Although Jim probably would have taken on two Little Brothers from the start, it didn't begin that way. After being matched for a few years, Lindsay moved out of the area. Immediately after Lindsay's move, Jim contacted our office to be matched again, this time with Dayne. When Lindsay returned to Washington, Jim just re-adopted him as his Little Brother as if nothing had happened. And, it wasn't long before Lindsay and Dayne developed a strong friendship of their own as they interacted both with Jim and in the same grade at school

Although Jim moved from Washington County to Wana, West Virginia, a few years ago, the distance between he and his Little Brothers has never been a drawback to their time together. The fact that Jim lives on a farm has allowed the three of them to enjoy activities that most other matches never get to experience on a regular basis. Fishing, camping, riding quads and dirt bikes are regular activities when these three guys get together.

Jim has also been able to provide other types of activities to his Little Brothers. From going to Niagara Falls and a variety of sporting events, or just watching a movie and getting a bite to eat, he has always been available, especially for perhaps the most important activity that can be shared by any Big and Little - talking and listening when it is needed most.

Jim has consistently displayed his unselfishness in other areas as well. Not only is he a tremendous example of a dedicated and caring mentor to two young men, he also is a strong advocate for the Big Brothers Big Sisters program overall. Jim served more many years on our Washington County Advisory Board, and he has been a big supporter of our Bowl For Kids' Sake campaign and other fundraising projects. Whether it is by bowling with his Little Brothers at our Bowl For Kids' Sake events, securing financial support from his employer, or even his payroll deductions through the United Way, his support for Big Brothers Big Sisters has been extended in many different ways. Without exaggeration, Jim usually ends our conversations by asking one simple question, "What more can I do to help?"

Let me try to answer that question. Jim, you've helped more than you probably realize. You've helped to support and grow our program throughout Washington County. You've helped with your advice, example and friendship. You've helped by giving your time, energy and money to a organization that hasn't said "thank you" nearly enough. Most importantly, you've helped two special kids, Lindsay and Dayne. By giving of yourself, you've influenced two young lives beyond what we probably can image here today. 

Jim, we know that you will continue to help. That's the type of person you are, and we're grateful to have you involved in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program as the Big Brother to Lindsay and Dayne. And, that's why we're proud to name you as our 2003 Big Brother of the Year. Congratulations!

Award Introduction by August Berry, Jr., Washington & Greene Counties Coordinator


USA Today Article Touts BBBS Program

As part of the centennial celebration of the Big Brothers Big Sisters movement throughout America, USA Today published an in-depth article about BBBS in its January 27, 2004, edition. The article included the story of a famous former Big Brother, Matt Lauer, the current host of NBC's Today Show. Big Brother Matt was matched to Little Brother Todd Kulaga when Matt was an aspiring local television personality in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Click here to read the entire USA Today article. 


Visit the BBBS Mentoring Library

Did you know that BBBS has a small mentoring library at its offices in East Liberty? Made possible by the generosity of Judy Hoover, the mentoring library is open to all active Bigs and Littles during regular office hours, which include evenings Monday through Thursday. You can relax in a comfy chair or take the books home with you. 

Selections include reference books on mentoring, career planning guides, and financial planning books for youth. Plus there are many other fictional choices for children and teens, such as R.L. Stine's Goosebumps series, Ann Martin's The Babysitters Club, and the intriguingly-named How to Eat Fried Worms. Start a one-to-one book club with your Little by selecting a book from our library and reading and discussing it together. The BBBS mentoring library also provides a quiet, "neutral" site for homework or private discussion. Please stop by the next time you're in the neighborhood.


WIN-WIN Sweepstakes Last Call

The Grand Prize Drawing for this year's WIN-WIN Sweepstakes is only days away. Enter today and you could win one of 25 prizes, including the Grand Prize Winner's choice of a 2004 Volvo XC90 or $50,000 in cold, hard cash! It's also a winner for BBBS because all of the net proceeds will go directly to support our important one-to-one mentoring programs. Entering is easy, but you must enter soon! Call 1-877-YES-BIGS by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 20 to be eligible. Tickets are $100 each or three for $275. 

