Jack in the Box Foundation Awards Grant To
Big Brothers Big Sisters For High School "Bigs" Program
CHARLOTTE, NC (December 8, 2006) - Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Charlotte, affiliated with the oldest and largest youth mentoring organization in the country, is pleased to be the recipient of a $8,750 grant from The Jack In The Box Foundation.
"We are thrilled to receive this funding," says Carol Lee, CEO of BBBS. Funds from this grant will be used to underwrite our current High School Bigs partnership and award a $1,000 scholarship to a high-school senior who currently participates as a High School Big.
The Big Brothers Big Sisters in Schools program, High School Bigs matches high school juniors and seniors (Bigs) with elementary students (Littles), providing them with one-on-one time and attention, once a week during the academic year. The matches meet at school in a supervised setting. Activities could include playing board games, working on schoolwork, having lunch together, playing sports or simply hanging out.
The benefits of the high school program are many. High School Bigs experience the joy and life changing power of service, build college resumes, and may receive school credits. Littles have the opportunity to connect with a role model close to their own age, with whom they identify strongly, and receive that extra time and attention that they need to succeed at school.
This is the fifth year that BBBS of Greater Charlotte has recruited high school students to become Big Brothers and Big Sisters in School. Funding to launch and support the program comes from The Jack in the Box Foundation, which has partnered with Big Brother Big Sisters since 1998 to help kids in Jack in the Box® restaurant communities.
"Jack in the Box is proud to sponsor High School Bigs programs in 17 communities, and we commend Big Brothers Big Sisters for creating a unique program that benefits both the Bigs and Littles who participate," said Linda Lang, chairman of the board and CEO of Jack in the Box Inc.
Across the country, over 50,000 high school students participate as "Bigs," with junior and senior students representing the fastest growing segment of volunteers in Big Brothers Big Sisters.
About Big Brother Big Sisters
Big Brother Big Sisters, founded in 1904, is the nation's oldest and largest youth mentoring organization in the United States. In 2005, the organization served more than 230,000 youth ages five through 18, in 5,000 communities across the country in one-to-one relationships. National research has shown that the positive relationships between youth and their Big Brothers and Big Sisters have a direct, measurable, and lasting impact on children's lives. In 2003, Forbes placed Big Brothers Big Sisters on its Gold-Star list of the top ten charities, for its excellence in efficiency and effectiveness. The national headquarters is located in Philadelphia, PA. For additional information visit www.bbbs.org.
About Jack In The Box Foundation
A national Big Brothers Big Sisters sponsor since 1998, The Jack in the Box Foundation has provided more than $3 million to national and local BBBS agencies through corporate and employee donations, fund-raising events and services. Based in San Diego, Jack in the Box operates (or franchises) more than 2,050 quick-serve restaurants in 17 states.
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