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Start Something

2018AnnualReport

OUR MISSIONEMPOWERING YOUTH THROUGH MENTORSHIP

OUR VISIONEVERY CHILD WHO NEEDS A MENTOR, HAS A MENTOR

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MESSAGE FROM OUR BOARD PRESIDENT & CEO

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

STAFF

MESSAGE FROM OUR DIRECTOR OF SERVICES

GRIMSBY REPORT

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS REPORT

GO GIRLS! REPORT

GAME ON! REPORT

IN-SCHOOL MENTORING REPORT

FAMILY ENROLLMENT REPORT

COMMUNICATIONS REPORT

FUND DEVELOPMENT REPORT

SPECIAL EVENTS

COMMUNITY AND CORPORATE DONORS

SPONSORS

MESSAGE FROM BOARD PRESIDENT & CEO

Courage, Vision and Teamwork are the factors that positively in�uenced the agency in 2018. Two Boards had the courage to explore options and seek possible solutions. Both groups supported a vision to come together to merge resources and to create one larger business model in efforts to serve more children, while improving sustainability in the challenging charitable sector. Teamwork prevailed in all areas to see the Vision come to fruition. Teamwork was the fuel that allowed common people to attain uncommon results. I am both impressed and grateful of the accomplishments by the team in 2018. We have a truly passionate and highly skilled group of team members working diligently to support our families and schools within the community. Please know that our case working team are instrumental to our success.

I also wish to thank the community for their generous support with our fundraising campaigns and donations as we can't do this valuable work without you.

As I re�ect on 2018, I wish to thank both past and present board directors: Frank Tassone, Josh Bond, Tiffany MacLeod, Dianna Dymond, Justin Cruse, Gynette Smith and Lynn Fee see our Vision become reality. They all played a vital role throughout the Grimsby/St.Catharines initiative to support and guide Dale, Frances and I. It has been a blessing to see our communities come together with such positivity as we became Big Brothers Big Sisters of North & West Niagara. The year ahead is rich with promise. While focus will continue with efforts on sustainable funding; priorities for the year ahead will include rebranding our new name, team building, leadership development and succession planning as we continue on our path to 'strive for excellence'.

With Gratitude,Michelle Miller | President

Celebrating a Milestone - Big Brothers Big Sisters St. Catharines-Thorold & District joins forces with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Grimsby, Lincoln & West Lincoln

“We cannot always build the future for our Youth, but we can build our Youth for the Future” - Franklin Delano Roosevelt

2018 can be captioned the year of hard work, effort and commitment by visionary Boards and a dedicated Executive team. After two years of countless hours and many meetings that lasted into the wee hours, these two agencies came together to form the largest Mentoring organization in Niagara. We will be named Big Brothers Big Sisters of North & West Niagara. This evolution will ensure the organizations will be positioned for the future to serve the ever changing needs of Niagara’s children, youth, families and volunteers. Together, we are in a stronger position to support and sustain the programs and services that have meant so much to our communities over the past 82 years. This was the right move at the right time and the right people were in place to make it happen.

Every aspect of our operation was enhanced by paying special attention to the trends and needs in our community and responding accordingly. The fabric of Niagara Region is weaving into a complex quilt of speci�c requirements and through the help of the government, business, and individuals we are able to respond and respond well. The Big Brothers Big Sisters of North & West Niagara very much prides ourselves in the diversity of our communities and our ability to respond with programs, training, and support. Last year we supported 995 children and youth through 5 mentoring programs with the help of over 390 volunteers. We are proud of the continuing partners who work closely with our Mentoring Coordinators to sustain the highest quality of service to our clients.

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS | ANNUAL REPORT 20181

MESSAGE FROM BOARDPRESIDENT AND CEO

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS | ANNUAL REPORT 2018 2

We continue to focus on improving overall program quality in all our program offerings and ensure professional development is in place so our team is equipped to work with diverse populations and the ever-increasing social issues that our families face. This priority in enhancing knowledge and skills was very much welcomed from both staff and volunteers to help support inclusive practices. Our talented and committed Staff and Volunteers continue to work harmoniously together, putting forth such dedication and heart into taking our movement forward. Our staff are the shepherds of mentoring and their mentoring of one another is a true agency strength. The Board continues to ensure the organization remains on a robust path of accountability, transparency, and service excellence. To keep pace with the constant change in our sector, and the Strategic Plan objectives, the Working Action Groups now have clear cut outcomes to be achieved for each area. The broad and extensive skill sets, leadership, and business acumen that are in play for the bene�t of the agency and our community are second to none as a result.

There is a constant thirst to be ef�cient and effective while embracing our solid foundation, with a collective recognition that innovative solutions and promising practices lie outside the current ways of operating. Given the economic climate in Niagara and the new realities for raising funds in our sector, it was an incredible accomplishment to realize a surplus in 2018. This is truly remarkable considering we joined forces to become a new entity and were uncertain what challenges lay ahead.

