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Summer is in Full Swing!

Summer is in full swing, bringing opportunities to stay connected, create meaningful memories, and embrace new experiences together. As school is out for the season, summer can also be a valuable time to support emotional well-being, encourage healthy routines, and prioritize safety during the warmer months. Whether through shared activities, community resources, or moments of connection, we hope this month’s newsletter provides inspiration and helpful tools to make July a fun, safe, and impactful time for the youth and families we serve.

Match Highlight: Ryan & Josiah

For the past four years, Josiah and Ryan have built a meaningful mentoring relationship rooted in consistency, trust, and friendship. Their match reflects the lasting impact that one caring adult can have on a young person’s life.

Ryan has been involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lowcountry for nine years, serving not only as a dedicated Big Brother but also as a former BBBSL Board Member. His commitment to mentorship is deeply personal. Having grown up in a household impacted by longstanding generational trauma, Ryan understands firsthand the power of having support, guidance, and someone who believes in you. That experience has made his role as a mentor even more meaningful, allowing him to give back to youth in a way he wishes had been available to him growing up.

This year, Josiah reached an exciting milestone by graduating from middle school and preparing to begin high school. As he steps into this next chapter, Ryan continues to be a steady and encouraging presence by his side.

Their relationship has grown far beyond mentorship into a genuine friendship, and together they are a powerful example of the impact of showing up, staying committed, and investing in the future of our youth.

We are incredibly grateful for Ryan’s dedication and cannot wait to see all that Josiah will accomplish with Ryan cheering him on every step of the way.

Click here to read more stories like theirs.

July Match Anniversaries

July Resources

For July, our monthly resource highlights recent updates to the BBBSL Match Safety Policies, with a focus on the Communication Policy and the Overnight Policy for littles and matches. If you have any questions, please reach out to your Match Support Coordinator, Dana or Avery!

BBBSL encourages our matches to focus on free or low-cost activities, and we aim to provide ONE FREE monthly activity for matches. Capacity at these events is limited, so we encourage Bigs to sign up as soon as their Littles confirm they can attend!

2026 BIG Golf Cart Raffle: Success!

Thank you to everyone who participated in this year’s BIG Golf Cart Raffle. We are incredibly grateful for the overwhelming support from our community and supporters. Your generosity and enthusiasm make a direct impact, and we truly could not do the work we do or support the youth we serve without you.

A special congratulations to Rachel Singletary for being this year’s winner of the raffle! We hope you enjoy your new golf cart and appreciate your support of our mission.

This raffle continues to be a meaningful and exciting way to bring our community together while raising critical support for youth mentorship across the Lowcountry. Every ticket purchased helps us create and sustain life-changing mentoring relationships for local youth.

Thank you again for your continued belief in our mission and for being part of the BBBSL community. We are so grateful for you and look forward to sharing more upcoming events and opportunities to get involved soon.

Congrats to Miss South Carolina!

Congratulations to Charleston’s own, Lindsay Jones, on being crowned Miss South Carolina at this year’s competition!

Lindsay has been a dedicated supporter of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lowcountry and a passionate advocate for youth mentorship. We are honored that she has chosen Big Brothers Big Sisters as her platform and continues to use her voice to highlight the impact of meaningful mentorship relationships in helping youth reach their full potential.

We are proud to have Lindsay’s support and are excited to cheer her on as she represents South Carolina at the Miss America Competition this September.

Congratulations, Lindsay, and thank you for supporting our mission!

Katsubo Give Back Event

A heartfelt thank you to Katsubo for partnering with Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lowcountry for their giveback event on June 27 and dedicating a day to supporting our mission.

We are also incredibly grateful to everyone in our community who came out to dine, gather, and show their support. Every meal purchased helped invest in life-changing mentoring relationships for local youth across the Lowcountry.

Community partnerships like this make our work possible, and we are thankful to Katsubo for choosing to give back and helping create greater opportunities for our Bigs and Littles.

Thank you for being part of our village and helping us continue to defend the potential of local youth.

Jeni’s x BBBSL Ice Cream Social

We were thrilled to return to Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams for our second Ice Cream Social and spend the day connecting with community members while sharing the mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lowcountry.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by to enjoy some ice cream, learn more about our work, and engage in conversations about the power of mentorship. Opportunities like these allow us to build awareness and strengthen community connections that support local youth.

We are especially grateful to Jeni’s Ice Creams for inviting us back and continuing to create space for our mission in such a fun and welcoming environment. Partnerships like this help us reach more people and continue creating life-changing mentoring relationships across the Lowcountry.

Celebrating July Observances

National Make a Difference to Children Month (all month)

A reminder of the impact we can make on children through community support and helping youth reach their full potential through meaningful mentorship relationships.

National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month (all month)

An opportunity to recognize the importance of emotional well-being, highlight mental health disparities, and support access to resources that help youth and families thrive.

National Park and Recreation Month (all month)

A time to celebrate the outdoors by exploring local parks, engaging in new activities, and experiencing the outdoors together while building connection through shared experiences.

Independence Day (July 4th)

A moment to reflect on community, connection, and safety while celebrating America’s 250th birthday with those we serve.

World Youth Skills Day (July 15th)

A reminder of the importance of equipping young people with skills, confidence, and opportunities that prepare them for future success through mentorship and guidance.

Free & Low-Cost Events/Eats

July 4th Festival & Celebration: https://sc250charleston.org/events/city-of-north-charleston-july-4th-festival-celebration

Mount Pleasant Splash Pad: https://experiencemountpleasant.com/point-of-interest/mount-pleasant-splash-pad/

Kids Eat Free: **w/ purchase of adult meal

  • **The Co-Op (all Charleston locations) – Free kids’ sandwich with adult sandwich or salad. Mondays all day.
  • **Ruby Tuesday (1953 Savannah Hwy, Charleston, SC 29407): Tuesdays only after 5 pm.
  • **East Bay Deli (all Charleston locations): Monday-Thursday from 4 pm to close.
  • **Sesame Burgers & Beer (all Charleston locations): Sundays from 4 pm to close.
  • **Poogan’s Southern Kitchen (101 Nexton Square Drive, Summerville, SC 29486): Tuesdays from 3-9 pm only.
  • **Moe’s Southwest Grill (all Charleston locations): Sunday’s all day.
  • **Bodega (14 W Coleman Blvd, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464): Thursday’s all day.
  • **Melvin’s BBQ (all Charleston locations): Fridays from 4 pm-8:30 pm.