FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
Juliette Bogus, Heroes in Our Midst
Telephone: 202.416.6103
info@HeroesInOurMidst.org
Noreen Shanfelter, Big Brothers Big Sisters
Telephone: 215.665.7778
noreen.shanfelter@bbbs.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NATIONWIDE OUTREACH PROGRAM WILL HONOR EVERYDAY HEROES
Greeting Card Association & Big Brothers Big Sisters Team Up to Honor Mentors
Washington, DC - Every day, thousands of Americans are striving to make a difference in the lives of others. Too often, however, the work of these outstanding citizens goes unnoticed. To encourage Americans to reach out and honor the unsung citizen heroes in their communities, the Greeting Card Association, in partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters, is launching a nationwide public outreach campaign called "Heroes In Our Midst."
Heroes In Our Midst is designed to encourage people to recognize and express their appreciation of the everyday heroes in their communities by sending greeting cards or written notes acknowledging their contributions. Through the program, Heroes In Our Midst and its partners hope to inspire America's citizen heroes to continue their efforts and to motivate others to become involved as a mentor, volunteer or other everyday hero in their communities.
The program will officially kick off in January in honor and recognition of National Mentoring Month and "Thank a Mentor Day" on January 25, 2006. Beginning in February, each month Big Brothers Big Sisters will name a mentor to be honored and encourage individuals in the heroes' home communities and across the country to recognize and honor these individuals by sending them greeting cards or notes in support of their efforts.
To demonstrate their appreciation for the accomplishments made by Big Brothers Big Sisters in changing the lives of children and youth through one-to-one mentoring, the Greeting Card Association will donate $1,000 to the hero's local Big Brothers Big Sisters agency in the name of each mentor selected. The donation will enable the local agency of Big Brothers Big Sisters to recruit, match and support one Big Brothers Big Sisters friendship match in honor of this volunteer. The Heroes In Our Midst events will take place each month in the cities where the hero resides, and they will be honored with the Heroes In Our Midst Medal of Honor, a personalized bronze medallion for service to their community.
The Greeting Card Association and Big Brothers Big Sisters officials say the promise of Heroes In Our Midst lies in its recognition of the positive impact that one-to-one connections can have on our lives.
"When it comes to identifying a hero among Big Brothers Big Sisters volunteers, we're not looking for people who've demonstrated amazing feats of heroism," says Judy Vredenburgh, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America president and CEO. "We're looking for a mentor who's spent those little moments with a child or teenager, moments that can make a significant difference in a young person's life. A night out at the movies, a walk on the beach or a pat on the back from a 'Big' can mean the world to a 'Little.' It's about friendship and its enduring power."
"We're excited about the opportunity that Heroes In Our Midst offers for encouraging Americans to reach out and connect with one another," says Valerie Cooper, the Greeting Card Association executive vice president. "We are also very pleased to be partnering with Big Brothers Big Sisters in the launch of the program. Greeting cards and mentoring signify the positive power of connecting, the creation of lasting social and emotional bonds between individuals and that's what Heroes In Our Midst is all about." Cooper said that the Greeting Card Association hopes to expand the program to include other national organizational partners in the future years of the Heroes In Our Midst program.
For more information about Heroes In Our Midst, visit the official program website at www.HeroesInOurMidst.org or send an e-mail to info@HeroesInOurMidst.org
Big Brothers Big Sisters is the oldest, largest, and most effective youth mentoring organization in the United States. It has been the leader in one-to-one youth service for more than a century, developing positive relationships that have a direct and lasting impact of the lives of young people. Big Brothers Big Sisters serves 240,000 children, ages 6 through 18, in all 50 states. The national offices are located in Philadelphia. To volunteer or donate visit www.bigbrothersbigsisters.org.
The Greeting Card Association, headquartered in Washington, DC, represents nearly 300 U.S. and international greeting card publishers and suppliers. It is dedicated to celebrating, promoting and preserving the tradition and cultural values of exchanging greeting cards.
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