Our revenue generation initiatives are increasingly competitive with challenges being encountered around every corner. Our agency longevity, reputation, and perceived sustainability often cloud the urgency of our ongoing need for �nancial resources. Our passionate belief that we need to remain mission driven and respond to the emerging needs of the children and youth in the Niagara Region forces us to realize we cannot do it all on the funds we have available.

Our talented Fund Development and Marketing staff collaborate with the CEO to diversify our revenue streams, enhance our marketing practices, and implement more analytical and strategic thinking. Together, we are con�dent next year will be an exciting one as we build upon our new organization’s strengths and capacity for innovative thinking, problem solving, and smart partnerships. We celebrate all our 2018 funders, donors, and community partners who are champions for mentoring in both action and investment. They elevate our achievements and magnify our capacity!

My thanks to the entire Board including, the wonderful legacies that retiring Directors have left. Our strength holds steadfast in each contribution that is shared. My special thanks to our management team for their ongoing leadership, immeasurable initiative, and willingness to go above and beyond through challenging times. A special note of thanks to Frances Lettieri, our Director of Services, whose passionate quest for excellence and learning in Service Delivery earned the organization a stellar Accreditation rating this past year. Her patience, loyalty and support of the CEO is unwaivering, and I am grateful each day we get to collaborate on work we both love and are passionate about.

Lastly, I wish to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to our President Michelle Miller for her passion, hard work, commitment, and leadership. Her unwavering support at the Board table, her understanding of the environment in which not-for-pro�ts operate guided the CEO and the staff through very challenging times. Her steadfastness and commitment to our vision for a “new organization” remained front and centre for her throughout the past two years and her collaborative and inviting style of communication and willingness to stay at the table, provided the perfect environment for a successful outcome.

Thank you for being a Champion for Mentorship in the name of Big Brothers Big Sisters of North & West Niagara, Michelle. It has been my honor and privilege to work with you this past year and on behalf of the staff and I, we truly appreciate your friendship and all you do for us.

As we look forward to 2019, we know that our foundation is stronger thanks to our new organization and with a committed and engaged Board, an exceptionally dedicated team, the army of caring volunteers, we will embrace the changes that are to come.

We are bold in approach, steadfast in development, and realistic in expectations. We have been in the business of mentoring for 82 years and all of us together ensures our mission and work changes lives!

Respectfully Submitted,Dale J Davis | CEO

BOARDOF DIRECTORS

Michelle Miller, PresidentCorporate Director of Revenue, Vintage Hotels

Joshua Bond, Vice PresidentBarrister and Solicitor, Flett Beccario

Stephen Mannell, TreasurerDirector of Finance, Flavour Art North America Inc.

Tiffany MacLeod, SecretaryHR Coordinator, Vintage Hotels

Frank Tassone, Past PresidentAssociate Director, Transportation Engineering, Niagara Region

Joe Carlomusto Sr.Vice President, CIBC Private Wealth Management - The Carlomusto Investment Team

Linda CieslaSenior Account Manager, RBC Commercial Banking

Adam BosakWealth Advisor & Associate Portfolio Manager, Bosak Wealth Mangement

Kristi CollinsAssociate Lawyer, Lancaster, Brooks & Welch

Nino FasuloFinancial Security Advisor, Freedom 55 Financial

Graham GuestGeneral Manager – Renewables and Technical Services, Walker Environmental Group

Dianna DymondDirector of Human Resources, Vintage Hotels

Bryan MacCullochChief, Niagara Regional Police Service

Michael NazarethOwner, Dragan Brewing and Wine Company

Lydia TomekWinemaker, Burning Kiln

Gynette SmithOwner, Tim Hortons

Mioara DomokosDirector of Finance, Grimsby Power Inc.

Paul NoharaPersonal Financial Planner, Freedom 55 Financial

Justin CrusePresident, WreckMaster Inc.

Michael Allen, Honourary DirectorBob Miller, Honourary DirectorDarcy Ewanchuk, Honourary Director


STAFF


Dale J. DavisCEO

Frances LettieriDirector of Services

Jodi HealeyExecutive Assistant

Marcie ClarksonFundraising & Business Development Manager

Adam MaioloCommunications & Event Coordinator

Mary ChampSpecial Events Fundraiser

Ashley DunseithSupervisor of Programs and Services

Katie ViccicaVolunteer Enrollment Coordinator

Karen ThompsonMentoring Coordinator

Alicia GordaMentoring Coordinator

Rylee WiersmaMentoring Coordinator

Sabrina HinzmannMentoring Coordinator

MESSAGE FROM OURDIRECTOR OF SERVICES

“Unlocking a child’s true potential creates a future where anything is possible.”

