NEWS RELEASE
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF CENTRE WELLINGTON
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FERGUS – On Tuesday, the team at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Centre Wellington gathered to celebrate the $33,500 Resilient Communities grant they received from the provincial government’s Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) that was used to develop a fully integrated digital system along with a strategy to supports staff in formalizing our outreach efforts to volunteers and donors. The project will increase the agency’s capacity to meet community needs in a timely and efficient manner.
"We are very grateful for the support of the Ontario Trillium Foundation," said Ted Arnott, MPP for Wellington—Halton Hills. "It will enable the volunteers and staff of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Centre Wellington do even more to support young people learn, grow and reach their full potential. I want to thank them for caring."
Funds were focused into modernizing two key areas of operations. Upgraded technology as well as the purchase of new programs and services will streamline online outreach efforts and allow for more ‘remote’ options. Additionally, the purchase of new branded event items will help to increase the agency’s visibility and recognition when doing outreach within the community.
"These upgrades will be a real game changer,” said BBBSCW Executive Director, Brad Mulligan. He added, “by streamlining and modernizing our mentor recruitment and onboarding processes we can remove barriers that may have previously kept some from volunteering as mentors. Our hope is that these efforts will have a significant impact on reducing our youth wait list.”
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Centre Wellington enables life changing mentoring relationships to ignite the power and potential of young people. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Centre Wellington serves children in Belwood, Fergus, Elora, Salem, Alma, and Ponsonby.
Many children and youth in Canada struggle with societal barriers and face adversities in their lives like detrimental living conditions, family violence, risk factors for mental health, school issues and identity challenges. With the guidance and support of a mentor, these risks can be reduced or even avoided, and youth are reminded they can be anything they dream of being. Through their programs including but not limited to, In-School/ Site-Based Mentoring, Community/ 1:1 Mentoring, Bigs in Blue, and group programming Big Brothers Big Sisters of Centre Wellington offers life changing opportunities to support youth.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Centre Wellington also offer opportunities for the community to get involved through events. Some of their upcoming events for the summer include their Volleyball: Play for A Purpose Tournament on June 8th, Golf for Kids’ Sake on June 14th, Garagemahal June 20th, and their Canada Day Soap Box Derby on July 1st. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Centre Wellington offers many events throughout the year, and encourages local businesses and community members to get involved by volunteering, attending events and providing sponsorship by visiting their website https://centrewellington.bigbrothersbigsisters.ca.
“Non-profit organizations across Ontario deliver programming that makes a difference,” said Neil Lumsden, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport. “That’s why funding that my ministry is providing through the OTF is so important. Our government wants to ensure that these programs and spaces remain the heart of communities across our province.”
#BiggerTogether
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