Skip to main content
Monthly Archives

February 2022

In Honor of Big Sister Rebecca

By In The News

We are sad to announce the recent passing of our Big Sister Rebecca Serbin. Rebecca served faithfully as a Big Sister to her Little Sister Mikalya for more than 8 years. We are told she passed away peacefully on 2/12/2022 among her family members. Rebecca gave monthly as a Big Impact donor for 1 year and regularly participated in our annual Bowl For Kids’ Sake fundraisers. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay extends our deepest sympathies to Rebecca’s family and friends. Her parting leaves us all with great sadness, but we take comfort in all the joy she brought us while here. You will be greatly missed, Rebecca. Her full obituary can be found here.

 

 

 

 

NFL Continues to Inspire Change with the Big Draft 2022

By In The News

Big Brothers Big Sisters is teaming up once again with the NFL to inspire change across the nation. Though the NFL season is over, our search for potential Bigs is only just getting started.

The mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay is to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. Our mentoring program helps build bridges and break down barriers by pairing one adult volunteer (Big) with one child (Little) and supporting each Big/Little match at every stage. There are currently over 600 local children waiting for a Big. We are launching The Big Draft to recruit more Bigs. We would be thrilled to have your help in sparking excitement for the Big Draft by encouraging volunteers to sign up as Bigs.

You can help by using your voice to be part of the defenders of potential and ensuring the biggest possible future for our youth. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & LinkedIn for updates on the campaign and tag your friends, family, and colleagues who you think would make great Bigs. Click here to learn more about The Big Draft.

Get started as a Big by attending a Big Orientation & Training session. We have upcoming in-person and virtual options available.

Pepsi Stronger Together Announces $1M Commitment to Support BBBS of America in Transforming Communities Through the Power of Mentorship

By In The News

In the news: Pepsi Stronger Together, PepsiCo’s series of grassroots initiatives bringing tailored programming support to communities across the country, announces a $1M commitment to Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA), the preeminent one-to-one youth mentoring organization in the country, supporting its mission to provide greater equity and access to mentorship experiences. With this shared commitment, Pepsi Stronger Together and BBBSA aim to transform communities by providing critical, supportive relationships young people need to thrive today.

Currently, there are over 30,000 youth across the country waiting for mentors, called ‘Bigs’, with most being young boys of color. Studies show that children who have role models are more likely to do better in school, have better connections with family and friends and are less likely to be involved in delinquent behaviors. To create sustainable, long-term solutions, the partnership will focus on developing BBBS core programming and local activation in key markets, attracting more volunteers, especially men of color, and expanding Big Brothers Big Sisters’ reach in serving more young people.

“As someone who benefitted from the Big Brothers Big Sisters program as a child, I know first-hand how mentorship programs can change lives. I’m honored to be able to continue my commitment to the organization not just personally but professionally as well. Uplifting communities is the core of Pepsi Stronger Together, and I’m proud we’ll be able to make an impact on the incredible work of Big Brothers Big Sisters for young people nationwide,” said Floyd Ferjuste, Vice President of Retail Sales, South Division, PepsiCo Beverages North America, who will also be joining the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America board of directors.

The national partnership kicks off with tailored activations in Miami, FL, Nashville, TN, Tampa, FL, and Los Angeles, CA, supporting various programs in local communities including Bigs in Blue, BBBS first responder engagement program, and Big Futures, a workplace mentoring program reaching young people between 18-25 years old. The donation from Pepsi Stronger Together, which will be made even larger in partnership with Shaq’s Fun House on February 11th where a portion of ticket sales will be contributed to these programs, will also help in supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters’ largest recruitment engagement, called The Big Draft. The Big Draft is a three-month initiative focused on recruiting men, especially men of color, to sign up and get involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters as mentors and volunteers.

For over 100 years BBBSA’s has been dedicated to advancing equity, impact, and growth across the organization, making a lasting impact on the lives of young people. Today the organization creates and supports one-to-one mentoring relationships helping build self-confidence and emotional well-being, and empowering young people on a path to graduate with a plan for their futures and a mentor whose impact can last a lifetime.

“Now more than ever, Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies across the country are finding innovative ways to serve young people and strengthen communities,” said Artis Stevens, president and CEO, BBBSA. “With the support of partners like Pepsi Stronger Together, who are committed and dedicated to the communities they serve, we can drive more meaningful impact at a time when young people need us most.”

To learn more about this partnership and ways to get involved, visit www.bbbs.org.