In 2018, we proudly provided service to 995 unique children and youth through our Community-Based and Site-Based Mentorship programs! This achievement was made possible with the support and dedication of our 390 volunteers who donated hundreds of hours of their time to mentor a child in one of �ve mentoring programs. The increase in the number of children served is the result of the addition of our new service area which includes Grimsby, Lincoln and West Lincoln. This amazing opportunity will open up new possibilities and help expand our reach to increase the number children and youth participating in our �ve mentoring programs. The community program (Big Brother and Big Sister program) served 90 and 94 children and youth, an increase over last year. The Site-Based programs (In School Mentoring, Go Girls and Game On) served a total of 839 children and youth. In School Mentoring served 110 children and youth, Go Girls served 539 girls while Game On served 191 boys. The group programs are rapidly gaining in popularity with over 71% of children and youth participating in these programs. Children and youth participated in one or more mentoring program during the year, with many of them transitioning from a group program into a one-to-one program. In 2018, the expansion of the Go Girls Program into grades 5-6 allowed over 264 young girls and young women to bene�t from this program at a younger age. This represents 49% of the total girls served in the Go Girls Program. Schools are now requesting the program for the younger age group so we can get the messaging across to them sooner.

Some programs have seen a decrease over the past few years. In particular, the In School Mentoring program has seen a lower number of children served which is the result of decreased funding for this program. One of the goals, will be a focus on increasing funding for the In School Mentoring program as this 1:1 program has strong impacts on children. The Game On program also experienced a decrease in comparison to previous years. This is partially due to staff turnover and a drop in male volunteers. At the end of 2018, The Branscombe Family Foundation approved a grant request for a Volunteer Enrollment Coordinator. This exciting opportunity will allow the agency to actively recruit volunteers throughout our new service area. The focus in 2019, will be on recruiting male volunteers for our programs, speci�cally the Game On Program to meet the demand for this program in our schools.

Our organization is founded on the generosity and support of our families, volunteers, staff, and community partners that allow us to continue to match our children and youth through our �ve mentoring programs. Special thanks to our CEO, Dale Davis, Michelle Miller, Board President and our Board of Directors for their leadership and vision. At the core of our service delivery team are our dedicated Mentoring Coordinators along with our placement students who work tirelessly with so many volunteers, families, and children to ensure that our programs are running ef�ciently and effectively. Their skills, talents and commitment are second-to-none.

Special recognition to our Fund Development Team, it is through their dedication and passion that make this all possible. The success of our programs is a direct result of the generous support from our community stakeholders which include The United Way, The Ministry of Education, The Ontario Trillium Foundation, The Branscombe Family Foundation, Prevent Challenge Foundation, Niagara Community Foundation, Canadian Tire Jumpstart, Ontario Power Generation, Alectra, and Maycourt of St. Catharines. Through their support, the agency received $223,280 in grant requests. Special thanks to our community partners which include Family and Children’s Services, The Powerhouse Project, the Kristen French Advocacy Centre, as well as, The Niagara District School Board and The Niagara Catholic School Board. Without their investment, we would not have been able to provide our young people with the support to become more con�dant, competent, and caring.

Respectfully Submitted,Frances Lettieri | Director of ServicesBIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS | ANNUAL REPORT 20185

GRIMSBY REPORT2018 was an interesting year for the Grimsby, Lincoln, West Lincoln Big Brothers Big Sisters agency. Big Brothers Big Sisters Grimsby, Lincoln, West Lincoln served 151 unique children. There are 65 children on the wait list. With the addition of Katie Viccica in recruitment, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the west will de�nitely see a growth in numbers. We are very excited about that.

With the addition of a Game On! and Go Girls! Coordinator we were able to run 7 Go Girl! and 4 Game On! programs. One of my Go Girls! leaders later became a staff member with Big Brothers Big Sisters St Catharines, our lovely Sabrina Hinzmann. With long standing matches closing due to graduation, our numbers went down for Big Brother and Big Sister matches �nishing the year with 9 Big Brother matches and 15 Big Sister matches.

In School Mentoring had 11 matches that ran the school year. We are fortunate to have retirees who are able to mentor the full school year and if needed, continue the following year. The Grimsby agency was fortunate to be able to participate in the Back to School Back Pack Program and the Christmas Hamper Program through the generosity of the Grimsby Benevolent Fund. Ten families bene�ted from these programs. Thanks to the generosity of David Elliott, we were able to offer hockey, football, basketball, and lacrosse tickets to our matches at both agencies.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Grimsby, Lincoln, West Lincoln was happy to again offer our matches the opportunity to enjoy a day of �shing on Lake Ontario. Members of the Golden Horseshoe Outdoors Club offer up their time and their boats to our matches. These �shing boats are complete with down riggers and �sh �nders making this a favorite event for everyone. Our agency puts on a barbeque to express our gratitude to the captains. This also gives us an opportunity to spend time with our matches.

Once again we were able to attend the Annual Air Lift put on by Copa Flight 28 Association. Our matches have the amazing opportunity to learn about �ight and then take a plane ride around Hamilton in a small aircraft. Little brothers and sisters are encouraged to �y the plane. My personal favorite event! I am working with the lead person from The Fishing Derby and the Airlift to see how we can offer these events to both agency caseloads.

