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PROGRAM UPDATES 2 SPIRIT BUILDERS 3-4

BBBS St. Catharines - Thorold Co-op cut aects 101 children

September is upon us again and with the changing of the seasons comes the transition back to the classroom. At the agency, our in-school mentoring programs are back in full swing with hundreds of children experiencing the joys of mentorship. Unfortunately, this good news is marred by the recent nancial situation the agency is now faced with. It is so severe, we have recently had to cut our co-op program that gave 101 elementary school children in 15 schools a high school mentor. Not only are we disappointed to have to close these matches, we are also upset that we can no longer support the 13 high school mentors with the volunteer hours they relied on to graduate. As the Niagara Region battles through a 10.6% drop out rate (national average is 9%), we know our school based programs are most signicant given their positive attitudes towards school and career. We believe, for Niagaras youth, there is no more important investment than the value and values of mentoring. We must now fundraise 100% to keep our quality programs at no cost. Our challenge is to become nancially sustainable to meet the growing demand for mentorship. A nancial challenge of this magnitude is devastating for the agency, especially as we celebrate our 75th anniversary in the community. The reality we are facing is that we can no longer nancially sustain the growth and demand for our programs. For the rst time, the demand for mentorship has outgrown the money we have to support it. We will simply have to extend our waiting list as our caseworkers are at capacity and cannot safely look after any more matches. I feel it is my responsibility to be honest and report this to our community. In order to help our agency become more nancially sustainable, we are reaching out for help. If you have any suggestions on how we can reach out to our community for funding, whether it be through special events or large corporate donations, we would welcome your input. Feel free to get in touch with me personally, through email or phone and set up an appointment. We value your committment to the littles and the organization and know that together we can come up with a way to fulll our mission of giving the gift of mentorship to every child who needs it. Until next time,

CELEBRATING SUCCESS

UPCOMING EVENTS THANK YOU TO...

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Dale J. Davis CEO

Providing mentoring programs and services since 1937

Big Brothers Big Sisters of St. Catharines - Thorold & District September Newsletter

A Member Agency.

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Program Update

We have had another successful school year with all of our school based programs. We were able to provide all four programs to 53 schools and helped a total of 667 children! We are looking forward to continuing our successes into the 2012/2013 school year. We even have an ISM match that will be entering their 9th year together this September! Thank you to all of our academic partners and volunteers who are the heart of this agency. Without you, we would not be able to have such a large impact in our community! -Colleen Walker, ISM Caseworker

Somma and Britney have made some masks while spending time with each other during their In School Mentoring match. Great job ladies!

Fahad, Hunter and their In School Mentor Dahli get busy with their homework and read some books. Looks like fun!

A Little Quote I experience new things that I could have never experienced before. Getting a big brother changed my life forever. Ill never be the same person again. - Brandon Bilecki (Little Brother)

We love our volunteers!

My experience at Big Brothers Big Sisters has been amazing! It was very rewarding to know I was giving the kids I was matched with something to enjoy. I had a great time being a mentor and now I know for sure I want volunteer to be a Big Sister! - Amber Raivio / ISM Co-op Student I enjoyed this co-op because of how you can see the kids change throughout the semester. At the beginning they seem shy and unsure about you but the more you come and see them, they start to trust you and open up... its rewarding once you gain their trust. -Brittany Fusarelli / ISM Co-op Student The kids in the club always make me laugh and I love helping them understand their homework. -Dahli Clarke / Not Just Homework Club Mentor

Big Brothers Big Sisters of St. Catharines - Thorold & District September Newsletter

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would like to thank all of this years sponsors from the 20th Annual Coppolas Charity Golf Classic

would like to thank Big Brothers Big Sisters

Big Brothers Big Sisters

all this years sponsors!

CIBC CIBC Wood Gundy Wood Gundy

The Carlomusto Financial Group The Carlomusto Financial Group

Chisholm Machinery Sales Ltd. Chisholm Machinery Sales Ltd.

Big Brothers Big Sisters

all this years sponsors!

