Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound, a donor-supported mentoring organization with programs in King County, is looking for male volunteers to be Big Brothers.

According to the organization:

Volunteers meet with a child in school or on the weekends to play games, do homework, see movies, visit a zoo or museum or just hang out.

Children in our programs are kids who could greatly benefit from additional adult guidance. Children are referred to the program for many reasons, and many children come from homes where quality adult attention is limited by single-parenthood or transitional housing, including foster care. Whatever the circumstances, these children need an adult in their lives who is caring, consistent, knows how to listen and can be a good role model.\

We especially need male volunteers for our many waiting boys. Research shows our programs are working: compared to their non-mentored peers, Little Brothers and Little Sisters are less likely to use violence to solve problems, become more trusting of their parent or guardian, resist substance abuse and improved school attendance.

To inquire, please visit www.bbbsps.org or call 1-877-700-BIGS.

Our friends at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound are currently seeking adult volunteers to help area children in need.

Here are the details:

Washington State currently holds more than 18,000 prisoners. According to the Department of Corrections, more than 15,000 of them are parents. The stigma that the families face often forces a curtain of silence, isolating these children when they need support the most.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound is reaching out to these children, providing caring adult mentors to spend quality one-on-one time with these youth, offering support, compassion, and fun. Youth in the Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring program are 52% less likely than their peers to skip school, and 97% of “Littles” avoided contact with the juvenile justice system, helping to break the cycle of intergenerational incarceration.

Big Brothers Big Sisters is seeking adult volunteers in your local area who have a couple of hours a week, a few times a month, to make a lasting difference in their community. Just by showing up, you show a child that they matter. You show a child that society expects great things from them, and we know from more than 100 years of experience that it makes a big difference.

If you would like to be a change agent in your community, or for more information, please call Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound at 877-700-BIGS or visit www.bbbsps.org.

There’s still time to get involved in “The BIG Plane Pull – The TOURNAMENT!” fundraiser benefiting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound this Saturday, July 18th from 11am to 2pm at Boeing Field.

And we’re pleased to report that this event, which is expected to raise about $50,000, will be hosted by the B-Town Blog’s very own Bart Bryan (to see Bart nearly naked in action, click here)!

About 50 teams consisting of five participants each will compete in a single elimination tournament. Teams will race against each other to cross the finish line all while pulling an airplane by rope!

Additional activities include trivia, a raffle and a free BIG Bracket Challenge to add to everyone’s chances of winning prizes, including roundtrip tickets on Horizon Air.

Here are some of the catchy names of teams who will be participating:

• Secret Bandwidth Agents (sponsor team)
• Get ‘Er Done (sponsor team)
• The Lambda’s (sponsor team)
• YPC Movers & Shakers
• Apollo
• Team JTAC (National Guard Team)
• Jenny and the Jets
• Jefferson Airplane
• Purple Pullverizers
• I’ve Pulled Bigger
• BIG Hair & 80’s Rock!

For more information, please feel free to contact Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound by calling 206.763.9060, or visit their website: www.bbbsps.org.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound will be holding their BIG Plane Pull Tournament at Boeing Field on Saturday, July 18th.

As they like to say: “Pull a plane. Make a difference.”

So get your gloves on, start practicing tug-of-war on the third runway, and get ready for an unusual, fun fundraiser.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound BIG Plane Pull. Imagine you and your closest friends and co-workers coming together, combining your strengths for the ULTIMATE plane pulling tournament! (Truly, the only plane pulling competition in Seattle!) Be BIG! Be MIGHTY! Pull a plane!

WHEN: Saturday, July 18th

WHERE: Boeing Field, located at 7277 Perimeter Road, Seattle.

INFO: How it works: Teams consisting of five participants will compete in a single elimination tournament. Using a lottery method to establish the first round of the official bracket, match-ups will consist of two teams racing against each other to cross the finish line – all while pulling an airplane by rope. The winning team of each match-up will move on to the next round in the competition. Additional activities, including trivia, a raffle and a free BIG Bracket Challenge will supplement the main event (and add to everyone’s chances to win prizes!).

PRIZES: Each member on the team crowned as the tournament champions will win a roundtrip airline ticket, courtesy of Horizon Air! Roundtrip tickets will also be awarded to the team with the best fundraising! There is no shortage of other prizes, either. The BIG Plane Pull will honor teams with the top three winners, most spirited teams and best costumes.

WHY: Your participation makes a difference. The one-to-one mentoring model at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound is simple, yet highly effective. We match a child (a Little) with a caring adult (a Big), and together we change lives. Our Littles are significantly less likely to skip school, use violence to solve problems, abuse drugs and alcohol or become involved with the juvenile justice system. Time and again, our approach has been proven by studies to be successful in both the short and the long term.

COST: All you need to do to participate is raise $250…that’s like asking 10 people for $25! Once registered, you will find online tools, such as a webpage, that simplify your fundraising efforts. And we’re always here to offer fundraising support when you need it.

REGISTER: To register yourself or your team for the BIG Plane Pull, please visit www.bbbsps.org. For more event information, please contact Jenny Pinter at jenny.pinter@bbbs.org.