Big Brother and Big Sister Bowl for Kids Sake

We bowled Saturday for Big Brother and Big Sister Bowl for Kids’ Sake!

______

Each year half a million people across America come together to have fun and raise money to support Big Brothers Big Sisters. Big Brothers, Big Sisters depends on donations to conduct background checks on volunteers to ensure child safety and provide ongoing support for children, families, and volunteers to build and sustain long-lasting relationships.

Being a business in Columbia means we are committed to making a difference where we can. It was an easy decision to sponsor this organization and have a little fun as well. We can make a difference one child at a time.

Here’s a story from one of our team members.

Why this is near to our hearts heart:

When my first husband died suddenly of a heart attack leaving me with 4 children, ages 10 and under, I desperately wanted a male figure in my 2 son’s lives. Knowing that Big Brothers Big Sisters was an organization that did background checks and matched volunteers with children I called to see if I could find that help. Unfortunately, there was a long wait list and my sons were not able to have the benefit of this service.

Fast forward 20 years. A dear friend was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2011. He vowed to make a difference in someone’s life if he made it through a complicated surgery to remove the cancer.

Fortunately for one little boy, he did make that difference! I’ll call that little boy “John”. When my friend first went to pick up John he was greeted by a shy little boy who didn’t know his father. The situation John was in was not ideal.

As their relationship grew my friend was able to share with John fun events like MU basketball and football games as well as celebrating holidays together and taking him to his workplace and home. His family fell in love with John and he grew from this shy young man to a confident young man who could see a different future. My friend accepted a place on the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters and last spring I was able to participate in the Bowl for Kids’ Sake with John being on our team.

I could see the relationship he had with my friend and how close they were. Unfortunately, the cancer came back and my friend passed away this last December. His family shared how difficult it was to share with John this sad news. Now my friend’s adult son is Johns sponsor.

I have seen firsthand how this organization has made a difference in at least one boys life!