PPL Contributes Program Support to Big Brothers Big Sisters
Company’s contribution will directly fund the creation of new one-to-one relationships in mentoring organization’s Site-Based Mentoring Program
Allentown, PA — February 3, 2017 — Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lehigh Valley recently received $5,000 in program support from PPL for its Site-Based Mentoring Program through the Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program (EITC). The contribution will help Big Brothers Big Sisters continue to grow its Site-Based Mentoring Program in Bethlehem Area, and Whitehall-Coplay School Districts. High School students are matched with elementary school aged students and meet one hour a week in an after school program.
Susan Bartels, Big Brothers Big Sisters Lehigh Valley’s CEO, said the program will pair carefully recruited, screened and trained High School mentors (Bigs) with children (Littles) from participating elementary schools. BBBSLV will pair 90 children with high school students during the 2016-2017 school year. “We’re excited to have PPL’s support which helps children achieve great things, both inside and outside of the classroom” Bartels added.
“We at PPL firmly believe in the importance of investing in children and the youth. It is part of our larger commitment to improving the communities where our customers and employees live and work,” said Carol Obando-Derstine, PPL Electric Utilities’ regional affairs director.
About PPL Corporation
Headquartered in Allentown, PA, PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL) is one of the largest companies in the U.S. utility sector. PPL’s seven high-performing, award-winning utilities – including PPL Electric Utilities, which provides safe and reliable electric service in Pennsylvania — serve 10 million customers in the U.S. and United Kingdom. The company and its 13,000 employees are dedicated to providing exceptional customer service and reliability and delivering superior value for shareowners. To learn more, visit www.pplweb.com.
About Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lehigh Valley
For over 46 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the 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. Learn how you can volunteer or donate—visit www.bbbslv.org.
Information & image provided by:
Susan Bartels, CEO
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lehigh Valley
41 S. Carlisle Street
Allentown, PA 18109
