January
February
March
2017
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Jackson County Newsletter
Mission:
Note from our
Executive Director
The BBBS mission is to provide
children facing adversity with
strong and enduring,
professionally supported 1-to-1
relationships that change their
lives for the better, forever.
Vision:
In January, we will honor those
who are making a difference in
the lives of children in Jackson
County while we participate in
Michigan Mentoring Month &
National Mentoring Month.
To this aim, we will celebrate
outstanding “Bigs,” volunteers and sponsors at First United
Methodist Church on Saturday, January 28th at 9:30 am
during our annual awards ceremony.
Assistance is needed to help recruit new mentors. Former
“Bigs” are invited to our event and are encouraged to
re-connect with BBBSJC and/or bring a potential Big with
them to understand the phenomenal impact one can have in a
young person’s life by being that special mentor.
Connect with us so you can get our eNewsletters and
eAnnouncements by emailing us your email address to:
[email protected].
Want to see who is STARTING SOMETHING BIG in our
community? Visit our Facebook page at facebook.com/
BBBSJACKSONMI or link us at twitter.com/
BBBSJACKSONMI as well as, @TonyBBBS/ and
YouTube.com
Did you know that 2017 marks our 50th year of serving the
children of Jackson County? Please join with us to spread the
word about our longevity and commitment to mentoring
youth. No other organization can stand on such a solid base
and be more proud than we are to have been here for 50
years! With your help and support, we will reach more
children in Jackson County.
BBBS vision is that all children
achieve success in life.
Contact Us:
Anthony Hollow
Executive Director
[email protected]
Diane Armeli,
Finance Director
[email protected]
Karen Smith,
Enrollment Support &
Administrative Asst.
[email protected]
Haley Fitzpatrick,
Site Based
Match Specialist
[email protected]
Andrea Parshall,
Community Based
Match Specialist
[email protected]
Melissa Laird
Support Consultant
[email protected]
What are you doing in March? How about having fun and
helping kids at the same time? See our Bowl For Kids’ Sake
registration page for March 10th!
~Anthony Hollow,
Executive Director
[email protected]
(517) 784-7181
BBBSJACKSONMI
Big News
Page 2 of 8
Community Based Match
Anniversaries
Site Based Match
Anniversaries
January
January
*Eight Years*
Scarlet Turvey & Amelia
*Five Years*
Lisa Mudge & Skylynn-Rose
*Two Years*
Myeshia Jones & Ty’Janea
*One Year*
Savanna Clore & Malina
*Five Years*
Katherine Allen & Aleycia
Ken Allen & Marius
February
*FourYears*
Irene LeCrone & Crystal
February
*Four Years*
Michael Majchrowski & Zachary
*Three Years*
Katherine Walkowicz & Shantel
*One Year*
Lori Frewen & Annalise Lynch
John Sherman & Kaleb
*Three Years*
Jeff Yankley & Sema’j
March
*One Year*
Jordan Lawe & Alexander
March
*Two Years*
Stacey Nall & Gail
Jeff Hanson & Chase
*Nine
Years*
March
Jared Boll & Dylan
*Seven Years*
Rita Christl & Rickyah
*Six Years*
Jason Butterfield & Corliss
*Three Years*
Hunter Morgan-Thelan & Nathanael
Kimberly DePew & Gabbriella
*Two Years*
Anna Wetzel & Kailynn
Mary Loretta Ryan & Jayda
Lesley Delgado & Arora
*One Year*
Dawn Gehlbach & Fayth
Olivia Outhwaite & Gabrielle
Welcome New Matches!!
Dan Kaser & Chaz
Elliott Osoteo & Giovanni
Brian Schafer & Christopher
Andrew Warmington & KeJuan
Emily & Walainis & Kalayjha
Brie Keersmaeker & Maddison
Board of Directors
2017
Sharon Rouse—President
Jerry Jarzynka—Vice Presdent
Gary Swartzlander—Treasurer
Kathy Alexander—Secretary
William Baird
Daniel Hyliard
Lynn Kenworthy
William White
Faruk Pilav
Garrett Dowell
Steve Sukta
Big News
Page 3 of 8
Community-Based Match Highlight
Mike Majchrowski & Zack
Site-Based Match Specialist
Robert Albertson & Corey
Mike Majchrowski and
Zack are matched in the
community based program.
