The BIG News: September 2024
September’s BIG News is packed with exciting highlights! Discover the latest on our Boeing DreamLearners and the Isle of Palms Fire Dept. vs. Police Dept. match activities, where Littles get to explore unique career paths. We also have a few BIG events on the horizon to save the date for (including the BIG Lowcountry Boil!)
Don’t miss updates from our BIG Beyond scholarship recipients and summer interns who are making waves! Plus, get a sneak peek into some of the impressive strength of relationship and youth outcomes from our FY 23-24 data. Stay tuned for all this and more!
To The World, You May Be One Person…
…But to your Littles, Bigs, you are the world. Thank you, Bigs, for your unwavering dedication to your Littles. Your time, care, and commitment mean more to them than you might realize! According to our FY 23-24 end-of-year Strength of Relationship survey data, your Littles care deeply about you and the bond you’ve built together. We encourage you to take a moment to reflect on the difference you’re making and check out more findings below from this past year. You’ll see just how powerful and transformative these mentoring connections can be!
Save The Date And RSVP: September Match Activities And Events
ISLE OF PALMS POLICE DEPT. VS. FIRE DEPT.
Tours, games, DJ, and FREE pizza! Dress comfortably — you’ll be moving around!
DATE/TIME: September 14, 11 AM – 1:30 PM
FEES/PRICE: Totally FREE including parking
LOCATION: Isle of Palms Public Safety Building, 30 J C Long Blvd, Isle of Palms
PARKING: Parking is available in unimproved municipal lots adjacent to the Public Safety Building. Passes will be provided by BBBSL.
CHARITY DAY AT TIDAL WAVE AUTO SPA — 50% OF ALL PROCEEDS TO BBBSL!
DATE/TIME: September 20, 8 AM to 9 PM
LOCATION: 8081 Rivers Ave, N. Charleston
This year, Tidal Wave’s North Charleston location is pleased to partner with Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lowcountry, which will receive 50% of all proceeds from car wash services purchased 9/20. BBBSL staff will be present to greet customers and spread awareness of our mission — we invite our BBBSL families, Bigs, and supporters to participate and get their cars looking squeaky clean!
THE BIG RAISE 2024
The Big Raise is Big Brothers Big Sisters’ peer-to-peer fundraising campaign to help us raise funds for our mission of serving children from underserved neighborhoods. The campaign runs October 1-31, 2024.
Every dollar raised helps us match more Littles with caring Bigs like you! Create a fundraising page, engage your network, and compete for fun prizes, all while supporting BBBSL.
BOEING DREAMLEARNERS
Don’t miss your chance to attend one of our favorite annual match activities, perfect for youth who love science/STEM, hands-on activities and experiments, and airplanes!
DATE/TIME: October 5, 9:15-11:30 AM
AUDIENCE: 25 matches (4th to 12th-grade students plus adult chaperones)
LOCATION: Boeing Welcome Center, 5400 International Blvd, N Charleston
OCTOBER BIG HUDDLE
BBBSL is pleased to invite Bigs to our next BIG Huddle! Our topic will be Youth and Social Media. Learning objectives include:
🌐 Navigating web and mobile tech
⛔ Setting boundaries for interactions
🤔 Addressing concerns with adult content
🌱 Using social media to grow and connect
❓ Time for Bigs to ask questions
We hope you will participate!
Big Huddles are designed to support our Bigs as they continue to grow into strong mentors and help us to bring you content/training that addresses the questions/requests for support you bring up in your monthly or quarterly match support calls. They also provide you with an opportunity to connect with other Bigs. We received positive feedback from our past installments—“Youth, Emerging Sexuality, & Mentoring,” “The BIG Experience, ” and “Poverty, Toxic Stress & Mentoring”—and we are committed to providing more valuable resources ongoing!
2024 HOLIDAY PARTY
Save the date – our annual Holiday Party is EARLY this year.
We look forward to hosting our Littles, Families and Bigs on OPENING NIGHT — November 15, 6-9 PM — at the Holiday Festival of Lights.
Look for more details in the next edition of the BIG News!
THE BIG LOWCOUNTRY BOIL
Enjoy a fun-filled day with the whole family! We’ll have a DJ, delicious food, family-friendly activities, and a fantastic silent auction. Every dollar raised goes directly to helping us serve more kids in our community!
DATE/TIME: December 7, 11 AM to 3 PM
AUDIENCE: All are welcome to attend!
LOCATION: Holy City Brewing
Updates From The Big Beyond
BIG Beyond Scholar and Bank of America Leadership Program scholarship recipient Rayshell was assigned a summer internship at the International African American Museum. Her role was to assist in building the IAAM’s children/family section of the website, which Rayshell shared was challenging but rewarding. She gained skills in web design and formatting content to increase customer interest. Rayshell shares that her time at the D.C. Leadership Summit was fun and vigorous. She gained leadership skills, networked, made new friends, witnessed the bill voting process at the House of Representatives, and toured the Supreme Court. Rayshell is proud to have met former BOA Student Leader Maxwell Frost, the youngest member of Congress!
Happy Match Anniversary!
September Safety Focus
Having a trusted adult at school can make a huge difference in a young person’s life. As a Big, you have the unique opportunity to help your Little identify at least one adult at school they can turn to when they need guidance, support, or just a listening ear. Research shows that youth who have a trusted adult to talk to at school are more likely to feel safe, perform better academically, and develop stronger social-emotional skills. These protective factors help reduce the likelihood of risky behaviors, improve mental health, and create a sense of belonging.
Take some time to ask your Little: “Do you have a trusted adult at school you can speak with?” If not, help them think about teachers, counselors, coaches, or other staff members who make them feel comfortable. Encourage your Little to consider how this adult might be helpful in different situations, like dealing with a challenging class, handling peer conflicts, or navigating personal issues.
Building connections with trusted adults can start small. Encourage your Little to say “hi” in the hallway, ask for advice on a school project, or even share a fun fact about themselves. These little interactions can build rapport over time. By identifying trusted adults and fostering these connections, we empower our Littles to feel supported, confident, and capable of overcoming challenges both inside and outside the classroom.