Matches also enjoyed breakfast and a Sugar Bush tour at Agape Valley. New this year was attending the Christmas Party with St Catharines. Our matches thoroughly enjoyed the change of venue and the great meal provided by Coppola’s Ristorante and all the fun activities. In September, we were delighted to join St Catharines-Thorold & District to form one large agency. While maintaining the matches in all programs in Grimsby, I did Volunteer and Family Intake for the St. Catharines agency from September to December. I was thrilled to meet wonderful young people from our local University and Colleges. I truly enjoyed the diversity I was exposed too. Students from China, India, Africa, and other countries who have come to our country to seek an education and wanted to be part of the community and help children and youth. We had many applicants from our own community as well. I ran 45 family and mentor orientation sessions in three months. This does not happen in Grimsby. How exciting!

It has been a pleasure getting to know our board members at Big Brothers Big Sisters fundraisers and events. I feel honoured to work with such caring and capable program coordinators, fund development team, and management team. My favorite proverb is the African proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child”. The meaning behind this is that children will thrive only when surrounded by people who have a sense of community. The joining of our two agencies has made that village larger and stronger. Together we will be able to provide quality mentoring relationships to even more children with the help of our amazing volunteer mentors.

Respectfully Submitted,Karen Thompson | Mentoring Coordintor


BIG BROTHERSBIG SISTERS

“A mentor is someone who allows you to see the hope inside yourself.” — Oprah Winfrey

Every child is unique – in their dreams, their doubts, their questions, and their needs. Providing a child with a consistent mentor in their lives can give them the extra support needed to help take another step towards a positive future. Throughout 2018, we were able to match 90 Little Brothers, and 94 Little Sisters with caring mentors. Many of these relationships blossomed as they shared important steps in each other’s lives like ‘Little’ graduations and awards, and ‘Big’ marriages and children. This year, we watched a few of our Little Brothers and Sisters graduate from the program, as well as, high school with plans to attend post-secondary. The Agency speci�cally experienced a Little Brother graduate the program, and then immediately turn around to become a mentor because of the positive impact the Agency and his Big Brother had on him. Furthermore, two Little Sisters also graduated from the program and excitedly shared their plans to become Big Sisters when they complete their college degrees. To assist with the costs of post-secondary education, the Agency was able to surprise one Little Sister at a month-end school assembly with the news that she was a recipient of the 2018 Ted Rogers Scholarship.

“We’re here for a reason. I believe a bit of the reason is to throw little torches out to lead people through the dark.” — Whoopi Goldberg

Big Brothers Big Sisters is blessed to have such generous support from the community. Each year, charitable donations are made to the agency in the form of event tickets – and 2018 was no exception.

The agency received over 650 tickets allowing Agency matches to experience the excitement of sporting events and various artistic performances. Ticket donations included opportunities to see Toronto Marlies, Toronto Blue Jays, Toronto Maple Leafs, Buffalo Sabres, NHL alumni, Niagara Ice Dogs, Niagara River Lions, FIBA U18 Basketball Championship, Beauty and the Beast, a Supertramp cover band, circus performances, and a magic show.

“The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.” – Coretta Scott King

We were again very fortunate to have Gerry and Luigi Coppola of Coppola’s Ristorante sponsor our Annual Children’s Christmas Party. This party is often highlighted as a favourite event of many matches. This event is a great opportunity for the Agency to show our heartfelt appreciation to our volunteers who not only donate their time, but who have become sound pillars of support for their little brothers or sisters. At least 200 volunteers, children, board members, and staff attend this event annually. This year, we had a number of special guests including; a balloon artist, a face painter, a minion mascot, and Spiderman. The excited kids celebrated Christmas in style.

Our ‘Christmas Basket’ and gift sponsorships once again helped bring smiles to the faces of many families during the 2018 holiday season. With the support of the JCI’s (formerly Jaycees), Niagara Homebuilders Association, Cotton Inc., Vintage Hotels, PepsiCo, Jordan Gadula and Associates, White Oakes Resort & Spa, Bethany Community Church, Thorold-South Allanburg United Church, Board Members, and other community stakeholders, we were able to help 32 families with Christmas gifts, meals, or both! Each of our families were grateful for the support as it relieved some holiday stress.

We are excited to see what the 2019 year will bring for our matches!

Respectfully Submitted,Ashley Dunseith | Supervisor of Programs and Services

90 Big Brother matches served; 94 Big Sister matches served in 2018


GO GIRLS!"There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish." —Michelle Obama

When you take issues of peer pressure, popularity, bullying, and a heightened prevalence of mental health concerns and combine them with puberty, hormones, changing bodies, social media, and technology in addition to life, home, and school stressors; adolescents are trying to overcome more obstacles than ever and at younger ages. This reality lead to the creation of a modi�ed Go Girls! program that introduced a slightly altered program into Grades 5 and 6 in the Fall of 2017. The success of the modi�ed program has continued through into 2018, as we had many schools ask speci�cally for the grade 5 and 6 age group. Reaching more girls at a younger age with discussion topics and ideas of living a healthy lifestyle has proven to be important in preparing the girls for obstacles as they get older. In 2018 the program was able to serve 264 grade 5 and 6 girls and 275 grades 7 and 8 girls.

