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WHEREAS, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh (BBBS) has served the community for over 50 years, tasked with the mission to provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever. On January 6, 2016, BBBS of Greater Pittsburgh held its Big Bowl for Kids’ Sake Kickoff, the largest national fundraiser; and,
WHEREAS, the Bowl for Kids' Sake event featured the Celebrate Coalitions Awards to honor six individuals and organizations for their level of commitment, efforts to support BBBS, leadership in coordinating initiatives and events, and other efforts that go above and beyond to contribute in a BIG way; and,
WHEREAS, Bobby Thompson, of the Young Professional Outreach Board, is a regional coordinator for the Department of Veteran Affairs in the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Program, providing short-term assistance to prevent and end homelessness among veterans. He is married to Megan and has two sons, Beckett (3) and Sullivan (5 months); and,
WHEREAS, Lauren Schieb, of the BIG Recruitment Board, is a special education teacher at Woodland Hills High School and teaches students with Autism. She has been a Big Sister since 2010 and on the BBBS Recruitment Board for a year; and,
WHEREAS, Abby Stark, of the Washington County Advisory Board - has served there for over two years. She has been a Big Sister to a Little Sister in Charleroi for over a year and a half. She worked at BBBS part-time while a graduate student in the University of Pittsburgh’s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs. She is currently a development specialist at the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission; and,
WHEREAS, James Doyle, Youth Outcomes Advisory Board - is the coordinator of Out-of-School Time for the Pittsburgh Public Schools, overseeing all district OST partnerships. He has been involved with BBBS for over five years as a trainer, speaker and member of the Youth Outcomes Advisory Board; and,
WHEREAS, Scott Kerber, of BIG Alumni Association, is vice president, partner and owner of T.A. Ward Constructors, Inc., a land development company in Oakdale. He was a Big Brother for eight years in the ‘90s and has been active for many years since, raising funds for Bowl For Kids’ Sake; and,
WHEREAS, First Waves, Partner of the Year - founded by Ian Smith owner of SurfsUP Adventures, First Waves offers programs involving standup paddle boarding and filmmaking to mentor as-risk youth. The collaboration of nonprofit and business volunteers, First Waves also teaches conservation. The group has partnered with BBBS for two years; and,
WHEREAS, Strong Women, Strong Girls, Partner of the Year - empowers girls to lead strong, healthy and successful lives through mentoring by college women who are themselves mentored by professional women. In 2015, SWSG served over 600 girls in 3rd through 5th grade and trained 180 college mentors and 101 adult volunteers; and,
WHEREAS, we would also like to thank outgoing Young Professional Outreach Board President Alyssa DiLoreto and Vice President Justin Matase and outgoing BIG Recruitment Board Chairman Doug Foster for all of their service to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh; and,
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NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does congratulate and thank all those who have contributed their talents and skills towards achieving the mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters, and;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare January 18, 2016 to be “Celebrating Coalitions” Day in the City of Pittsburgh.