National Big Brother of the Year chosen from Catholic Big Brothers Big Sisters Los Angeles

August 04, 2011 - 3:46 PDT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA ADVISORY

Big Brothers Big Sisters Honors Nation's Top Two Mentors

Big Brother of the Year and Big Sister of the Year Named at Big Brothers Big Sisters 2011 National Conference, Sponsored by Comcast

LOS ANGELES, CA (August 4, 2011) - When it comes to mentors, 81-year-old Michael Trueblood and 29-year-old Shatia Y. Edwards are in the eyes of Big Brothers Big Sisters the best of the best. The donor and volunteer supported national mentoring network has named Trueblood national Big Brother of the Year and Edwards national Big Sister of the Year.

Comcast Corporation, the presenting sponsor of the 2011 Big Brothers Big Sisters National Conference and the Bigs of the Year awards, partnered with the mentoring network to honor Trueblood and Edwards at an awards gala, during the national conference in Dallas. More than 225 Comcast employees volunteer their time as Big Brothers Big Sisters mentors in the Beyond School Walls program.

"Shatia and Mike are model mentors who represent the nearly quarter million volunteers who are selected and supported by Big Brothers Big Sisters and are making a positive difference for children, families and communities across the nation," said Charisse R. Lillie, Comcast Corporation Vice President, Community Investment and Comcast Foundation President. "Their talent, dedication and compassion are evident in the achievements of their mentees."

We're Back - Greatest Meat on Earth

Backed by studies proving its effectiveness, Big Brothers Big Sisters holds itself accountable for helping children of single, low-income or incarcerated parents stay in school; avoid risky and delinquent behaviors; and have higher self esteem and aspirations.

"We congratulate and celebrate Mike and Shatia. They are the best of the best of the caring and committed volunteers our professional staff seek to match and support in long-term mentoring relationships to help children who face adversity succeed," said Karen J. Mathis, president and chief executive officer of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. "Our Bigs of the Year have succeeded in providing the proper amount of time, consistency and direction required to help their mentees improve academically; make positive choices; and elevate and achieve their aspirations. We would also like to recognize and thank Comcast Corporation and the Comcast Foundation for its ongoing generous support of mentoring and for announcing the renewal of a national partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters through 2012."

Michael Trueblood, Big Brother of the Year

Long before he met his Little Brother, Joseph, four years ago, Michael Trueblood was already a believer in Big Brothers Big Sisters. Trueblood had been a Big Brother when he lived in Philadelphia decades earlier. He also was a member of the board of directors, even serving as president, with Catholic Big Brothers Big Sisters in Los Angeles where he and Joseph are matched.

"Still, when going through the process again, I was impressed with the careful matching process - the interviewing and background screening," the 81-year-old Trueblood said. "They were thorough, even with my affiliation with the agency."

So Trueblood was not surprised that he and then nine-year-old Joseph hit if off almost immediately. "Joseph was shy at first. But I knew he was very gifted. He's a good conversationalist with a lot of personality and a broad variety of interests, including music, sports and reading," he said.

Joseph's elderly great-grandmother, who is raising him and his seven siblings, learned about the program from the children's grand uncle, who felt it might help the then nine-year-old become more disciplined at school and at home. Joseph, whose father has died, is part of the agency's special Mentoring Children of Promise program.

A South Dakota Tennis Hall of Famer, Trueblood introduced Joseph to the sport and practices with him regularly. Shortly after they met, he also took his new Little Brother on a field trip to California State University Fullerton, where Trueblood is on the faculty of the Business School and director of the Family Business Council. The visit left no doubt in Joseph's mind that he also wants to go to college.

In the months and years since, Trueblood has helped Joseph open a college savings account and advised him to deposit a portion of his allowance. The two go to museums, spectator sporting events, and Big Brothers Big Sisters fundraisers, where Joseph has had opportunities to practice public speaking. Trueblood takes his Little Brother to libraries, book stores and to his adult son's home where Joseph has become consumed with the family's Hardy Boys book collection. He also introduces his Little Brother to other role models, including an African American tennis professional, who has begun to coach Joseph and has encouraged him to begin playing in novice United States Tennis Association junior tournaments.

"Joseph is a voracious reader and he loves learning in general," Trueblood said. "I was surprised a while back when he told me he was not doing too well in math. I did some algebraic formulas on a napkin and he solved every one of them. I shared this with Betty Gutierrez, our Big Brothers Big Sisters match support specialist, who told Joseph's grand uncle. He investigated and learned he wasn't turning in his homework and didn't have a computer to help with his assignments."

"My math grade was below a C. Now I get B's and some A's," said Joseph, who is now 13. "Hanging out with Mike makes me feel good and wanted and important. He makes me want to be a better person. I learn a lot and we have good conversations. My behavior's better and school's good now; too," he added.