Go Girls! volunteers (aged 18-25) have shown ten-fold why they are the ideal mentors to work with the population served in Go Girls!. The Mentors have recently overcome many of the same struggles and concerns expressed by the participants; therefore, acting as not only compassionate con�dantes, but also as a catalyst of encouragement for the participants.

In particular, participants enjoyed their time spent with the mentors because “when you want to talk they listen” (Ava), “it’s easier to open up around people your age & gender” (Ainsleigh) and “you can tell them anything- even if it is the silliest thing in the world, they would try to understand” (Thalia).

“Surround yourself with positive, energetic, successful people and learn from them” – Robert Cheeke

In 2018, Go Girls! encompassed many laughs, had stories shared, and lessons learned.

Some of the valuable lessons our young girls learned include the following: “more about each other and how to appreciate each other” (Emma) “that we each have our own comfort levels” (Hailey) and “it’s okay to be scared [about puberty] because there are other women all around the world that go through the same thing” (Sierra).

“Growth is never by mere chance; it is the result of forces working together” – James C. Penney

DSBN and NCDSB schools were again very welcoming to Agency programming. Throughout the 2018 year, 539 girls participated in the program across 35 different schools. Many schools chose Winter programming in January, and again returned for programming in the Fall. Schools were excited at the opportunity to again have the 5/6 program, as well as, continuing to serve their grade 7/8 population.

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much”- Helen Keller

The Agency continued their partnership with the Powerhouse Project in 2018 by offering young Powerhouse participants the opportunity to participate in the program at Powerhouse Project agency location. This year the agency choose to run the program for the younger grades 5/6 girls and had 11 girls attend. We hope to continue our partnership with this great agency for years to come.

Respectfully Submitted, Rylee Wiersma | Mentoring Coordinator


35schools served across the Niagara region.

539girls served.

75volunteers.

GAME ON!

“ I love being able to see these boys change and mature so much over the 7 weeks we spend with them - something that I will never forget is being able to teach one speci�c boy to tie his shoes. He was so excited to share that once he �nally learned how too! It’s the little things that mean the most.” - (D.P.)

2018 marks another fantastic and successful year for the Game On! Mentorship program! Throughout 2018, young boys were able to experience the impactful and inclusive Game On! program. Throughout this program, the mentors talk to the boys about positive self-image, toxic masculinity, stereotypes, and much more. Alongside the discussions, there are many different activities that they play which help the boys to develop communication, trust, and relationship-building skills. Along with the activities, there are often controlled sports games played which help to promote good sportsmanship and appropriate language use.

We continue to work at expanding the program across our whole service area to reach more young men so that they all get to have the opportunity of creating a lasting bond with a mentor. In 2018, the Game On! program was successful at strengthening the partnerships with all involved schools who value this programs’ impact on their students. The demand for Game On! is at an all-time high; schools are constantly seeking it to be implemented. It appears the awareness of the signi�cant impact that Game On! has on young boys has spread throughout the community. The need for young boys to become aware socially and emotionally has also increased throughout this year.

“I didn’t think much of the group before, but now that it is ending, I’m going to miss my mentors and the lessons they taught us each week.” - (T. M.)

The Game On! program was able to offer impactful mentorship to 191 young boys throughout our service area in 2018. None of this would have been possible without our committed and reliable mentors. Quite often, mentors have volunteered to take on multiple Game On! Sessions in order to increase the amount of the programs run, as �nding enough male mentors to ful�ll the school program requests can often be a challenge.

This truly speaks to the commitment made by the mentors, and their desire to make a difference in these children’s lives.

Game On! continues to strive for a high standard of quality programming within every match. Game On! continues to be supported by Brock University and Niagara College students who sel�essly give up their free time to help Big Brothers Big Sisters achieve the vision “that every child who needs a mentor, has a mentor.”

DSBN Academy continues to be a signi�cant partner to the Game On! program, as they have continued to implement Game On! for the entire school year as part of their encore programs. In 2018, we were unable to offer Game On! to all schools who had requested the program due to a lack of male volunteers. In 2019, we will continue to focus on the goal of recruiting new volunteers to ensure full participation, as well as, look to expand this program to our new service area of Lincoln, Grimsby, West Lincoln, Jordan, and Vineland.

Respectfully Submitted,Sabrina Hinzmann | Mentoring Coordinator


12schools served across St. Catharines, Thorold and Niagara-on-the-Lake.

191boys served.

33volunteers.

