
BBBS media director
813-695-2932

2720 6th St #100
Phone: 205-758-5734
www.bbbswestal.org
News Release
April 25, 2013 Contact:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Kristyn Schwiep
Director of Media Relations
555-555-555
Big Brothers, Big Sisters to Host ‘UA Play Day’ for Youth
Tuscaloosa, AL—March 17. The University of Alabama chapter of Big Brothers, Big Sisters will
be hosting a play day for local youth on campus. The event will be held on June 15 on the
recreation fields. The event starts at 11 a.m.
The purpose of this event is to provide a fun event for youth to get out and get active, and
an opportunity for local mentors to take their littles.
University of Alabama football players will be in attendance to throw the football, run
drills and supervise a scrimmage flag football game. Food, drinks and all sporting equipment will
be provided.
-more-

2720 6th St #100
Phone: 205-758-5734
www.bbbswestal.org
“The goal of this event is to have a place for youth to be around positive mentors, and of
course have fun. They’ll be able to get exercise, spend time with their mentors, and learn football
techniques from some of the best players in the NCAA,” said Bob Smith, president of the UA
chapter of BBBS.
“We’re happy to hold events like this for our local youth,” said University president Judy
Bonner. “We hope this can become a yearly event for UA, and hope this event will make a
positive impact in our communities.”
Play Day is part of a nationwide push by BBBS to increase the number of male mentors
involved with the organization. “We’ve noticed a dip in the number of male mentors
volunteering with BBBS compared to females, this type of event is mainly geared towards
getting more males involved,” said John Smith, a spokesman for BBBS.
BBBS plans to bring this event to other universities across the nation.
The UA Play Day event will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., June 15 on the UA Rec
fields. Representatives from BBBS will be there to give applications for volunteers and mentors
and to take donations.
-more-

2720 6th St #100
Phone: 205-758-5734
www.bbbswestal.org
Big Brothers, Big Sisters of America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that matches
volunteers to mentor troubled youth. The goal of this organization is to change these children’s
lives for the better, and allow them all the opportunity for success. For more information, visit
www.bbbs.org.
-###-

2720 6th St #100
Phone: 205-758-5734
www.bbbswestal.org
News Release
April 16, 2013 Contact:
813-695-2932
Nick Saban to Speak at Big Brothers, Big Sisters Event
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - University of Alabama head coach Nick Saban will be the featured
speaker at the Big Brothers, Big Sisters event “UA Play Day” in June.
“We are very excited to have Nick speak at our event,” said Bob Smith, president of the
UA chapters of BBBS. “He believes in the cause of our organization and agrees that the youth of
today need attention and support to prosper into young adults.”
Saban has won four BCS national championships, one with LSU in 2003 and three with
Alabama in 2009, 2011 and 2012. He is the first major college coach to win national
championships with two different teams.
-more-

2720 6th St #100
Phone: 205-758-5734
www.bbbswestal.org
The “UA Play Day” will be held June 15 at 11 am on the recreational fields at the
University of Alabama campus. The event is to provide youth with an opportunity to be active
outside and gives bigs an opportunity to interact with their littles in a positive setting.
“I am honored to be able to speak to the youth of our community,” said Saban. “I am
looking forward to the 'UA Play Day' event, and I hope to inspire the youth to never give up
regardless of the obstacles they may face.”
For more information, please contact Kristyn Schwiep at (813) 695-2932 or email at
kschwiep@crimson.ua.edu.
lives for the better, and allow them all the opportunity for success. For more information visit
www.bbbs.org.
-###-

2720 6th St #100
Phone: 205-758-5734
www.bbbswestal.org
News Release
April 16, 2013 Contact Information:
813-695-2932
AJ McCarron interacts with youth as a big brother
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - AJ McCarron, quarterback for the University of Alabama’s football
team, decided to participate in BBBS as a big brother or mentor. After going through the proper
paperwork and training, all that McCarron awaits being matched to a Little Brother.
Susan Brown is a single mom of a 13 year old boy named Alex. Susan works long hours
to provide for her small family. When Alex began his teenage years, Susan wanted her son to
have a positive male influence in his life.
Susan turned to Big Brothers Big Sisters to find a big brother match that would be best
suited for her son.
“I wanted Alex to be exposed to a male who could show him what it means to be a
respectable man,” Susan said.
-more-

2720 6th St #100
Phone: 205-758-5734
www.bbbswestal.org
Alex is a fan of all kinds of sports. He is an avid sports watcher and plays football, soccer
and baseball. Alex also loves to spend time outside. However, he struggles with having self-
confidence to interact with his peers.
Big Brothers Big Sisters, along with Susan, decided that McCarron would be the best
match for Alex.
AJ is a 22 year-old from Mobile, Alabama. He will be returning to UA for his senior
season this fall. AJ is the first quarterback to win back-to-back national championships in the
BCS era.
In the past couple of months, Alex and AJ have developed a close relationship. They
spend time together at least once a week doing different activities, including going to the movies,
playing various sports, chatting on the phone and other tasks.
“I have really enjoyed being a big brother.” AJ said. “I would recommend to anyone who
wants to be involved to volunteer through Big Brothers Big Sisters. It has been a learning and
growing experience for me just as much as it as been for Alex.”
“I have never seen Alex so happy before in his entire life,” said Susan. “Alex is always
excited about the events AJ plans with him. He has become more social with his peers and he has
a outlook on life that you do not see in most kids his age. I owe thanks to AJ and Big Brothers
Big Sisters for this change.”
-more-