They were matched on
February 11th of 2013 and
will be celebrating their
4 year anniversary in 2017.
Mike is a 58 year old
retired teacher and really
enjoys being a mentor to
Zack. Zack is a 10 year old student and loves being
matched with Mike. Mike is very down to earth and a
jokester, he does not buy in to the tech world and does
not carry a cell phone. Zack can be a jokester too, he
enjoys technology and loves to play video games.
Together Zack teaches Mike about technology and
Mike helps Zach improve his reading skills. Mike and
Zack love to go fishing and enjoy the GREAT outdoors
of Michigan. They meet every other week for a few
hours at a time. Zack Lives with his older sister
Maddison and Mom Julie. Zack was in need for a
positive male role model, his older sister asked Mike
(her teacher at the time) if he could help. Mike was a
big brother in the past and wanted to be one again. He
was aware of Big Brothers Big Sisters long waiting list
and wanted to make sure that Zack got the positive
male attention he needed. Since being matched, Zack
has grown into a wonderful young man. He is happier
and more confident, he enjoys the outdoors, fishing and
hunting. All of the things he may not have had the
chance to do without Mike’s help.
Rob Albertson and Corey have been matched since
October of 2008 as a Site-based match, moving into Sitebased Plus as Corey entered middle school. Throughout
their match relationship, Rob and Corey have done many
fun things together, such as trying different restaurants,
researching colleges, reading books, and guitar lessons.
Rob has been teaching Corey how to play the guitar, as
Corey is very musically talented, and already plays
multiple instruments. Rob also encourages Corey as he
continues to take Tae Kwon Doe. Corey enjoys taking
lessons from Rob, and appreciates the time that Rob puts
in to their match relationship. Next Spring, Rob and Corey
are doing something extra special: taking a mission’s trip
to Guatemala together, through an organization that
allows doctors to go overseas and help others. Corey is
very excited about this opportunity to not only travel, but
also to help others in need.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Jackson County wants to
thank Mike and all of our “Bigs” for all of the time,
hard work, and dedication they give to their “Littles”.
As Zack grows into his teenage years he will forever
have Mike to talk to, hang out with and to simply be
there for him. This is what a successful match looks
like, and we are so proud to have the two of them in
our Big Brothers Big Sisters family. The good times
and great adventures will continue.
~ Andrea Parshall
Community Based Match Specialist
~ Haley Fitzpatrick
Site-Based Match Specialist
Thank you Walton Agency !!
A “Big” thank you to the Walton Agency for choosing
Big Brothers Big Sisters as the recipient of this years
Holiday Grand Grant! This donation will be used to
support both our Community and Site Based programs.
Big News
Page 4 of 8
My name is Haley Fitzpatrick! I am from Grand
Rapids, where I’m the oldest of three girls. I studied
Psychology and English Literature at Spring Arbor
University, graduating in 2015. I moved to Jackson
after marrying my husband, Andrew—originally
from Spring Arbor—in June of this year. Before
coming to Big Brothers Big Sisters, I was a Foster
Care Case Aide at Wellspring Lutheran in East
Lansing. In my spare time, I get together with
friends, travel to Grand Rapids to see my family,
read a good book, or go for long walks. I am so
thankful that the Lord presented this opportunity
to me to join the Big Brothers Big Sisters crew, and
I am so excited to be serving kids of Jackson!
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Jackson County
Big Of The Year 2016 Nomination Form
My name is __________________________________and I would like to nominate _____________________________
as Big Brother/Big Sister (circle one) of The Year for Community Based / Site Based (circle one) because:
Please, return this form by Friday, January 13th by 11 am to Match Specialist Andrea Parshall
([email protected]) or Haley Fitzpatrick ([email protected]).
Or mail to our office at:
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Jackson County, 536 N. Jackson St., Jackson, MI 49201
Breakfast with Santa
A very special Thank You to Max Waagner & Dawn Food Products, Kohls Cares volunteers
and the Jackson County Sheriff Department for taking time to spend with our wonderful kids!