IN-SCHOOLMENTORING

"The BBBS program is so valuable for the students accessing it. Alicia did a terri�c job matching the students with their mentors this year, and has been diligent in following up to see how things are going. The program provides much needed one-to-one time with our students, but also positive interactions with someone who comes to spend time with them. Our students look forward to this special time (and have done so in the past), as they develop a friendship and positive relationship with their ISM mentor. ” - C.B (LRT) Prince Philip School - St. Catharines

Each child will spend over six hours per day at school, majority of that time being spent in group settings. No doubt, the subjects and content taught are important, but many children are coming to school with the weight of varying emotional burdens and lacking supportive, relational connections. This is where the In-School Mentoring program really shines! By having our mentors matched one-on-one with children in the schools, meaningful and healthy relationships are fostered through various activities including; board games, baking, playing sports, making crafts, reading, and socializing. In 2018, 110 children were served within 27 different schools.

"…Having a mentor this past year allowed me to make new friends. The mentor made me feel like I could make new friends by using encouragement and providing me with comfort." - Mentee – K.C.R.

Since the requirement for ISM is only one hour per week and takes place in a structured environment, many volunteers �nd this to be a manageable commitment. Many of our volunteers are students from Brock University, Niagara College, and even McMaster University and their programs have collaborated with our agency to provide service-learning opportunities for their programs. An exciting trend that is growing with our volunteers is their interest in returning each year. ISM is also a transitional program in the sense that matches were introduced in Game On! and Go Girls! and then moved into ISM.

Even more exciting, matches transitioned from ISM, into the traditional Big Brothers and Big Sisters programs in 2018! Again, this year our agency was able to partner with one local high school and take on one high school co-op student.

“I have been working as a Youth Counsellor for the District School Board of Niagara for 31 years and for many of those years I have been fortunate enough to facilitate appropriate referrals for the In school mentor program. This is a resource that I have come to rely on to support our students who could bene�t from 1:1 attention from a caring adult. What makes these matches work so well is the good work that The Big Brother and Big Sister staff do in training and matching mentors with students as well as the follow up they do during the course of the match. ” - School Liaison – Youth Counsellor

From meeting with mentees and volunteers, speaking with parents, and receiving feedback from school liaisons, it is truly incredible to see the impact that this program has! Volunteers have shared how they have learned more about children and youth, learned more about themselves, and af�rmed their passion for making a difference. Throughout the program, children commonly share that their mentor is one of the few people that they trust, and who understand them. Many of the children enjoy their time in ISM as it gives them a break from class, expressed feelings of safety and comfort, and appreciate someone who listens and laughs with them. In addition, many of the school staff express that over the course of the year (or more, in some cases) their ISM students have become happier, more con�dent, and look forward to the days they know they will see their mentor. This program really allows students to thrive on the positive one-to-one attention, the volunteers learn and gain a sense of purpose, and the schools �nd it makes for happier, healthier students.

Respectfully Submitted,Alicia Gorda | Mentoring Coordinator


27schools served across St. Catharines, Thorold and Niagara-on-the-Lake.

110boys and girls served.

77volunteers.

FAMILY ENROLLMENT2018 was the second year Big Brothers Big Sisters of St. Catharines Thorold & District had a Family Enrollment Coordinator position. The Family Enrollment Coordinator position built and strengthened the enrollment process to increase ef�ciency and effectiveness when it comes to both community-based and school-based programming.

By having the Family Enrollment Coordinator facilitate the family screening process, it allowed Mentoring Coordinators to focus on serving new children and to concentrate on monitoring their matches without the additional workload. Families interested in Agency programming were able to receive quality one-on-one attention to receive pertinent information and to have any questions answered. As a result, important and meaningful connections were developed with families which led to a better understanding of their familial situation; as well as their child’s needs. This allowed the agency to serve these families more effectively.

The Family Enrollment Coordinator worked to develop a greater community awareness of Agency programming and services through presentations and information booths at various community fairs/events. Some of these opportunities included; the Community Safety Funfest, Volunteer Recruitment event with the Niagara Region, the Roller Derby Season Opener, Rykert Housing Fun Fair, and Manchester Fun Fair.

In order to strengthen our relationship with the schools in our community, we wanted to be more accessible to the school staff to allow for more collaboration. This year, the Family Enrollment Coordinator made an effort to meet with every school principal to ensure awareness of programming. An additional 21 program presentations were held to attract interest for new students to participate in group programming.

With a new streamlined registration process for our school-based programs, it made communication easier and programs ran more ef�ciently, decreasing overlapping communication across the board.

The value this position added to the agency was incredibly signi�cant. Unfortunately, due to timing of the grant, the position ceased in September of 2018. The position was an asset to the Agency. The roles have again shifted to Mentoring Coordinators as we navigate ef�cient strategies to continue with program ef�cacy.

Respectfully Submitted,The BBBS Team


COMMUNICATIONS REPORT

Classy

After having an incredible success with our Bowl for Kids Sake campaign last year using Artez, we decided that the next step to boosting our online presence and fundraising potential was to �nd a year-round fundraising platform. During our search for a fundraising platform for BFKS 2018 we came across a platform that had everything we were looking for. That software was a company called Classy based out of San Francisco. Unfortunately, at the time, it was outside of our budget so we decided to sign a contract with Artez that would take us through our BFKS campaign. It just so happened that shortly afterwards, Classy became National partners with Big Brothers Big Sisters in the United States. After reaching out to their sales representatives, we were able to con�rm that they were willing to extend that partnership to Canadian agencies, which included a signi�cant discount.

