NBA Cares and State Farm Make Big Brothers Big Sisters an NBA All-Star Winner

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Big Brothers Big Sisters is among four charity beneficiaries of State Farm All-Star Saturday Night. NBA Cares and State Farm will make a joint donation of $500,000, with $350,000 going to the winning Conference choice charities and the runner-up Conference charities sharing $150,000. 

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110613/PH17540LOGO )

The Eastern Conference team will play for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and Make-A-Wish America. The Western Conference will compete for Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry campaign. The NBA and State Farm, along with Eastern Conference team captain Dwyane Wade and Western Conference team captain Chris Paul, selected the charities.

"We are grateful to Dwyane Wade, the NBA, NBA Cares and State Farm for creating this amazing opportunity for Big Brothers Big Sisters," said the national mentoring organization's President and Chief Executive Officer Charles Pierson. "Of course we are rooting for the Eastern Conference, but everyone wins here. This is an exciting way to generate awareness about our program and to let fans get cheering for individuals and organizations committed to changing the quality of life for children and families in communities across the country."

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, 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 Outcome 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. The 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 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 www.bigbrothersbigsisters.org.

SOURCE Big Brothers Big Sisters