Check out these other exciting details:

Fabulous Prizes! The Grand Prize Winner will chose between a fully loaded 2004 Volvo XC90 or $50,000 in cash. It's a tough choice, but one entrant will have to make it. And before you pick the $50,000 cash option, take another look at the new SUV from Volvo. This is a top-of-the-line vehicle that comes with every option imaginable, plus a few add-ons to bring the retail price to $50,000 total. 

But that's not all! We're giving away more cash. The 2nd Prize Winner will receive $2,500. 3rd place takes home $1,000, and 4th and 5th prizes are $500 each. And the 6th through 25th prizes will be $250 each. All of these winners will be drawn at 5:15 p.m. on Sunday, February 22- at the Pittsburgh International Auto Show. You do not need to be present to win.

Incredible Odds! A maximum of 2,500 raffle tickets will be sold. That means that the overall odds of winning a prize are about 96 to 1. And if the raffle doesn't sell out, the odds will be even better. Try getting those odds in the lottery!

Important Cause! This is a great way to benefit the region's leading one-to-one mentoring program for at-risk kids. Since 1965, more than 10,000 youth throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania have benefited by having a Big Brother or Big Sister. But the demand for the BBBS program continues to grow. Right now there are more than 500 area children on the agency's waiting list for mentors. Your support of BBBS through the WIN-WIN Sweepstakes will go directly to support the hundreds of existing mentoring relationships in our program and help to reach out to the children on our waiting list who desperately need the support, guidance and friendship of a caring adult mentor.

Enter the WIN-WIN Sweepstakes today. Call 1-877-YES-BIGS.


Bowl For Kids' Sake Preview

Bowl For Kids' Sake (BFKS) is gearing up for a fantastic campaign in March with four BFKS Community Day events taking place on each Sunday during the month. But this isn't your father's BFKS! This year's BFKS will be more fun and exciting, and filled with a lot of surprises that you won't want to miss. Remember, BFKS is not about bowling. It's all about having fun with your family and friends in support of BBBS. Click here to see what's new this year.

What's new at BFKS this year?

• Bowl two games (instead of just one) for twice the fun and excitement.
• Three new bowling locations in Allegheny and Washington Counties. Choose the location and date that are best for you and your team.
• Everybody's a winner! Door prizes, goofy contests, and other competitions will be held throughout BFKS.
• Stick around for the 11th Frame Party and find out why there's more to BFKS than bowling. 
• We're packing the house! Everyone will bowl together at a few select times for more friendly competition. 
• All monies are due the day of the event, so you won't have to worry about collecting pledges after BFKS. 
• Plus special celebrity appearances and other surprises that you won't want to miss.

How BFKS Works

BFKS is an easy and fun way to make a difference. As part of a six-member team, each bowler signs up sponsors and collects pledges-at least $75 per bowler. Each team bowls two games and is treated to food, fun and festivities. For bowlers and sponsors alike, the satisfaction comes from knowing you've helped kids in your community.

2004 BFKS Schedule

·Sun., March 7 -- Yanak Lanes, Jefferson, Greene County
·Sun., March 14 -- Arsenal Lanes, Lawrenceville, Allegheny County
·Sun., March 21 -- AMF Mt. Lebanon Lanes, Allegheny County
·Sun., March 28 -- West Pike Bowl, Canonsburg, Washington County

Get Involved Today!

For more information about BFKS or to register as a Team Captain or Bowler, please contact Danielle Hock, BBBS Special Events Manager, at 412-363-6100, ext. 214, or e-mail dhock@bbbspgh.org. 

Or you can register on-line, set up your own personal BFKS website, and send e-mails to friends asking them to join your team and help support BBBS. To register on-line, go to www.bfkspittsburgh.kintera.org.

: Community Food Bank

The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank works with a network of close to 350 member agencies located throughout the region of Southwestern Pennsylvania. Member agencies include smaller county-wide food banks, food pantries, soup kitchens, day care centers for both senior citizens and children, personal-care homes, MH/MR drop-in centers, homeless shelters, shelters for battered women and their children, drug rehabilitation centers, home delivery meals programs (Meals on Wheels) for the elderly, and after school programs for youth.

Volunteer Opportunities for Bigs and Littles: Donations arrive at the Food Bank's warehouse in many forms. Whether they are assorted individual cans and boxes collected from food drives, damaged products from local retail stores, or bulk-packaged product in dry or frozen form, this food must be inspected and divided into manageable-sized boxes for distribution to Food Bank member agencies.

