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For Immediate Release
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Upstate Receives $10,000 Grant from The Spartanburg County Foundation
SPARTANBURG, S.C. (May 13, 2011) – Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Upstate, in a ceremony on May 11, 2011, with several other Spartanburg County non profits, was presented a $10,000 grant by The Spartanburg County Foundation. The Spartanburg County Foundation is a community trust established for the purpose of promoting such charitable pursuits, as in the judgment of the Trustees of The Foundation, will best make for the mental, moral, intellectual and physical improvement, assistance, relief and well being of the citizens of the Greater Spartanburg County, South Carolina area.
Big Brothers Big Sisters was awarded this grant for Hispanic Youth Mentoring. The Hispanic population in South Carolina grew by over 8% in the last census and Spartanburg County was one of the largest growth areas. However, mentoring and other services for Hispanic youth have not kept pace with other ethnic groups in Spartanburg County. Of 228 County youth mentored by the Big Brothers Big Sisters in 2010, only 2 were Hispanic. Research has shown mentoring is an effective strategy for combating high risk youth behaviors; such as dropping out of school, juvenile crime, and substance abuse.
"Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Upstate expresses our sincerest thanks to The Spartanburg County Foundation for their tremendous support of our program," said Terry Hypes, Executive Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Upstate. "These funds will be used to help fund 25 new matches of mentors with at risk Hispanic youth in Spartanburg County during the next 12 months."
Big Brothers Big Sisters is the oldest, largest, and most effective youth mentoring organization in the U.S. It has been the leader in one-on-one youth mentoring services for more than a century, developing positive relationships that have a direct and lasting impact on the lives of young people. Nationwide Big Brothers Big Sisters serves 250,000 young people each year ages six through eighteen.
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