Lorrie Sullenberger News

Lorrie Presents at Big Brothers Big Sisters Awards Ceremony

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area (BBBSBA) will honor inspirational matches between Bigs (mentors) and Littles (mentees) at the BIG Event on April 19, 2012 at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco. Now in its sixth year, the BIG Event enables Bay Area philanthropists to come together for an evening of fun, food, auctions and to recognize the matches which have sparked positive transformational changes due to the mentoring program.

 “The BIG event is a great way to honor our most inspirational matches, to show the entire community the positive impact Bigs have on Littles through their dedicated mentoring and to raise funds for our ongoing efforts,” said Marcia Hodges, Chief Executive Officer of BBBSBA. “Today, at-risk children face tremendous challenges, but through effective and sustained mentoring, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area can help make a positive and measurable difference in the lives of these children.”

To add to the inspirational theme of the evening, Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger III and Lorrie Sullenberger will present awards to the seven Big-Little matches. “Sully,” who has become a source of inspiration after his successful emergency water landing of a disabled airliner on the Hudson River in New York, is now an author and Aviation and Safety Expert for CBS News. Lorrie has been involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters for more than 25 years, providing dedicated and nurturing mentoring to her own Little. Lorrie, who continues to be a part of her Little’s life, has watched her grow up and thrive as she raises a family of her own.

“Being involved with the BBBS organization for almost thirty years, I know firsthand the impact a Big Brother or Big Sister can make on a person’s life, both to those who are in need of a support system and those who are volunteering. It truly is a life-changing experience,” said Lorrie. “I am honored to have the opportunity to shine the light on others who have devoted their time and celebrate the special bonds they have created with their own Little Brother or Little Sister.”

To help raise funds and facilitate strong, enduring, professionally supported one-to-one relationships for the year, the BIG Event also will feature opportunities to bid on auctions. Lots include trips to Napa and London, wine tastings, gourmet dinners, world class golf, including passes to the upcoming U.S. Open at the Olympic Club, a ride on a flight simulator, a visit to the exclusive Fisher Collection of Art, an evening with John O’ Connor, the former Assistant United States Attorney, who studied the Watergate Scandal and published an explosive article regarding his finding in Vanity Fair and more.

The Need for Funding

BBBSBA is dedicated to providing children facing adversity with strong, and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever. For 54 years, the agency has assisted boys and girls in achieving their highest potential as they grow to become confident, competent and caring individuals through professionally supported one-to-one relationships with caring men and women. BBBSBA serves over 1,000 children per year and 750 children are waiting to be matched with a mentor. The funds will go towards helping at risk youth ages 6-18. On average, BBBSBA invests $2,000 of professional services to enroll, screen, interview, match support each volunteer and child in the first year and $1,500 each year thereafter.

About Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area

Founded locally in 1958, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area serves over 1,100 children annually in five Bay Area counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, San Francisco, and San Mateo. Part of the oldest, largest and most effective youth mentoring organization in the U.S., Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area is an independent 501c3 nonprofit that receives no direct national funding. Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area differs from other mentorship organizations by focusing on one-on-one mentoring that has a proven and measurable positive impact. Surveys of matches that have been together for at least one year have shown that 94 percent of children with low self-esteem improved their self-confidence, 90 percent felt more positively about their future, and 100 percent of failing students improved their GPAs. As a local nonprofit supported by donors and volunteers, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area provides and professionally supports enduring one-to-one relationships of at least one year that help children reach their unlimited potential. To learn more about Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area, please visit www.bbbsba.org.

Source: PR.com