CONTENTS
Thinking Regionally
Steelers' Training Camp
Planting Pittsburgh Update
Fall To-Do
Photo Gallery

Volunteer/Match Support Begins to Think Regionally

Over the course of the past year, the staff at BBBS has offered a variety of different types of activities to Bigs and Littles to help develop and maintain their matches. Participation has been good in the areas of Big Socials and Match Activities, but poor in the various Round Table opportunities. In an effort to help boost participation, BBBS is looking at offering activities to Bigs and Littles on a regional basis. Perhaps if things are closer to home you would be more inclined to check it out! We have initiated various regional committees made up primarily of Bigs who are interested in testing out this regional approach. It is hoped that once you have met some of the other Matches in your area, you might feel more comfortable doing an activity or two together from time to time.

We started grouping our volunteers into regions simply by looking at zip codes on a map. Those volunteers who live along Route 65 were asked to be in our inaugural group. Ten volunteers who were approached to be on the 65 Corridor Committee met several times over dinner to talk about the feasibility of offering regional activities as well as discuss what types of activities and opportunities might be worth exploring. The first regional activity planned by the group was a pot luck picnic on August 27 in Leet Township. Even though the day was rainy and dreary and only a few matches attended, the overall response was positive. Being comprised of a small group of 10 matches, it created a comfortable atmosphere for people to talk and get to know one another. At the end of the event everyone completed a survey and indicated if they felt this type of activity was fun and beneficial, and would be interested in doing additional activities in the future. A happy hour for Bigs and a hayride for matches are already in the works!  

The next area of focus is the Central Region, which is comprised of Bigs living in Shadyside, Squirrel Hill, Edgewood/Swissvale and East Liberty. Although this group is still in the early phase of development, it will be working to establish a plan of activities that they feel will be helpful to the matches that reside in those areas.

Bigs in Washington and Greene Counties will be coming together in October to address their own needs and begin a similar plan to make meaningful match activities and opportunities available “closer to home.”  These regional groups will not take the place of the usual BBBS agency-sponsored summer, fall and holiday parties, but they will serve to provide more accessible opportunities for Bigs and Littles. Hopefully, they will be better in regards to proximity to where you live, as well as in giving Bigs and Littles the chance to get to know one another in smaller settings (as opposed to the “frenzy” that often accompanies the larger agency events). With any luck, you’ll discover another match that enjoys doing the same type of things as you and your Little. Then you can plan outings together. That can only serve to energize and strengthen your match relationship as you share your experiences with others.

It is our goal to have all Bigs identified to a regional area group by the end of this year. For those of you who live in the regions we have yet had the opportunity to tackle and have an interest in being on the committee that would serve to make the initial plans for activities/opportunities for others in your area, please contact Cheryl at cjones@bbbspgh.org.  We will then get the other regional groups started as well!       

BBBS Goes To Steelers' Training Camp!

As the Pittsburgh Steelers Training Camp was heading into its final week, BBBS received a very generous offer from Curtis Randle El, on behalf of the Antwaan Randle El Foundation, to bring a group of matches to Latrobe for exclusive sideline access at Steelers' Training Camp! 

On Wednesday, August 17 a caravan of 10 Bigs, who were lucky enough to take the afternoon off work, and their Littles, began the trek to Latrobe. Pittsburgh’s broken water main and resulting downtown flooding, as well as a mysterious traffic backup on the PA Turnpike, played havoc with the original timetable and logistics. Thankfully, the majority of the group was able to meet up and chow down on some pizza, courtesy of the Antwaan Randle El Foundation.  

Once on the St. Vincent campus, the group received VIP armbands that allowed the matches exclusive access to the field for an up-close look at the Steelers practicing their plays. Curtis Randle El escorted the group around the various practice areas, giving the kids their first in-person look at their sports heroes in action.

Following practice, Antwaan Randle El came over and shared some encouraging words to our group, stating that he hoped to make the visit an annual event as a way of giving back to the community. Many of the Steelers, including Jerome Bettis and Ben Roethlisberger, stopped over and signed autographs, posed for photos and had some conversations with the Littles. Having such unprecedented access to their Steelers stars was truly a momentous occasion for the Littles, with one Little Brother stating it was one of the best days of his life! 

Planting in Pittsburgh Makes for Beautiful Scenery

The hard work of BBBS matches who planted flowers at the entrance ramp to Fort Pitt Bridge last August has paid off. Here are some updated photos - showing the flowers in full bloom. Check out the original article and photos in the June eNEWS.

Click to see New Matches and Match Anniversaries for August/September!

Fun Fall Activities 

• Want to be on the Big Screen. Call the Pittsburgh Film Office hotline at 412-281-3343 to see if there are any openings as an extra for upcoming productions that will be filmed in the area.
  

• Fall is coming! Enjoy the fall foliage in Western Pennsylvania. Ideas for beautiful scenery to check out can be found at www.fallinpa.com. 
  

• If you’re into fishing, visit Moraine State Park, located only an hour north of Pittsburgh, and check out its 3,225-acre Lake Arthur. Here you’ll find large numbers of northern pike, largemouth bass, muskellunge, and channel catfish. The area also includes premier trout streams like Spruce Creek, Oil Creek, and Slippery Rock Creek.
  

• Create your very own ice cream flavor at  a Cold Stone Creamery ice cream shop.
  

• Grab a good book with your Little at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.
  

• Try out yoga at any one of these Pittsburgh locations.

Thursday, October 6, 5:30 p.m.  "Come Share a Little Magic" Informational Tour @ BBBS Offices in East Liberty. The best way for someone to learn more about one-to-one mentoring programs is to attend this one-hour informational tour. Contact Tom Wiese for more information at twiese@bbbspgh.org.

Monday, October 10. Three Rivers Golf Classic @ Laurel Valley Golf Club
Contact Laurie Gatti for more information at lgatti@bbbspgh.org.   

Tuesday, October 18, 8:00 a.m.  "Come Share a Little Magic" Informational Tour @ BBBS Offices in East Liberty. The best way for someone to learn more about one-to-one mentoring programs is to attend this one-hour informational tour. Contact Tom Wiese for more information at twiese@bbbspgh.org.

Friday, October 28, 6:00-8:30 p.m.  BBBS Big/Little Fall Festival @ Camp Guyasuta in Sharpsburg, PA. Join us for an evening of spooky fall fun! Activities will include a scarecrow building contest (start designing your winning entry now), pumpkin carving/decorating, crafts, Halloween games, a bonfire, a night hike (bring a flashlight!) and of course refreshements!  To RSVP please contact Cheryl at cjones@bbbspgh.org no later than Thursday, October 20.

See photos from some of our most recent match activities including the American Eagle Outfitters Big For A Day, and the Steelers Training Camp visit!
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