In August of 2018, we of�cially signed an annual contract with Classy to become our online fundraising platform for the year.

Program Sponsorship

After re-branding our event-based sponsorship materials to more accurately convey the impact of the dollars received, we wanted to expand that same idea to our programs: Big Brothers, Big Sisters, In-School Mentoring, Game On! and Go Girls!

A priority for this year was getting the agency back into the public spotlight through strong media coverage of our events, and ensuring the CEO was visible and present in the community. To that end, we had an incredibly successful year. The following is a list of media coverage for the year, broken down by event;

Extensive discussions with the CEO and Director of Services had us eventually land on the idea of a Program Sponsorship package which would allow businesses and individuals become a sponsor of any of these programs for the year.

Big Believers

One of the very �rst things the CEO and I discussed when I started working with BBBS was the creation of a monthly donor program. The idea for this program would be a way for donors to contribute monthly to the designated program of their choice. There were a few things we needed to iron out before we were con�dent to launch the program, including; fundraising software, branding, deliverables, and stewardship strategy. I am proud to say that we landed on a name and vision that we are proud of with Classy’s fundraising software powering the program. We anticipate a full launch in 2019.

Processes

Through trial and error, we were able to identify some gaps in processes we had, namely: post-event thank you process, creating a proper direct mail list, and a website update process.

Grimsby Direct Mail Campaign

Our coming together with the Grimsby, Lincoln and West Lincoln agency was an excellent opportunity to explore a mass direct-mail campaign announcing this news to our stakeholders. This was an excellent learning opportunity and allowed us to look at our entire database of donors and sponsors to create a re�ned mailing list that accounted for duplications. It was a pain-staking process that required the input of everyone on our FD team, but the end result was a successful direct mail campaign sent to 266 individuals and businesses with a very low “return to sender” rate of 5%. It was also an excellent piece of work to complete for future direct-mail campaigns that we may want to explore at the agency.

Thank you to the Board for your support and belief in this role throughout 2018. You’ve allowed myself and the FD team the autonomy to do our jobs, while providing the resources, support, and knowledge to accomplish some key initiatives.

Respectfully Submitted,Adam Maiolo | Communications and Events Coordinator


Flag Raising• Snapd

Jail and Bail• Snapd• YourTV Niagara video• The Standard• Niagara This Week

Masquerade• Snapd• YourTV Niagara video

Bowl for Kids Sake• Snapd• Niagara This Week• YourTV Niagara video covering media launch• The Standard

Wine Women & Style• Snapd• YourTV Niagara video

FUND DEVELOPMENTREPORT

Holy Smokes! We are no longer the “Little Engine That Could”, we are now running on all cylinders!

2018 was an unbelievable year! We made many new friends and our events had a big growth spurt. Did I mention we joined forces with Grimsby? I know, we cannot contain our excitement either!

Our blooming team put our heads together and revamped our pillar events to bring in more money than ever before! We exceeded all of our goals – by a lot!

Bowl for Kids Sake

With the help of a marketing company, a fresh online fundraising platform, and almost 600 bowlers, we raised over $66,000.00!

Wine, Women, & Style

Award winning wines, a Powerhouse speaker who happens to make those wines, mixed with an out of this world committee resulted in over $62,000.00!

Coppola’s Ristorante Charity Golf Classic

It’s not easy to �nd more heart and dedication then our Golf committee. Some of our members have been with us from the start and their contagious enthusiasm raised over $41,000.00! Third Party Events:

JAIL & BAIL

Chief Bryan MacCulloch and his team did not disappoint. They brought many laughs and hilarious memories! Terence Fowler, Patrick Gagliardi and our very own Frances Lettieri were among the “arrested”. Together with the rest of our courageous Jail Birds, they raised over $14,000.00

MASQUERADE

In its’ second year, Darren Stoute and David Watt injected so much love and passion into this event that it more than doubled its revenue from the previous year for a grand total of $45,000.00!

Special thanks to the City of St. Catharines Mayor’s Invitational Golf Tournament and the Regional Chairs Charity Golf Tournament

When we joined forces with Grimsby, we got involved with two amazing events!

Sisterhood of Soul

This year the theme was Alice in Wonderland and the ladies to the West brought in a record breaking $19,000.00!

Edward Jones Curl for Kids

Marc & Chrystine Seguin and their committee, are the real deal. They represent the true heart of West Niagara. Their efforts brought in over $22,000.00.

Our dear friend, Nancy Kennedy who is also the co-chair of Wine, Women, & Style, once said the song “Here comes the Sun” describes our little agency, and she couldn’t be more right because the sun sure is shining on us! We just can’t wait to beat all of our goals all over again next year!