2720 6th St #100
Phone: 205-758-5734
www.bbbswestal.org
Big Brothers Big Sisters is a non-profit organization that's mission is to help children
reach their potential through one-to-one relationships with mentors. If anyone would like to
volunteer within the UA community, they can contact Bob Smith, president of UA chapters of
Big Brothers Big Sisters or they can sign-up online at www.bbbs.org.
For more information, please contact Kristyn Schwiep at (813) 695-2932 or email at
kschwiep @crimson.ua.edu.
lives for the better, and allow them all the opportunity for success. For more information visit
www.bbbs.org.
-###-

2720 6th St #100
Phone: 205-758-5734
www.bbbswestal.org
Tweets
• Come join us at BBBS UA Play Day June 15 at 11 a.m. on the UA rec fields! #UABBBS
#UAPlayDay
• Come hang out with UA athletes at UA’s Play Day in support of Big Brothers Big Sisters.
#UABBBS #UAPlayDay
• Want to make a difference? Volunteer to be a big for BBBS! Come get more information
at UA’s Play Day at the rec fields. #UABBBS
• Interested in becoming a Big Brother or Big Sister for at-risk youth? Come to UA’s Play
Day on June 15 at 11 a.m. at the rec fields to get more information! #UABBBS
#UAPlayDay
• Become a Big Brother or Big Sister today! Join us today on the rec fields at 11 a.m. to get
more information on becoming a big. #UABBBS #UAPlayDay
• Today is the day! Come hang out with UA athletes and get more information on
becoming a big for BBBS. UA Play Day starts at 11 a.m. #UABBBS #UAPlayDay
• Want to become a future big? Come to UA’s Play Day and get information on becoming
a big. #UABBBS #UAPlayDay
• Nick Saban will be speaking at UA Play Day. This is an event you don’t want to miss!
#UABBBS #UAPlayDay
• We currently need bigs in the Tuscaloosa area. Come to the UA Play Day to find out how
to be a big. #UABBBS #UAPlayDay
• Bigs and littles, don’t forget to join us for UA Play Day! #UABBBS #UAPlayDay
• Big and littles, have you all made plans to join us June 15 for UA Play Day? You don’t
want to miss this event! #UABBBS #UAPlayDay

2720 6th St #100
Phone: 205-758-5734
www.bbbswestal.org
• Looking forward to a great afternoon on the UA rec fields. Don’t forget UA PlayDay at
11 this afternoon. #UABBBS #UAPlayDay
• It’s not too late to attend UA Play Day. The event will begin in two hours. Purchase
tickets at event. #UABBBS #UAPlayDay
• Bigs and littles make plans to come out to UA Play Day. For more information, check us
out on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bbbswa
• Are you ready for UA Play Day? We are! Join Nick Saban and UA athletes for an
afternoon of fun. #UABBBS #UAPlayDay
Facebook
• Bigs & Littles! Join us for our UA Play Day on June 15 at the UA rec fields from 11:00
a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Enjoy Nick Saban speak and hang out with UA athletes for an afternoon
full of fun.
• Nick Saban will be the special speaker at UA Play Day. Make plans to join us on June 15
to hear what Saban has to say about Big Brothers Big Sisters.
• Do you want to volunteer? We are looking for volunteers to help with UA Play Day!
Volunteers are needed from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on June 15 at the UA rec fields! To
volunteer please call 205-758-5734.
• Calling all Crimson Tide fans! You won't want to miss our UA Play Day event with Nick
Saban and members of the UA football team. Tickets will be on sale the day of the event.
Share this invite with the sports fan in your life and help us spread the word about this
unique event!
• BBBS of West Alabama is on Twitter! Make sure to follow us to receive more
information about upcoming events. www.twitter.com/BBBSWA
• We want you to be a big! Come out to our UA Play Day to learn more information about
how you can make a difference in the life of a child. Already a big? Bring a friend who
would make a great big.

2720 6th St #100
Phone: 205-758-5734
www.bbbswestal.org
• UA Play Day is tomorrow! Don’t forget to come out to the UA rec fields to enjoy an
afternoon with UA athletes. All ticket sales benefit BBBS!
• We currently need 100 new bigs in the West Alabama area! Share this status with
someone who would make a great big brother or sister.
• Don't forget to join us for our UA Play Day! Saturday, June 15 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00
p.m. with special speaker Nick Saban. It will be an afternoon full of fun that you don’t
want to miss.
• If you've been thinking about becoming a big, come out to our UA Play Day. This is the
perfect chance to attend a great event and learn more how you can make a BIG difference.

Media Kit - Traditional & Electronic

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

What's hot

What's hot (20)

Viewers also liked

Viewers also liked (12)

Similar to Media Kit - Traditional & Electronic

Similar to Media Kit - Traditional & Electronic (20)

Media Kit - Traditional & Electronic