Susan Bartels, CEO, Big Brothers Big Sisters Lehigh Valley, left; and Melinda Stumpf, Regional Affairs Director-Lehigh Valley, PPL, right (Photo provided by Big Brothers Big Sisters Lehigh Valley)
Allentown, PA — December 1, 2014 — Big Brothers Big Sisters Lehigh Valley recently received $10,000 from PPL Corporation in Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) funding to support its school-based mentoring programs in the Allentown, Bethlehem Area and Whitehall-Coplay School Districts.
This is the eighth straight year that PPL has contributed to the organization through the EITC program. Since 2006, the agency has received more than $70,000 in EITC funding from the Allentown-based utilities company.
“For years, PPL’s generosity has played a key role in the expansion of our school-based mentoring programs throughout the Lehigh Valley,” said Susan Bartels, Big Brothers Big Sisters Lehigh Valley’s CEO. “We’re truly thankful for their continued support and thrilled that our programs will continue to flourish throughout the Lehigh Valley because of their contribution.”
“A strong mentor can help make a big impact in a child’s life and help them achieve success in school and in life,” said Melinda Stumpf, regional affairs director for the Lehigh Valley. “At PPL, we believe that education is the key to a successful future and helps prepare them for high quality jobs at PPL and other companies. So we are pleased to provide support to Big Brothers Big Sisters Lehigh Valley.”
As an approved program under EITC guidelines, Big Brothers Big Sisters Lehigh Valley receives funds from local businesses to support the expansion of its professionally supported school-based mentoring programs in Bethlehem Area, Allentown and Whitehall-Coplay School Districts. Through the program, elementary and middle school Littles are matched with qualified, trained high school or college Bigs.
The agency’s school-based mentoring programs have also been statistically shown to aid children in the areas of academic performance, educational expectations, avoidance of risky behaviors and social acceptance.
Big Brothers Big Sisters Lehigh Valley has also received EITC funding from American Bank, Direct Energy, Merchants Bank of Bangor and Susquehanna Bank this year. In addition, the agency was awarded extensive funding from United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley to expand many of its school-based programs in Bethlehem Area and Allentown School Districts in the current academic year.
Press Release provided by:
Alex Dapkewicz, Marketing & Development Manager
About Big Brothers Big Sisters Lehigh Valley
For over 40 years, 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. Big Brothers Big Sisters Youth Outcomes Survey Report reinforces the mentoring program’s evidence base of positive academic, socio-emotional and behavioral outcomes for youth, areas linked to high school graduation, avoidance of juvenile delinquency and college or job readiness.
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 www.bbbslv.org.
