BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF GREATER KANSAS CITY’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS EARNS BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF AMERICA’S TOP HONOR

June 17, 2010 - KANSAS CITY, MO   — The board of directors of  Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Kansas City is the national mentoring network’s 2009 Board of the Year.  Big Brothers Big Sisters of America made the announcement in Atlanta this week at its 2010 Nationwide Leadership Summit, sponsored by Comcast Corporation.

A national panel of judges, represented by past honorees, selects winners based on criteria that exemplify excellence in areas such as sustained growth in the number of children served in one-to-one mentoring relationships and the length and strength of those mentoring matches, as well as increased revenues, strategic leadership, development and governance.

“The boards of directors are key to the success of our nearly 400 Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies. These strong community leaders are advocates for the children of single, low-income and incarcerated parents.  They provide necessary financial and leadership resources to bring quality, results-driven mentoring programs to their community,” said Karen J. Mathis, president and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. “Strong boards are committed to helping their agencies build and maintain systems, structures and strong staff to carefully make and support mentoring matches that help kids achieve in school and succeed in life.”

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Kansas City was recently recognized as the fastest growing Big Brothers Big Sisters agency across the county.   In 2009, the number of children participating weekly grew to more than 1,000 matches and the agency increased it’s revenue by nearly 20%, making 2009 the most successful year in the agency’s 45-year history.  Much of the growth is contributed to a new partnership with Kauffman Scholars.  Big Brothers Big Sisters is now providing mentors to high school students, enrolled in the Kauffman Scholars program, who will become first generation college students.

“We are grateful for this wonderful recognition for our board of directors,” said Micheal Lawrence, Executive Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Kansas City.  “Their dedication and support for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Kansas City has given us the foundation to build our program and the tools to truly make a difference here, for the kids and for the entire community.”

About Big Brothers Big Sisters

Big Brothers Big Sisters helps vulnerable children beat the odds.  The organization depends on donations to help recruit volunteers and reach more children.  Funding is used 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.  Big Brothers Big Sisters is proven to improve children’s odds for succeeding in school, behaving nonviolently, avoiding drugs and alcohol, and breaking negative

cycles.  Learn how you can change how children grow up in America by going to BigBrothersBigSisterskc.org.

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