Respectfully Submitted,Marcie Clarkson | Fundraising and Business Development Manager


SPECIAL EVENTS


Tim HortonsBowl for Kids Sake

February 2018$66,932.12

WineWomen & Style

April 2018$62,215.95

Coppola’s RistoranteCharity Golf Classic

July 2018$41,093.28

Sisterhoodof Soul

October 2018$18,866.00

Masquerade

November 2018$45,160.27

Edward JonesCurl for Kids Sake

November 2018$22,352.74

* All �gures are represented by their net income

COMMUNITY ANDCORPORATE DONORS


$20,000+Branscombe Family FoundationCanadian Tire JumpstartMinistry of EducationOntario Trillium FoundationUnited Way St. Catharines & District

$10,000 - $19,999City of St. CatharinesNiagara Community FoundationPrevent Challenge FoundationToronto Dominion Bank

$5,000 - $9,999AlectraCooper Wealth ManagementHenry of PelhamNiagara RegionNeob LavendarRBC Foundation

$1,000 - $4,999Butler Funeral HomeCotton ConstructionGeneral MotorsGiant TigerJackson-Triggs WineryMaycourtMoksha YogaNiagara Falls Curling ClubOntario Thorold Paper FoundationOPG

QnR ExteriorsVersatermWilly’s GreenhouseWomen of Niagara – Laura Oberlein

$500 - $999BackhouseBurning Kiln WineryDarren Stoute CateringGarrison HouseGoodman School of BusinessGrimsby Seniors Craft GuildNiagara Food SpecialtiesNiagara Homebuilders AssociationPepsi CoRavine Estate WinerySitelStella & DotTide and Vine

$250 - $499BBBloomsBig Head WinesBoston Pizza – Rob PhillipsBurnt Ship Bay Estate WineryForty Creek DistilleryIronwood Hard CiderKame and Kettle Beer WorksLarry’s RentalNiagara College Pondview Estate WineryRegal Florist and Garden CentreReif Estate WineryThe Exchange BreweryTown of West LincolnVerityWayne Gretzky Estates Winery & Distillery

OUR SPONSORS


Major Campaign Sponsors ($3,000+)33sevenBricon ConstructionCIBC Private Wealth Management - The Carlomusto Investment TeamCoppola’s RistoranteDragan Brewing & Wine CompanyNiagara CasinosTim Horton’sVintage Hotels

Platinum ($2,000 - $2,999)Canadian Tire BankCouturier Royal LePageE.D. Smith Foods Ltd.Fidelity Investments CanadaHuntington Animal HospitalLancaster, Brooks & WelchRankin Construction Inc.

Gold ($1,000 - $1,999)Bosak Wealth ManagementEdgepoint Wealth ManagementFilion Wakely Thorup Angeletti LLPMartin Sheppard Fraser LLPNiagara Clifton GroupScotiaBankSunlife FinancialTweedVerge Insurance Brokers Ltd.Walker Industries

Silver ($500 - $999)1832 Asset ManagementDynamic FundsGrill on KingGrimsby Fire�ghter’s Association

Grimsby LegionJordan EngineeringMeridian Credit UnionOPGPeter’s ExcavatingRBC Global Asset ManagementRobert Magder FinancialTrivieri Investments Ltd.V. Gibbons ContractingWinona Men’s Club

Bronze ($250 - $499)AMEC Foster WheelerAssociated EngineeringBeamsville LionsBelchior Contracting & ExcavatingCla-valCrawford, Smith & SwallowDJB Chartered Professional AccountantsElipsis SpaHandling SpecialtiesJJ’s on the DocksLincoln Chamber of CommerceLinwell GardensLuigi Delisio, Barrister & SolicitorLynn Fee KW RealtorsOur Center FosteringPIMCOQuartek GroupSacco ConstructionSentry InvestmentsShoppers Drug Mart – Briar�eld PlazaSouthcott DavoliWills Chev Buick GmCWSP GroupZwart Systems

Big Brothers Big Sisters of St. Catharines-Thorold & District and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Grimsby, Lincoln & West Lincoln (BBBS) are the leading youth mentoring charities in Niagara; supporting children and youth to become happier, healthier, more self-con�dent and an active citizen of our community.

The programs at BBBS are founded on a powerful premise: when children feel they are valued and cherished by an adult, they experience an increase in self-worth.

BBBS has been providing mentoring services and programs since1937 and now serves over 900 children and youth in Niagara.

Head Of�ce

428 Niagara StreetSt. Catharines, ONL2M 4W3905-646-3230

Satellite Of�ce

18 Ontario St., P.O. Box 232Grimsby, ONL3M 3H1905-945-9353

bbbsmentors.ca | @bbbsmentors

Charitable Registration #13048 5907 RR0001

Documents

Start Something - Big Brothers Big Sisters of North & West ... · The Big Brothers Big Sisters of North & West Niagara very much prides ourselves in the diversity of our communities