In the Repack Center, volunteers repackage an average of 350,000 pounds of food each month. Without the significant contribution of volunteer labor, the Food Bank would not be able to offer such a wide variety of food to help hungry people in communities throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania.

The schedule for Repack Center volunteers is:

• Every Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• The 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

The Food Bank is located at 1 North Linden Street in Duquesne, and you much call to schedule before coming in to volunteer. Contact Ivy at iero@pittsburghfoodbank.org or 412-460-3663, ext. 211, or Caroline at cwiest@pittsburghfoodbank.org or 412-460-3663, ext. 281.

• BS Mila Nguyen was honored by the USA Freedom Corps and got to meet President Bush during his visit to Pittsburgh on December 2, 2003. Mila was nominated by Pittsburgh Cares, and she was recognized for our outstanding volunteer work for as a Big Sister and a Pittsburgh Cares volunteer. She also serves as a tutor as part of the English as a Second Language Conversation Partners Program, and she founded Leave It and Read It, a program promoting literacy. Congratulations, Mila!
• BB Marty O'Malley (LB Trevon) welcomed his first grandchild, Robert Staley Carey, on January 10. Baby Bob weighted 6 lbs., 14 oz., and he needed a haircut at birth!
• BS Judy Nellom is extremely proud of LS Renee for significantly improving her grades during the current school year. Way to go, Renee!
• Two Big Sisters recently announced their engagements! BS Hope Haberthur (LS Noelle) and BS Lisa Kircher (LS Toni) are both planning weddings during the coming year.
• Get well soon wishes go out to BS Tracy Spelock (LS Crystal) who recently broke her nose. We hope you feel better soon, Tracy.
• Congratulations to BS Valerie Staats (LB Corey) who was recently named the new executive director of Pittsburgh Cares.

Here are this week's top picks for events happening throughout the region:

• Native American storytelling and music will be presented by members of the Seneca and Cherokee Nations on Friday, February 20, 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at the Latodami Nature Center Barn in North Park. For more information and directions, call 724-935-2170.
• Celebrate Presidents' Day by visiting the American Presidency exhibit at the Senator John Heinz Pittsburgh Regional History Center, now through May 2, 2004. The exhibit features more than 300 rare artifacts from the Smithsonian Institution and the History Center, including George Washington's telescope and surveyor's compass, and the brass inkwell Abraham Lincoln used while writing the first draft of the Emancipation Proclamation. Admission is $6,00 for adults, $4.50 for senior citizens and students with valid ID, and $3.00 for children 6-18. Call the History Center for more information at 412-464-6000.
• See more than 500 of the latest domestic and foreign cars, trucks and SUV's from over 35 manufactures at the 2004 Pittsburgh International Auto Show, now through Sunday, February 20 at the new David L. Lawrence Convention Center. In addition to the extraordinary variety of new vehicles, see shows by Master Illusionist Lawrence Gregory and Buffo, the World's Strongest Clown. Also look for the BBBS booth on the second level. Admission is $8.00 for adults, and $6.00 for children 6-16. Call ahead for show times, 1-866-575-3040. 

	Putting Encouragement Into Words  Children need constant encouragement and praise to help build their self-confidence and to know that they are valued and special. One of the best - and easiest - ways a Big can help his/her Little is to offer encouragement during every phone call and at outing together. Here are some specific examples:
Focus on what is good about your Little or the situation. Be positive. "I know you really worked hard on that." Accept your Little as he/she is. Don't make your friendship and acceptance dependent upon behavior. "I like you," or " You're special to me," or "I'm proud of you." Have faith in your Little to inspire belief in him/herself. "That's a tough one, but I'm sure you'll work it out." Recognize improvement and effort, not just accomplishment. "Look at the progress you've made." (Be specific; tell how.) Respect your Little. "Thanks, that helped a lot," or " I need your help on that," or "That's a good idea." The most powerful force in human behavior is expectation. Expect the best, not the worst. "I have confidence in your judgment," or "I know you'll try your best," or "I'm sure you'll do what's right." The sounds of encouragement are words that build feelings of adequacy. Be generous with them. "I know you can handle it," or "I appreciate what you did," or "I'm glad you're pleased with it."