By Cindy Schutt
Young people and their families in the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County program celebrated back to school in a BIG way by participating in a Back-to-School Picnic & Backpack Giveaway.
“We’re so proud to support hundreds of Littles and high school Bigs by providing school supplies thanks to the generosity of our community, particularly the presenting sponsor for our backpack event, Ana G. Mendez University,” said Malena Mendez, President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward. “Our kids were not only thrilled, but they are now well-prepared to thrive during this school year. Together, we’re truly making a difference for our youth.”
The Back-to-School Picnic & Backpack Giveaway attracted more than 400 participants to Snyder Park in Fort Lauderdale to gear up for the new school year. Littles and high school Bigs received backpacks filled with school supplies, and youth and their families decorated backpacks thanks to Konekt Club, participated in complimentary hair braiding thanks to 1 Salon Life, played with therapy dogs from Canine Assisted Therapy, enjoyed books at the Soar with Reading Book Nook hosted by JetBlue, experienced positive self-care jars as part of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward’s Little Steps Big Strides mental wellness program supported by Humana and Harry’s, and participated in fun field games including tug of war and hula hoop competitions.
In addition to presenting sponsor Ana G. Mendez University, sponsors of the Back-to-School Picnic & Backpack Giveaway included Aldi, Baker Construction, Apple Insurance, Memorial Healthcare System, and Team SCG. A special thank you also goes to Humana and Harry’s for their support of Little Steps Big Strides, which offers trainings for Bigs and parents to provide them with more tools to support their youth.
In addition, Target also stepped up to equip 50 Littles with the resources needed for a successful school year by providing $100 gift cards, who with their Bigs, went on a shopping spree at Target’s North Federal Highway store in Fort Lauderdale. Littles shopped for shoes, uniforms, additional supplies and more. Target and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America formally partnered this year to launch a back-to-school shopping experience in 20 locations across the country. This partnership establishes Target as one of the agency’s national partners, reaching hundreds of thousands of young people across the nation.
For more than 50 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County has offered unprecedented access to resources, empowering youth to reach their full potential through meaningful mentoring relationships. These mentoring relationships build self-confidence and emotional well-being, encourage young people to stay on a path to graduation and higher education, and help them establish a plan for a successful future. The mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County is to ignite the power and promise of youth. For more information, visit www.bbbsbroward.org.