Gerry Coppola & Luigi Coppola Dac Chisholm like to thank Gerry Coppola & Luigi Coppola would Dac Chisholm

The Carlomusto Financial Group is Coppolas serves outstanding Diamond Partners For the last 67 years, Chisholm Diamond Partners proud to be a part of CIBC Wood authentic Italian cuisine in a Machinery Sales Ltd. has been Gundy, a division of CIBC World beautiful, warm and friendly servicing the needs of Canadian Markets Inc., which is one of Canada's environment. In only a few years, George Henry Victor Oreskovich industrial processors by providing largest nancial institutions. While Coppolas has become one of equipment for food Victor Oreskovich processing, their primary George Henry focus is managing Niagaras most successful eateries. Gold Partners packaging and materials investment portfolios for a uent Owners Gerry and Luigi Coppola handling. individuals, families, and corporations, care about their customers and Gold Partners they also work closely with their are committed to o ering them Credit Bureau Services Canada - Jan R. Cook Chisholm MachineryMolson Canada - Pat Mowat at a fair value. Sales Ltd. network of specialists in order to plan, great food The Carlomusto Financial Group Gerry Coppola & Luigi Coppola Dac Chisholm grow, protect, and transfer their clients' wealth. Credit Bureau Services Canada - Jan R. Cook Molson Canada - Pat Mowat

JTL Machine LTD

JTL Machine LTD

CIBC Wood Gundy

Diamond Partners Silver Partners

Chown Cairns LLP - Bob Miller European Planters - John VanderZlam KP Ltd. - Fred Koorne Robert Magder Financial - Robert Magder ChownInsurnaceLLP - Bob Miller Cairns - Mike Hildebrandt Verge

George Henry

European Planters - John VanderZlam

Manulife Financial Group Benets - H. Dunsby & L. Robertson Sentry Select Investments - Marty DeFreitas CYO - Basketball Washington Mills - Sandro Borghesi Gold Partners

Victor Oreskovich Silver Partners

CYO - Basketball Franklin Templeton Investments

JTL Machine LTD

Franklin Templeton Investments

Bronze Manulife Financial Group Benets - H. Dunsby & L. Robertson Partners KP Ltd. - Fred Koorne Credit Bureau Services Canada - Jan R. Cook Empire Life Molson Canada Pat Mowat Sentry Select Investments - -Marty DeFreitas Robert Magder Financial - Robert Magder Gary Waters Mens Fashions Washington Mills - & Conference Center VergeGeorge Darte Funeral Home Insurnace - Mike Hildebrandt John Michaels Banquet Sandro Borghesi
Luigi De Lisio Barrister & Solicitor RS Material Handling - R. Sirignano Tim Hortons Niagara Falls - P. Bright MacGillvary Partners LLP - T. Waud Tim Hortons Niagara Falls - T. Worren Walker Industries Holdings Ltd. Silver Partners Bronze Partners Niagara 21st Group Inc. Sullivan Mahoney - P.M. Sheehan Tim Hortons St. Catharines - G. Smith

Luigi De Lisio Barrister & Solicitor Leone Bakery MacGillvary Partners LLP - T. Waud Sysco Niagara 21st Group Inc. BrockOA Casa Gordon Food Service RS Material Handling - R. Sirignano Sullivan Mahoney - P.M. Sheehan Manulife Financial Group Benets - H. Dunsby & L. Robertson KP Ltd. - Fred Koorne Tim Hortons Niagara Falls - P. Bright Tim Hortons Niagara Falls - T. Worren Tim Hortons St. Catharines - G. Smith Sentry Select Robert Magder Financial - Robert Magder Walker Industries Holdings Ltd. Investments - Marty DeFreitas

Empire Life Gary Waters Mens Fashions CYO - Basketball Chown Cairns LLP - Bob Miller Thanks to our lunch sponsors George Darte Funeral Home John Michaels Banquet Franklin Templeton Investments& Conference Center European Planters - John VanderZlam

Verge Insurnace - Mike Hildebrandt

Washington Mills - Sandro Borghesi

Thanks to our lunch sponsors Thanks to our lunch sponsors

Gary Waters Mens Fashions George Darte Funeral Home John Michaels Banquet Big Brothers Big Sisters of St. Catharines - Thorold & District September Newsletter & Conference 3 Page Center Luigi De Lisio Barrister & Solicitor MacGillvary Partners LLP - T. Waud Niagara 21st Group Inc. RS Material Handling - R. Sirignano Sullivan Mahoney - P.M. Sheehan

BrockOA BrockOA

Bronze Casa Leone Bakery Partners FoodService Leone Bakery Gordon Food Service Gordon Casa
Empire Life

Sysco Sysco

I Z Z

J er r y s
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PETES PIZZA Merritt Street

@bbbsmentors

facebook.com/BBBSStCatharines

For more information on upcoming events and daily news from the agency, make sure to check out our social media sites!

Big Brothers Big Sisters of St. Catharines - Thorold & District September Newsletter

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Celebrating Success!
Buon Apetito! The Coppola Family are so good to us! Gerry and Luigi made a Buon Apetito menu available for March and April, where patrons could enjoy a three course meal for only $19.95. 25% of the proceeds went to our agency, and in total, raised $3000! Thank you so much! Miller Baseball Tournament
Lots of fun was had at the Miller Baseball tounament this summer. With raffles and a barbecue, an amazing $4995.08 was donated. Thanks to Matt and Tracy Holmwood and their staff for all of their hard work!