Gutierrez, who checks in regularly to see how the match is going and to offer guidance when necessary, receives twice monthly written updates from Joseph, describing his outings with Trueblood. Joseph's great-grandmother, who said spending time with his Big Brother makes Joseph happy and calm him down, is helping him compile a scrapbook from their match activities.

About Big Brothers Big Sisters
For more than 100 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters has operated under the belief that inherent in every child is the ability to succeed and thrive in life. As the nation's largest donor and volunteer supported mentoring network, Big Brothers Big Sisters' mission is to provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever.

Partnering with parents/guardians, schools, corporations and others in the community, Big Brothers Big Sisters carefully pairs children ("Littles") with screened volunteer mentors ("Bigs") and monitors and supports them in one-to-one mentoring matches throughout their course. The organization holds itself accountable for children in the program to achieve measurable outcomes, such as higher aspirations; greater confidence and better relationships; educational success; and avoidance of delinquency and other risky behaviors. Most children served by Big Brothers Big Sisters are in single-parent and low-income families or households where a parent is incarcerated. Headquartered in Philadelphia with a network of about 370 agencies across the country, Big Brothers Big Sisters serves nearly 250,000 children. Learn how you can positively impact a child's life, donate or volunteer at BigBrothersBigSisters.org.

Shop Timeless Catholic Gifts

About Comcast Corporation
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) (www.comcast.com) is one of the world's leading media, entertainment, and communications companies. Comcast is principally involved in the operation of cable systems through Comcast Cable and in the development, production and distribution of entertainment, news, sports and other content for global audiences through NBCUniversal. Comcast Cable is one of the nation's largest video, high-speed Internet and phone providers to residential and business customers. Comcast is the majority owner and manager of NBCUniversal, which owns and operates entertainment and news cable networks, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, local television station groups, television production operations, a major motion picture company and theme parks.

About the Comcast Foundation
The Comcast Foundation was founded by Comcast Corporation in June 1999 to provide charitable support to qualified non-profit organizations. The Foundation primarily invests in programs intended to have a positive, sustainable impact on their communities. The Foundation has three community investment priorities - promoting community service, expanding digital literacy, and building tomorrow's leaders. Since its inception, the Comcast Foundation has donated over $90 million to organizations in the communities nationwide that Comcast serves. More information about the Foundation and its programs is available at www.comcast.com/neighborhood. More information about the Foundation and its programs is available at www.comcast.com/community.

Contact

Catholic Big Brothers Big Sisters
http://www.BigBrothersBigSisters.org
CA, 90015 US
Cynthia Swaeby - Program Specialist, 213-251-9800

Keywords

big brothers big sisters, catholic, youth, mentoring, mentor, Los Angeles, education

Category

OTHER

We Will Pray with You: Light Your Virtual Prayer Candle

More Catholic PRWire

Showing 1 - 50 of 7,177

• « Prev
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9
• Next »

When Pope Francis Arrives in North America, There is Only One Network to Watch: EWTN Global Catholic
EWTN Global Catholic Network
September 16, 2015 - 5:17 PDT

GHIRELLI'S WORLD MEETING OF FAMILIES ROSARIES NOW AVAILABLE
The Word Out | Marketing For Catholics
September 11, 2015 - 11:44 PDT

The Synod on the Family: Addressing the Instrumentum Laboris
Franciscan University of Steubenville
September 11, 2015 - 10:26 PDT

OCP Artist, Pedro Rubalcava, Writes Song for Pope Francis' Visit
OCP (Oregon Catholic Press)
September 10, 2015 - 2:50 PDT

Pre-Synod Conference unites Cardinals and men and women living with homosexual tendencies
September 09, 2015 - 2:58 PDT

The Rigging of a Vatican Synod
September 02, 2015 - 3:44 PDT

17 Cardinals and Counting
August 31, 2015 - 3:38 PDT

19th Annual Carnival Announced for St. Ann's Parish
August 28, 2015 - 9:20 PDT

The John Paul II International Film Festival Marks Its Five-Year Anniversary
August 27, 2015 - 6:09 PDT

OCP Pledges to Support the V Encuentro
OCP (Oregon Catholic Press)
August 27, 2015 - 2:51 PDT

Thu, Sept 24, 2015- Mass & Healing Service with Fr. Angelos Sebastian Our Lady of Grace Catholic Chu
August 26, 2015 - 4:03 PDT

Grief, Death, Eternal Life Explored in New Catholic Title by PBM
Pauline Books & Media
August 25, 2015 - 3:55 PDT

How do we live the truth in love when the culture says we're haters?
August 25, 2015 - 9:52 PDT

Right Next to Disneyland: Theater Meets Faith
Saint Luke Productions
August 19, 2015 - 1:29 PDT

OCP Parish Grant Program to Distribute $200,000 to U.S. Parishes
OCP (Oregon Catholic Press)
August 18, 2015 - 1:23 PDT

