Big Brothers Big Sisters Salutes Valued Partners at Awards Gala

CHICAGO, June 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Big Brothers Big Sisters of America relies upon the support of its corporate and celebrity partners to continue providing one-to-one mentoring matches of volunteers with more than 200,000 children throughout the country. During its 2014 National Leadership Summit Awards Gala presented by Comcast NBCUniversal, Big Brothers Big Sisters recognized Wells Fargo, JCPenney, Altria, the Oak Foundation, Jamie Foxx, L-Mani Viney and Donald Carty for their financial and personal contributions to the organization.     

"Our partners who donate their time and resources to Big Brothers Big Sisters are vital to fulfilling our mission of providing children who face adversity with strong and enduring professionally supported, one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever. They make it all possible," said president and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Pam Iorio. "We are grateful to the corporations, foundations and individuals whose generosity allows us to provide youth facing adversity with a brighter future with increased opportunities and, ultimately, better communities for all."

Altria received the President's Award, which recognizes a corporate, foundation or individual donor whose investment has promoted a standard of excellence throughout the Big Brothers Big Sisters network. Altria's investment of more than $2.7 million in Big Brothers Big Sisters has enabled us to make improvements to our school-based mentoring program, integrate AIM nationally and develop the Youth Outcomes System into the Service Delivery System. Altria's tobacco companies have also invested directly in local agencies, particularly in the Southeastern U.S., helping Big Brothers Big Sisters serve more than 35,000 children and families in that region.

Wells Fargo received the Chairman's Award for its philanthropic and programmatic activities that have made a significant impact on the advancement of Big Brothers Big Sisters' mentoring programs across the network. Wells Fargo has contributed in excess of $1 million to more than 100 local Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies across the country, and has made a separate $1 million investment to help build infrastructure and the ability to support the network-wide Agency Information Management system (AIM).  In addition, Wells Fargo employees served in a leadership capacity on 30 local Big Brothers Big Sisters boards.

JCPenney was presented the Community Impact Award, which recognizes an individual, corporate, or foundation donor whose unparalleled generosity has had a transformative impact on the Big Brothers Big Sisters community. Throughout the month of June 2013, JCPenney invited its customers to round up their purchases to the nearest dollar to support Big Brothers Big Sisters. With help from funds raised by its customers, JCPenney was able to donate $1.3 million to 303 local Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies, reaching 90 percent of the organization's network.  This unique JCPenney campaign was Big Brothers Big Sisters' most successful national cause marketing campaign during the last two years.

The Oak Foundation received the Enterprise Award, which honors a new or long-standing individual, corporate or foundation donor whose vision and investment has led to innovative programming. Through its contribution of more than $340,000, the Oak Foundation, an international philanthropic organization, is supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters of America in efforts to better understand how our mentoring systems are useful to students who struggle academically. Our partners at the Oak Foundation are interested in how hope and resiliency in young people can lead to improved academic and life outcomes, particularly for youth with learning differences.   

Academy® and Grammy® Award winning actor, comedian and musician Jamie Foxx received the Common Good Award, which Big Brothers Big Sisters of America gives to a partner who provides an investment of services to benefit the common good of the organization and brand as a whole. Foxx has served as national spokesperson for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America since 2012, and, through appearances, public service announcements and social media, has been steadfast in his advocacy of the benefits of mentoring and encouraging adults to become volunteers. In addition, Foxx has dedicated time and resources to being a mentor. Recently, Foxx helped to launch the BE AMAZING! campaign.

L-Mani (el-MAH-ne) Viney received the Michael Baisden Inspiration Award, which is presented annually to a company or individual who demonstrates consistent generosity and dedication to helping Big Brothers Big Sisters of America 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. Since 2012, Viney, a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, has served on Big Brothers Big Sisters of America's African American Advisory Council, a body of civic, community and business leaders who help chart the organization's course for effectively engaging the African-American community. A Social Studies teacher in Piscataway, New Jersey, Viney has been a Big Brother for more than three years.

Donald Carty received the Charles G. Berwind Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognizes individuals who have devoted substantial time and energy to the cause of youth mentoring through Big Brothers Big Sisters. Carty, who is chairman of Virgin America Airlines, Porter Airlines and Research Now Group, served on Big Brothers Big Sisters of America's Board of Directors for nine years and is a former board chairman. He was the first board member to make a pledge of $1 million to the organization and has also contributed significant financial resources to Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star and Big Brothers Big Sisters International. The Charles G. Berwind Lifetime Achievement Award is the organization's highest individual honor. Charles G. Berwind was a founding father of Big Brothers of America and an architect of today's Big Brothers Big Sisters of America federation.

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, 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 Big Brothers Big Sisters Youth Outcomes Survey 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 110 year history. With nearly 340 agencies across the country, Big Brothers Big Sisters serves approximately 200,000 children, their families and 200,000 volunteer mentors. Learn more at www.BigBrothersBigSisters.org. 

For More Information Contact:
Sarah Haney
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
469-351-3147
[email protected]

SOURCE Big Brothers Big Sisters of America

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