Big Brothers/Big Sisters receives grant from local bank

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine (BBBS MM) was recently awarded a $3,000 grant from Skowhegan Savings Charitable Contributions Foundation in support of school-based mentoring programs in Somerset County.

The donation will help fund matches at BBBS programs that link student mentors from Skowhegan High School (Bigs) with elementary students (Littles) at Margaret Chase Smith School and Bloomfield Elementary School. Funds will also purchase items for the program’s activity bins used by matches at both locations.

BBBS MM Executive Director Gwendolyn Hudson said partnership with Skowhegan Savings is especially vital in the agency’s work to help more kids succeed in Somerset County. “When local businesses like Skowhegan Savings continue to support the mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters, they are making a long-term commitment to children in their community; to help change more lives for the better,” Hudson said.

Skowhegan Savings Assistant Vice President and Community Banker Karen Hart and Fawn Wentworth, Marketing Officer recently met with Big and Little matches to see first-hand how the Skowhegan Savings Foundation gift is helping local youth at Bloomfield Elementary School in Skowhegan.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine changes the lives of more than 700 youth in Androscoggin, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Penobscot, Somerset and Waldo Counties facing adversity for the better, forever by providing strong and enduring, professionally-supported, one-to-one relationships. By partnering with parents, volunteers and organizations, children in Big Brother Big Sister programs have higher aspirations, greater confidence, better relationships, avoid risky behaviors and achieve educational success. For more information on volunteering or donating please call 236-BBBS (2227) or visit www.bbbsmidmaine.org.

Skowhegan Area High School student mentors (Bigs) meet with their Littles at Bloomfield Elementary School in Skowhegan as part of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine youth mentoring programs. The Bloomfield matches, as well as Bigs and Littles who meet weekly at Margaret Chase Smith School, will benefit from a recent generous gift of $3,000 from Skowhegan Savings Charitable Contributions Foundation.