Franciscan University Joins With UK School to Offer Online Master of Catechetics Degree
Franciscan University of Steubenville
August 05, 2015 - 2:20 PDT

CONOR GALLAGHER NAMED PUBLISHER OF TAN BOOKS AND SAINT BENEDICT PRESS
Saint Benedict Press & TAN Books
July 20, 2015 - 12:49 PDT

Thérčse Drama Surprises Audiences
Saint Luke Productions
July 16, 2015 - 12:35 PDT

Catholic Press Association Honors Liguori
Liguori Publications
July 10, 2015 - 8:29 PDT

Crosier Order elects master general and councilors
June 26, 2015 - 2:06 PDT

World Library Publications Honored With Three Paul Revere Awards
World Library Publications
June 23, 2015 - 4:11 PDT

Indie Catholic Authors June Ebook Sale Offers the Faithful 17 Books Outside the Mainstream
Four Waters press
June 23, 2015 - 12:10 PDT

Limitless Love in Action: First Steubenville Youth Conference Inspires Teens to Bring the Fire Home
Franciscan University of Steubenville
June 18, 2015 - 2:03 PDT

Franciscan University of Steubenville Athletic Director Enshrined in Sports Faith Hall of Fame
Franciscan University of Steubenville
May 29, 2015 - 1:53 PDT

AWARD-WINNING CATHOLIC AUTHORS TEAM-UP TO PROMOTE HEALING THROUGH FORGIVENESS
Pauline Books & Media
May 27, 2015 - 12:32 PDT

NY CONCERT FOR NEPAL 5/31
May 27, 2015 - 1:22 PDT

Who's responsible for designing the designer?
May 19, 2015 - 11:12 PDT

Thu, Jun 11, 2015- Mass & Healing Service with Fr. Bill Adams at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church
May 13, 2015 - 4:21 PDT

Your search for true happiness is over
May 05, 2015 - 1:22 PDT

ValLimar Jansen's latest album "a soulful experience"
OCP (Oregon Catholic Press)
April 30, 2015 - 1:33 PDT

Uncovering the roots (and branches) of the greatest revolution in the American Catholic Church
April 28, 2015 - 9:45 PDT

NYC May 8, 2015 Spring Fling Catholic Singles Mingle Fundraiser
The Catholic Fellowship
April 18, 2015 - 9:07 PDT

Thank A Nun Day
Image Books/Random House
April 15, 2015 - 12:32 PDT

#TweetingwGod dares young people to believe
April 14, 2015 - 9:54 PDT

Experience Beloved: Finding happiness in marriage
April 13, 2015 - 1:27 PDT

Archbishop Aquila, Dr. Edward Sri and other experts to participate in 'Beloved' telepress conference
April 07, 2015 - 4:51 PDT

Nobis Media, Marketing & Web Development Company
April 01, 2015 - 5:49 PDT

Catholic toymaker puts Faith in hands and mouths of babies: Pope Francis doll added to line of toys
The Word Out | Marketing For Catholics
April 01, 2015 - 3:48 PDT

Concert Series Concludes with Winthrop University World Percussion Ensemble
April 01, 2015 - 2:48 PDT

Birth Choice Health Clinics Announces Transition to Obria Medical Clinics and Plans for Expansion
March 28, 2015 - 10:43 PDT

Light Your Virtual Prayer Candle For a Loved One

OCP releases expanded edition of Mass of the Sacred Heart
OCP (Oregon Catholic Press)
March 24, 2015 - 4:43 PDT

Archbishop Aquila, Dr. Edward Sri and other experts participate in 'Beloved' tele-press conference
March 21, 2015 - 11:57 PDT

Priest and Seminarian Join National Three-Point Contest to Benefit Marriage Ministry
Paradisus Dei
March 13, 2015 - 10:20 PDT

Shroud of Turin Exhibit At Holy Spirit Brighton
Holy Spirit Catholic Church and School
March 12, 2015 - 3:58 PDT

Flor y Canto campaign invites the Hispanic community to share their stories
OCP (Oregon Catholic Press)
March 11, 2015 - 4:40 PDT

Crisis Pregnancy Center Dream Becoming Reality
TRFC Inc.
March 10, 2015 - 6:36 PDT

Crisis Pregnancy Center Dream Becoming Reality
TRFC Inc.
March 09, 2015 - 7:04 PDT

Join RealOptions 2015 Walk for Life and 5K Run!
RealOptions Pregnancy Medical Clinics
March 09, 2015 - 2:40 PDT

New Orchestra Comes to Mary's Nativity Church
March 09, 2015 - 12:06 PDT

Paradisus Dei Offers New Marriage Program to Churches at No Cost
Paradisus Dei
March 05, 2015 - 6:25 PST

• « Prev
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9
• Next »