BBBS Upstate Receives $1,000 Donation From The Allstate Foundation

GREENVILLE, S.C. (February 23, 2011) - Zach Bartness, owner of the Allstate Insurance Company in  Travelers Rest, presented a $1,000 check to Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Upstate on Wednesday February 23, 2011 on behalf of The Allstate Foundation.  The grant was part of The Allstate Foundation Agency Hands in the Community Program.  Zach has been an avid supporter of BBBS Upstate for several years and has been a mentor to a young man for the last two years.

"I decided to become a Big  Brother after seeing so many children every day who don't have that parental involvement that I was lucky to have," says Bartness.  "Allstate is based on helping people.  I thought this was a great way to help children in need which ultimately helps our entire community by encouraging them to become more productive citizens."

"BBBS Upstate is very pleased to have this support from The Allstate Foundation," says BBBS Upstate CEO Terry Hypes.  "This donation will help us reach at least one more at risk child in the Upstate.  That's at least one child who otherwise may have ended up dropping out of school or using illegal drugs."

BBBS Upstate helps at risk youth reach their full potential through professionally supported one-to-one mentoring relationships with measurable results.  Little brothers and sisters are 52% less likely to skip school, 46% less likely to begin using illegal drugs, and 27% less likely to begin using alcohol.

Big Brothers Big Sisters is the oldest, largest, and most effective youth mentoring organization in America.  BBBS Upstate has served the area since 1970.  BBBS Upstate serves at risk children ages six through 18 in Anderson, Greenville, Laurens, Oconee, Pickens, and Spartanburg counties.