In The News

TAMPA, FLA. (March 3, 2025) — Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay is honored to announce a generous $10,000 grant from Suncoast Credit Union. As a leading organization dedicated to mentoring and empowering youth, this grant will help expand and enhance mentoring programs to achieve the bold goal of serving 5,000 youth, making a significant impact on the lives of young people throughout the community.

The funding will be used to support one-to-one mentoring connections and impactful experiences for young people. By investing in mentorship and personal development Big Brothers/Big Sisters honors its mission to provide support, guidance, and opportunities for growth to youth who face various challenges, both personally and academically.

“We are grateful to Suncoast Credit Union for another year of support,” said Chris Letsos, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay. “This funding will allow us to reach more youth, enhance our programs, and provide essential tools to help students achieve their goals and build a brighter future. We are proud of this relationship with Suncoast Credit Union as part of their legacy in uplifting education, health, and the well-being of our young people.”

Alignment with the community is essential for the success of mentoring programs and expanding services to a larger audience.

“We remain committed to supporting organizations that create meaningful, lasting change in the lives of youth within our communities” says Jeff Kunberger, Executive Director of the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation. “Big Brothers Big Sisters shares our vision of mentorship, empowerment, and creating opportunity. We believe connection and engagement can create meaningful relationships and we are pleased to contribute to the worthy cause of mentorship.”

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay is part of the nation’s largest donor and volunteer-supported mentoring network and holds itself accountable for children in its program to achieve measurable outcomes, such as educational success, avoidance of risky behaviors, higher aspirations, greater confidence, and better relationships. More than 2500 children were served in 2024 through one-to-one match relationships and group mentoring experiences across a 9-county service area: Alachua, Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Marion, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk and Sumter. Amongst those served, 83% received free/reduced lunch, 72% lived with a single parent or other caregiver, and 79% of the youth were children of color. For more information, please visit us at www.GoBigtampabay.org

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Suncoast Credit Union is the largest credit union in the state of Florida, the 8th largest in the United States based on membership, and the 10th largest in the United States based on its $18.4 billion in assets. Chartered in 1934 as Hillsborough County Teachers Credit Union, Suncoast Credit Union currently operates 81 full-service branches and serves more than 1.2 million members across Florida. As a community credit union, anyone who lives, works, attends school, or worships in Suncoast Credit Union’s service area is eligible for membership. In 2021,

Suncoast Credit Union’s field of membership was expanded to include public K-12 teachers, college educators, and educational support staff from all of Florida’s 67 counties. Suncoast is passionate about community support. Since its founding in 1990, the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation has raised and donated more than $53 million to organizations and initiatives that support the health, education, and emotional well-being of children in the communities that the credit union serves. For more information, visit suncoast.com

Voting is an important civic duty to engage in as an American citizen.

Tuesday, November 5 is General Election day, but you don’t have to wait until then to make your voice heard! To encourage voter participation, we are sharing polling locations, early voting dates, and other important information regarding the 2024 General Election. Please check your county’s Supervisor of Elections website for the most up to date information on voting locations and times. Early voting provides many location options. You must vote in your assigned precinct on Election Day. Please use the election poll locator to ensure you vote in the correct precinct or your vote will not be counted. Check your voter status and poll location here: https://dos.fl.gov/elections/for-voters/check-your-voter-status-and-polling-place/voter-precinct-lookup/

Key election dates to remember

• Deadline to register to vote: October 7, 2024
• Deadline to request that ballot be mailed: October 24, 2024
• Early voting period: October 21 – November 3, 2024 (Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Polk Counties.)
• Election Day: November 5, 2024

Need to register to vote or update your information?
Go to the Florida Division of Elections website. Update your location to ensure your vote will be counted. You can register to vote until October 7.

What should I bring to my polling site?
Bring one or two forms of current identification that include your signature and photo. You must have the cards with you — pictures of ID cannot be accepted. If you forget your ID, you may vote using a provisional ballot, which will later be evaluated by the Canvassing Board for eligibility.

Acceptable photo IDs for voting (bring 2 forms)

• Florida Driver License
• Florida ID Card issued by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
• U.S. Passport
• Debit or Credit Card
• Military ID
• Student ID
• Retirement Center ID
• Neighborhood Association ID
• Public Assistance ID
• Veteran Health ID (issued by VA)
• Concealed Weapon License (issued pursuant to s. 790.06)
• Government Employee ID

If your photo ID does not include your signature, you will be asked to provide another ID that has your signature. Its suggested that you bring your sample ballot with you to the polling place, marked with notes on how you plan to vote. Being prepared means the lines move faster for all voters.