Metroid Marathon!
The boys did it again! Penguins In The Desert Productions held their summer marathon and spent four entire days playing all the Metroid games! Donations totalled $2297.61. Thanks guys! See you in December!

Coppolas Charity Golf Classic

We couldnt have had a better day for our 20th annual Coppolas Golf Tournament! All the participants had a great time on the green and bidding on items at the Silent Auction. We surpassed goal and made a whopping $71,785. Thanks to everyone for their support!

Beach Bash Volleyball Tournament

It was a hot and humid day for the Beach Bash volleyball tournament at Port Dalhousie. However, that didnt stop anyone from enjoying the day of fun on the sand! 25 teams played and raised $16,000 for our Big Bunch Program. Congrats to all the winning teams!

Brock Euchre Tournament Brock Universitys sorority, Omega Sigma Chi, and fraternity, Zeta Psi, held a euchre tournament earlier this year and raised $347.50 to help with our mentoring programs. We cant thank the student of Brock enough for all of their support this year. Car Wash for Kids
It was a wet and soapy day at Rankin Construction for the Car Wash For Kids! We had Bigs, Littles, parents, board members and the Niagara Ice Dog Cheerleaders come to support us! A big thank you to everyone who brought their dirty car and helped us raise $780!

Jack Astors Bartending Competition The entire Big Brothers Big Sisters staff had a great night out at Jack Astors for their annual Bartending Competition. Dale was a wonderful judge and at the end of the night, we received $1000! Way to go!

RBC Golf Tournament

RBC Financial Group donated the proceeds of their annual Golf Tournament to BBBS agencies in Niagara! BBBS St. Catharines was thrilled to receive $4900 from the tournament and silent auction. Thank you so much!

75th Anniversary Celebration

On May 28th, 2012, our agency turned 75 years old! We celebrated with a small gathering of staff and board members, bigs and littles and our media partners for a barbeque and birthday cake! We continue to celebrate through to May of 2013, so stop in and wish us a Happy Birthday!

Big Brothers Big Sisters of St. Catharines - Thorold & District September Newsletter

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Upcoming Events
Check out the Something Something Productions of Rocky Horror Picture Show running until September 29th at Cork's Winery and Eatery in Niagara-On-The-Lake. Everyone is encouraged to purchase a "Participation Package" for $5 and proceeds of your purchase go to our agency. Tickets are a steal at $30 each and can be bought online through www.somethingsomethingproductions.ca. So, get into your best costume and let's do the Time Warp! We will be having a float in this years 61st annual Grape and Wine Parade on September 29th! The theme is History Comes Alive and we thought this would be a great opportunity to showcase our 75th anniversary! If you, your family or match would like to be on this years float, please contact your caseworker. September is Big Brothers Big Sisters Month! Thanks to our friends at Standard Life, we are reaching out to our community to recruit volunteers for our six mentoring programs! If you would like to be a mentor with our agency, join us on September 19th for our Recruitment BBQ at Butler Funeral Home from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Niagara Inflatables will be setting up bouncers for children who will be in attendance. This is a great opportunity to speak to our caseworkers and find out how you can Start Something BIG! During the months of September and December, A.H.A Wellness is kindly donating 10% of their sales to Big Brothers Big Sisters of St. Catharines! We would like to thank Sheri Webber for setting this up for us! For more information on A.H.A Wellness services and programs, visit www.ahawellnessservices.com. Big Brothers Big Sisters will once again be running a theatre club at the agency! A big thank you to Rob Burke and friends for arranging this for us. The club is for kids aged 9 years and over and takes place on Sundays from 1:00-4:00 p.m. starting on October 21st. The club culminates on December 15th with a free showcase performance for friends, family and matches at St. James Church on Main Street, Port Dalhousie. If you would like to take part, please contact your caseworker!

Going above and beyond....

We would like to say thank you to a mentor who has gone above and beyond to help our agency in our time of need. Jeramie Bailey is a Big Brother and has been for a number of years. He has also been an In-School Mentor and mentor for a number of Game On! sessions. Our caseworker David Hutt received a phone call from Future Shops head office regarding an application that Jeramie had submitted. When told how focused, driven and motivated Jeramie has been for the children he has mentored, the representative said Future Shop would be sending us a cheque for $2500 in honor of Jeramie. From all of us here at the agency, thank you, Jeramie, for all you do for your littles and the agency. We truely appreciate all of your hard work and dedication.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of St. Catharines - Thorold & District September Newsletter

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