Allentown, PA — February 5, 2016 — Big Brothers Big Sisters Lehigh Valley has officially moved into its new headquarters on the East End of Allentown and will  host a Community Open House on Tuesday, February 23, 2016 from 4:00 to 7:00pm at their new facility.

The Open House will include facility tours, light appetizers and a formal Ribbon Cutting Ceremony with the Chamber of Commerce at 5:30p.m. To promote the agency’s upcoming fundraiser, Bowl For Kid’s Sake, the Open House will also feature Wii bowling.  The event is open to the public and while registration is not required, it is encouraged.

To register for the event, please contact Big Brothers Big Sisters Lehigh Valley at 610-432-8000. Event parking is available on-street or at Mosser Elementary School.

Located at 41 S. Carlisle St., Allentown, PA, the new location was formerly St. Joseph’s Evangelical Lutheran Church. The church was disbanded and donated the building to Big Brothers Big Sisters Lehigh Valley.

Susan Bartels, the agency’s CEO, commented that the building boasts a large amount of space, a full-sized kitchen, a sanctuary and more. The added square footage, she added, will allow the organization to use the building as a community center, with a goal of better engaging the Lehigh Valley community.

“The move is a great step forward for the agency,” Bartels said. “We extend thanks to St. Joseph’s for so generously donating this great building to us. With the bigger space and a more central location, we will be able to better connect with the community, our volunteers and especially the children we serve.”

About Big Brothers Big Sisters Lehigh Valley

Since 1970, Big Brothers Big Sisters Lehigh Valley has operated under the belief that inherent in every child is the ability to succeed and thrive in life. Big Brothers Big Sisters, the nation’s largest donor and volunteer supported mentoring network, holds itself accountable for children in its program to achieve measurable outcomes, such as educational success; avoidance of risky behaviors; and higher aspirations, greater confidence and better relationships. Partnering with parents/guardians, schools, corporations and others in the community, Big Brothers Big Sisters carefully pairs children (“Littles”) with qualified, trained, and screened volunteers (“Bigs”) and monitors and supports these one-to-one mentoring matches throughout their course.

In the 2014-2015 fiscal year, Big Brothers Big Sisters Lehigh Valley, a United Way Partner Agency, served 347 Lehigh and Northampton County children in one-to-one mentoring relationships.

Big Brothers Big Sisters provides children facing adversity, often those of single or low-income households or families where a parent is incarcerated or serving in the military, with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one mentoring relationships that change their lives for the better, forever. This mission has been the cornerstone of the organization’s 100-year history. The organization is engaged in a nationwide search to reunite with alumni mentors, mentees, donors, and family, staff and board members. Learn how you can volunteer or donate—visit http://www.bbbslv.org/.