If you received a Vote By Mail ballot and want to cast that ballot, you do not have to stand in line or go through the check-in process. Just look for the Secure Ballot Intake Station and drop your ballot off. If you requested a Vote By Mail ballot but have decided to vote in person instead, your Vote By Mail ballot will be canceled and a new ballot will be printed for you at the Early Voting site.

Pinellas County

Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections website:  www.votepinellas.gov
Early Voting: October 21 – November 3, Daily, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Election Day Voting Hours: November 5, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m

Pinellas County Early Voting Locations

• Countryside Recreation Center – 2640 Sabal Springs Dr., Clearwater, FL 33761
• Gulfport Neighborhood Center – 1617 49th St. S., Gulfport, FL 33707
• J.W. Cate Recreation Center – 5801 22nd Ave. N., St. Petersburg, FL 33710
• Supervisor of Elections Office – Election Service Center – 13001 Starkey Rd., Starkey Lakes Corporate Center, Largo, FL 33773
• Supervisor of Elections Office – County Building – 501 First Ave. N., St. Petersburg, FL 33701
• Supervisor of Elections Office – Pinellas County Courthouse – 315 Court St., Room 117, Clearwater, FL 33756. Voter parking spots will be designated in courthouse parking lots
• The Centre of Palm Harbor – 1500 16th St., Palm Harbor, FL 346

Hillsborough County

Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections website:  votehillsborough.gov/
Early Voting: October 21 – November 3, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Election Day Voting Hours: November 5, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m

Hillsborough County Early Voting Locations

• Apollo Beach Recreation Center – 664 Golf and Sea Blvd, Apollo Beach, FL, 33572
• Bloomingdale Regional Public Library – 1906 Bloomingdale Ave, Valrico, FL, 33596
• Bruton Memorial Library – 302 W McLendon St, Plant City, FL, 33563
• C. Blythe Andrews, Jr. Public Library – 2607 E Dr. MLK, Jr. Blvd, Tampa, FL, 33610
• Fred B. Karl County Center – 601 E Kennedy Blvd, Tampa, FL, 33602
• Jan Kaminis Platt Regional Library – 3910 S Manhattan Ave, Tampa, FL, 33611
• Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library – 2902 West Bearss Avenue, Tampa, FL, 33618
• Keystone Recreation Center – 17928 Gunn Hwy, Odessa, FL, 33556
• Maureen B. Gauzza Public Library – 11211 Countryway Blvd, Tampa, FL, 33626
• New Tampa Regional Library – 10001 Cross Creek Blvd, Tampa, FL, 33647
• North Tampa Branch Library – 8916 North Blvd, Tampa, FL, 33604
• Northdale Recreation Center – 15510 Hooting Owls Place, Tampa, FL, 33624
• Northwest Regional Office – 4575 Gunn Hwy, Tampa, FL, 33624
• Port Tampa Community Center – 4702 W McCoy St, Tampa, FL, 33616
• Providence West Community Center – 5405 Providence Rd, Riverview, FL, 33578
• Riverview Branch Library – 9951 Balm Riverview Rd, Riverview, FL, 33569
• Robert L. Gilder Elections Service Center – 2514 N Falkenburg Rd, Tampa, FL, 33619
• Robert W Saunders, Sr. Public Library – 1505 N Nebraska Ave, Tampa, FL, 33602
• Seffner-Mango Branch Library – 410 N Kingsway Rd, Seffner, FL 33584
• Southeast Regional Office – 10020-S US Highway 301, Riverview, FL, 33578
• SouthShore Regional Library – 15816 Beth Shields Way, Ruskin, FL, 33573
• SouthShore Regional Service Center – 410 30th St SE, Ruskin, FL, 33570
• Temple Terrace Public Library – 202 Bullard Pkwy, Temple Terrace, FL, 33617
• Town N Country Regional Public Library – 7606 Paula Drive, Tampa, FL, 33615
• USF Training Center (PTB-Training Room) – 13309 USF Plum Dr, Tampa, FL, 33620
• Victor Crist Community Center Complex (University Area Community Center) – 14013 N 22nd St, Tampa, FL, 33613
• West Tampa Branch Library – 2312 W Union St, Tampa, FL 33607

