Michael Baisden to Present Baisden Inspiration Award at Big Brothers Big Sisters National Conference in June

PHILADELPHIA, April 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Best-selling author, broadcaster, filmmaker and philanthropist Michael Baisden will join Big Brothers Big Sisters leaders in Denver this summer to present the 2013 Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Michael Baisden Inspiration Award. 

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First presented in 2012 to 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. Baisden has become a celebrity ambassador for Big Brothers Big Sisters, supporting the organization with national volunteer recruitment efforts, advocacy and financial contributions totaling more than $135,000. 

Baisden recently announced a hiatus from his syndicated radio show, which commanded a daily audience of more than seven million listeners.  He used his program as a platform to promote causes important to him, such as social justice, strong families and relationships, and mentoring.  He advocated regularly for Big Brothers Big Sisters and its need for more male mentors and funding to carefully match kids facing adversity with carefully screened volunteers in long-term professionally supported mentoring relationships.  In December 2009, Baisden called for a National Mentor Training Day and announced his plans for a "One Million Mentors National Campaign To Save Our Kids." He believes his work with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America's Mentoring Brothers In Action program are all a big part of what made his mentoring initiatives on the "Michael Baisden Show" so successful.

Throughout 2013, Baisden is committed to speaking engagements throughout the US while working on film and TV projects and writing a new motivational book.  He is also continuing his support for mentoring and will help select the winner of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America's Michael Baisden Inspiration Award.  

About Michael Baisden
Michael Baisden, a noted nationally syndicated radio personality, is also a TV talk show host, producer and New York Times best-selling author with nearly two million books in print. Baisden began his career as an author, self-publishing several best-selling books including "Never Satisfied," "Do Men Know What They Want," "Men Cry In The Dark," "The Maintenance Man I and II," and "God's Gift to Women."  Two of his books were adapted to stage plays, starring such renowned actors as Richard Roundtree and Billy Dee Williams.

Baisden's radio highlights include one of his proudest moments when on September 20, 2007, he passionately and skillfully spearheaded the famous Jena 6 March in Jena, Louisiana. This historic occasion garnered tens of thousands of citizens of all races to peacefully march in support of six young men who had been treated unfairly by the justice system.  Known as being the "Voice of the Community" his work with Free Clinics, Trayvon Martin and Domestic Violence has kept him on the forefront of Social Activism.

To stay current with Baisden, you may reach him via Facebook at /michaelbaisdenlive / http://www.facebook.com/michaelbaisdenlive or on Twitter @ BaisdenLive / http://twitter.com/BaisdenLive and at www.BaisdenLive.com.

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. 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