 

About Pepsi Stronger Together

Pepsi Stronger Together is a national initiative to empower and engage communities around the country by providing tailored programming and resources that bring people together. It was conceived with the idea that now, more than ever, we must foster a sense of connection and belonging, starting by investing locally. Launched in May of 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic – engaging its network of partners in the South to shine a spotlight on essential front-line workers in a variety of industries – Pepsi Stronger Together was expanded in October of 2020 by partnering with NBA teams and charitable organizations to foster, among other things, community and police relations.

Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Convenient Foods and Beverages by Winning with Purpose. Under this vision, Pepsi Stronger Together is continually evolving the program to respond to the cultural moment and meet the needs of communities across the United States. Stay up to date at pepsistrongertogether.com, where visitors can engage in conversation and learn about the latest community initiatives and how to give back. Follow the conversation on social media at @pepsistrongertogether.

Aerial view of two girls sitting at a table using an Apple brand computer

Safer Internet Day

By Resources

It’s always a good idea to review best practices to keep children safer while they surf the web. As we know, kids spend more time in front of their phones and computer screens than previous generations. Our youth have grown up with the internet and various kinds of technology, but it’s still crucial to remind them about online risks and how to avoid or report unsafe behavior.

Talk to kids about online safety issues, such as inappropriate websites to avoid, malware, fraud, phishing scams, and sexual predators. Keep an open dialogue with your kids about their safety and what they are doing on the computer and smartphone.

Set clear rules about internet and phone usage. Some examples are:

    • Do not give out personal information. Avoid using birthdates, legal name or other identifiers in handles
    • Do not post your photo on public sites.
    • Do not open emails, texts, or DMs from someone you don’t know. If they claim to know you but the message seems strange, show it to a trusted adult.
    • Always report inappropriate messages to a trusted adult
    • Ignore or delete hurtful, insulting, or bullying messages and comments
    • Never agree to meet up with someone you’ve only chatted with online
    • Set time limits for being on the computer

Other guidelines for improved internet safety include:

  • Keep kids’ computers in a common area to monitor activity
  • Check your child’s browser history
  • Activate privacy features within the internet browser and all devices
  • Know your children’s passwords and change them regularly. Again, avoid using birthdates or easily guessed information.
  • Watch for changes in behavior that may indicate cyberbullying or contact with an online sexual predator.
  • Monitor chats within live streams on Twitch, YouTube, and gaming platforms

Technology has enhanced the way we learn and communicate, but we also have to adapt the way we keep our kids safe while online. We’ve included some online safety tips below:

CDC: Information on Safety in the Home & Community

Child Safety Tips & Resources

Internet Safety for Kids

2022 Bigs & Littles of the Year

By Match Stories

Each year, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay staff members nominate Bigs & Littles who have shown outstanding growth in our program and truly exemplify what it means to ignite the power and promise of youth. We are proud to announce our 2022 Bigs & Littles of the Year!

BIG BROTHER BILL & LITTLE BROTHER JAHEEM

Bill and Jaheem

WATCH VIDEO

Big Brother Bill and Little Brother Jaheem have been matched since March 2017. Jaheem is one of seven children in his family, so his mom thought he could use a positive role model and some one-to-one time with someone he could trust.

Bill recently got married and asked Jaheem to be a part of the wedding. Jaheem had the honor of walking the ring down the aisle with Bill’s canine pet Ringeaux. Jaheem had the time of his life at the wedding, dancing and enjoying the celebration of this new chapter in his Big’s life. Jaheem always lights up when talking about his relationship with his Big. “My Big Brother is an amazing person, and he’s unique, and we get along well, and he’s like family to us.”

Jaheem knows that he can share anything with Bill. This trust made Jaheem feel safe in coming out to his Big. Jaheem felt it was important to be himself around his Big, saying, “You gotta be yourself and don’t change for anybody.” Bill told Jaheem that he appreciates him sharing his personal feelings and that it’s healthy to be genuine and honest. To show his support, and with Jaheem’s parent’s consent, Bill took Jaheem to a few pride events so that Jaheem could feel the camaraderie of being with other people in the LGBTQ+ community. Jaheem says he always has fun with his Big Brother, and Bill feels the same.

BIG SISTER SHANDRA & LITTLE SISTER ASHARIA

Asharia and Shandra

WATCH VIDEO

Big Sister Shandra & Little Sister Asharia have shared a friendship for over four years. Before they were matched, Asharia and her mother struggled to manage Asharia’s diabetes, resulting in hospitalizations, and leading to Asharia being placed in medical foster care. After returning to her mom, Asharia’s mother knew she needed a friend and role model to help her through the difficulties she faced growing up with diabetes. And Shandra stuck with Asharia ever since and made managing Asharia’s diabetes a top priority.