************************************************************************************************
January Earn & Learn
Self confidence and inner strength are all part of growing and becoming the best YOU can be. We’ll spend some
time with PKSA Karate Jackson’s Lucas Herrera, learning self-defense and self-confidence and we’ll end the
night with a healthy snack! Please join us from 5:30pm-7:00pm at St. Paul's Episcopal Church downtown on
Thursday, January 26th. Please RSVP to either Andrea or Haley at 784-7181
When: February 28, 2017 6:30-8:30pm
Where: Allskate Fun Center
Sponsored by the
Breakfast Rotary!
Thanks to the generosity of the Rotarians,
there is no charge for this event which includes:
Reminder to Parents: Please come in and register your kids, DO
NOT drop them off and leave! Be there to pick your child up
by 8:15 p.m. YOUR CHILD MUST HAVE A SIGNED
PERMISSION SLIP TO PARTICIPATE!
RSVP is a must!!! Please call 784-7181.
FREE Skate Rental, Pizza and Pop
for all our Bigs, Littles, and Families
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Permission Slip for Roller Skating
I, ____________________________________give permission for my child, ____________________________ to attend the
annual Roller Skating Party on February 28, 2017 from 6:30 to 8:30pm. I agree to bring my child into Allskate Fun Center to
register by 6:15pm and will arrive to pick up my child by 8:15pm. I understand that staff will be present during this event.
** I give permission that my child’s picture may be taken and used for Big Brothers Big Sisters promotional purposes.
Parent/Guardian Signature ________________________________ Date ___________
Parent Phone Number
Big Brothers Big Sisters Mentor Award
Bigs and Matches, please join us as we celebrate our incredible
“Bigs”, educators, and community supporters at the
2016 Big Brothers Big Sisters
of Jackson County
Mentor Appreciation and
Awards Ceremony
Breakfast will be served in the banquet hall at First United Methodist Church
275 W. Michigan Ave., Jackson, MI 49201
Across from the Jackson Library Carnegie Branch
(Please park in the parking lot across from American Title on Cortland St. behind the church
and please RSVP by Tuesday, January 19th)
Saturday, January 28, 2017 at 9:30 a.m.
A presentation of awards will directly follow.
Philip Hoffman Jr.
2015 Big Brother of the Year
Community Based
Kathy Schmaltz
2015 Volunteer of the Year
Jennifer Cronkhite
2015 Big Sister of the Year
Site Based
There are three ways to help:
Start a Team of 5 Friends/Co-workers
Become a Sponsor of the Event
Volunteer for the Day of the Event
Starting a team is easy…
Sponsorship is easy…
Volunteering is easy…
1. Find five friends to bowl and raise
funds
1. Choose a Sponsorship Level
1.
Decide to give a few hours of
your time to support our great
event
2.
Sign up with BBBS (Email, Mail,
Fax, Phone)
3.
Realize your time is well spent
helping BBBS support one to one
mentoring relationships
2. Sign up with BBBS (Online, Mail,
Fax, Phone)
3. Choose a time to bowl
4. Raise Funds for BBBS
2. Sign up with BBBS (Online,
Mail, Fax, Phone)
3. Realize your sponsorship helps
BBBS build a stronger
community through our youth
Friday, March 10th, 2017
at Airport Lanes 9:30 PM—11:30 PM
Online: http://www.bfks2017jackson.kintera.org
Mail: PO Box 1802, Jackson, MI 49204
Phone: 517-784-7181 OR Fax: 517-796-9004
Bowl for Kids’ Sake
Big Brothers Big Sisters
Non-Profit Org.
Jackson County, Inc.
U.S. Postage
536 N. Jackson St.
P.O. Box 1802
Jackson, MI 49204
(517) 784-7181
www.bbbsjackson.org
“Start Something!”
PAID
Jackson, MI
Permit No. 84
BBBSJACKSONMI
As always, Holiday/Year End Donations are
greatly appreciated. You can always make a
donation anytime online or by calling our
office at: www.bbbsjackson.org or
517-784-7181
Help save GREEN while being GREEN
Send us your email address to receive our
eNewsletter & eAnnouncements:
[email protected]