Polk County

Polk County Supervisor of Elections website: www.polkelections.com/
Polk County Early Voting: October 21st – November 3rd
Election Day Voting Hours: November 5, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m

Polk County Early Voting Locations

• Polk Street Community Center: 1255 Polk Street
• Polk Sheriffs NE District Office, Community Room, 1100 Dunson Road
• Haines City Library – 111 N 6th Street
• NE Polk Government Center – 200 Government Center Blvd
• Lake Wales Family Recreation Center – 1001 Burns Avenue
• Polk County Government Center – 930 E Parker Street
• Simpson Park Community Center – 1725 Martin L King Jr Avenue
• Mulberry Civic Center – 901 NE 5th Street
• Poinciana Community Fitness Center, 397 Marigold Avenue
• Nora Mayo Hall – 500 3rd Street NW

Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies across the United States and Canada will celebrate Big Brothers Big Sisters Month throughout the month of September. Our volunteer mentors support 41,000 youth in Canada and 109,254 in the United States. Big Brothers Big Sisters nationally has 230+ agencies in over 5,000 communities in all 50 states. Big Brothers Big Sisters Month — first founded by our neighbors to the north in Canada — recognizes the “critical importance of mentoring relationships, especially now, when our commitment to young people and the essential intervention service we provide is being challenged like never before.”

We aim to inspire youth from five through young adulthood. The pandemic has tested our collective resolve for more than a year now, but our kids, staff, and volunteers have shown strength and resiliency. Thanks to the generosity of our donors and the agility of program stakeholders, we were able to quickly and easily transition to a virtual environment. Kids are less likely to feel isolated and depressed when they have a consistent adult they can count on.

The numbers show that overall our matches are lasting longer than ever, with “typical Site-Based matches lasting nearly one and a half years – 34% longer than the average match length 10 years ago.”

Additionally, our Littles surveyed nationally last year made qualitative improvements in the eight outcome areas: Social Competence, Academic Performance/School Grades, Educational Expectations, Emotion Regulation, School Connectedness, Depressive Symptoms, Risky Behaviors – School Discipline, and Risky Behaviors – Bullying.

Ignite the power and promise of youth through one-to-one mentoring. Become a mentor or Big, and you can help a child reach their full potential with just a few hours of your time every month. It’s all about authenticity, and BBBS gives you access to trained staff to support your mentoring match. You don’t have to be perfect – just show up, be yourself, and have fun! #GoBig

August is here. Temperatures are still steamy, and it’s back to school time. At least we have the always-anticipated tax exempt period, this year from July 29 – Aug 11.

Most clothing, uniforms, shoes, school supplies and even laptops are eligible under the annual tax holiday in Florida. Join the community in back to school giveaway fun at various sites around Pinellas, Hillsborough, and Pasco counties offering free and reduced price school supplies in a family-friendly atmosphere. Keep reading for the list:

• The Suncoast News reports plenty of places in Pasco and Hernando counties offering goodies. Click here.
• In the Brandon – Riverview area, ECHO offers some of the back to school basics. Click here for more information in English and Spanish.
• Across Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas counties are multiple low cost and no cost fairs and functions

We hope the tips provided here help with a smoother summer to school transition.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay Honored with 2023 Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Quality Award

The agency is recognized for outstanding team leadership in providing 1-to-1 mentoring programming for local youth

Tampa, FL June 30, 2024 – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay has been recognized as a 2023 Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA) Quality Award Winner. Every year, BBBS agencies are recognized by BBBSA Nationwide Leadership Council, made up of local Big Brothers Big Sisters agency leaders and board members, for excellence in the organization’s signature 1-to-1 youth mentoring program. Out of approximately 230 Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies across the country, BBBS of Tampa Bay is one of the few to receive this top honor.

For over 100 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters 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.

“Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies across the country are finding innovative ways to serve young people and strengthen communities,” said BBBSA President and CEO Artis Stevens. “We congratulate these agencies for leading the way in transforming mentorship for our communities, and most importantly, our young people.”

Award winners were recognized at the 2024 Big Brothers Big Sisters “Bigger Together” National Conference.