Due to issues with Asharia’s health, she has switched from in-person school to virtual school multiple times. Switching schools and learning new platforms is difficult for any child, especially when it happens often. Shandra was able to help Asharia through these transitions and is a source of consistent support. Shandra and Asharia talk about new ways to study and manage the new school year in whatever learning platform was occurring, focusing on Asharia doing her best. Thanks to study sessions with her Big, Asharia has made the honor roll numerous times.

Shandra has been a constant in Asharia’s life through all the changes. Asharia feels safe talking to her Big about how she was feeling due to COVID and her health, process through life’s changes, resolving any challenges together.

Start your volunteer journey with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay here.

Celebrating Black History Month 2022

By Resources

This year, Tito’s is honoring Black History Month by amplifying our support and donating $25,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters Association of Florida. To learn more, visit lovetitos.com

 

Every February, people across the nation come together for events and activities to celebrate Black History Month. Now is an excellent opportunity to learn more about the history, contributions, and global impact of the African Diaspora with your Little. We hope these activity suggestions will inspire you and your Little to honor Black History Month and learn more together!

MOVIES TO WATCH:

  • Hidden Figures 
  • Black Panther
  • A Ballerina’s Tale
  • The Princess and the Frog

EASY RECIPES TO MAKE TOGETHER:

BOOKS TO READ:

  • Ages 5-12

Have You Thanked an Inventor Today? by Patrice McLaurin | Journey into the often forgotten contributions of African-American inventors, that contributed to the American landscape. It chronicles the school day of a little boy, highlighting different inventions that he uses throughout the day, all of which were invented by African-Americans. 

  • Ages 8-12

Black Heroes: a Black History Book for Kids: 51 Inspiring People from Ancient Africa to Modern-Day U. S. A. by Arlisha Norwood | You’re invited to meet ancient Egyptian rulers, brilliant scientists, legendary musicians, and civil rights activists–all in the same book! Black Heroes introduces you to 51 black leaders and role models from both history and modern times. 

  • For your teenaged Littles, click here to see a list of 74 Teen and Young Adult novels written by Black authors!

February Conversation Starters

By Resources

February Conversation Starters

February is Black History Month. Do some research and discuss the importance of acknowledging this month with your Little. We have shared some resources below:

https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/black-history-month and http://www.chiff.com/home_life/holiday/black-history-month.htm

February is also Dental Health Month. Talk to your Littles about the importance of dental health. Discuss the different kinds of teeth and what they are used for. How many teeth do humans have? How about dogs? What about tigers, birds, lizards, etc.

 

-February 2nd is Groundhog Day. Does your Little know who Puxataney Phil is? Research this day together.

-February 8th is Internet Safety Day. Ask your Little about what they do on the internet and how they stay safe. Watch an internet safety video like these: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiKeLOKc1tw  or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjPpG2e71Ec

-February 8th is also National Kite Flying Day. Does anyone else think of Mary Poppins when they think of kites? How would you make your own kite? What materials could you use? Make your own kite together!

-February 10th is National Umbrella Day. Design your own umbrella. Would you use the same colors on each panel? Or maybe mix and match patterns?

-February 11th is International Day of Women and Girls in Science. Research some important women in science.

-February 14th is Valentine’s Day. What does this mean to you and your Little? What does love look like? Design your own Valentine’s Card. Have you heard about Palentine’s or Galentine’s Day?

-February 15th is also Susan B. Anthony Day. Research her together and discuss.

-February 17th is Random Acts of Kindness Day. What are some things that you can do to show your friends, teachers, parents, siblings kindness?

-February 20th is Love your Pet Day. Talk about your pets and what you do to keep them loved and healthy. What would your pet say about you? What makes your pet unique? If your Little doesn’t have a pet, would they like one?

-February 21st is Presidents Day. Why do we celebrate Presidents Day? Who were some influential presidents? Check out some interesting President Facts together. Would your Little want to be President? Why or why not? If they were President, what would they change?

-February 24th is National Tortilla Chip Day. Do you like tortilla chips and nachos? What is the best dip for tortilla chips or best things on nachos? Are tortilla chips a healthy snack? What are some snacks that are healthier choices?

 

Did you celebrate any of the days above? What was your Little’s favorite activity? Let us know on social media and be sure to “tag” or “@” Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay. You can find us on Facebook (now called Meta), Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

Skip to content
Branded by Stevie & Fern