PHOTO CAPTION: L to R – Susan Bartels, CEO of BBBSLV, Dante and Noah, both members of the BBBSLV Littles2B program, and Carol Obando-Derstine, Regional Affairs Director, PPL Electric Utilities
ALLENTOWN, PA – December 20, 2018 – PPL Electric Utilities has presented Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lehigh Valley a $5,000 grant through the Commonwealth’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit program.
As an approved program under EITC guidelines, BBBSLV receives funds from local businesses which are used for its professionally supported school-based mentoring programs for children from kindergarten through seventh grade in Bethlehem, Allentown, Easton, Wilson, and Whitehall-Coplay school districts. Through the mentoring program, elementary school Littles are matched with qualified, trained high school Bigs. Matches meet at the educational facility for about an hour after or during school for a minimum of 12 months. The Big’s role is to provide friendship, guidance and inspiration that aims to empower the Little to reach their full potential.
Between June 2017 and June 2018 BBBSLV served 382 one-to-one mentoring matches.
- 73 percent of matched Littles showed improved confidence in achieving future aspirations
- 69 percent of matched Littles showed improved relationships with peers
- 59 percent of matched Littles showed improvement in academic performance
- 43 percent of matched Littles showed improvement in attitudes toward risky behaviors
“PPL is proud to support Big Brothers Big Sisters of the LV,” said Carol Obando-Derstine, PPL Electric Utilities’ regional affairs director. “And we’re also proud to support the everyday heroes in our community who want to serve as positive role models for area children. Mentoring programs such as this one are vital to a strong community.”
“We would like to thank PPL for their support and generosity,” said BBBSLV CEO Susan Bartels. “We are proud to have them as an EITC partner and look forward to using these funds to develop new matches while nurturing existing ones.”
The Big Brothers Big Sisters mission is to provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever. For over 40 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters Lehigh Valley has partnered with parents/guardians, schools, corporations, and others in the Lehigh Valley to pair children (Littles) with qualified, trained volunteers (Bigs) and monitor these one-to-one relationships throughout their course.
Information Provided By:
Tracey Werner, Blabbermouth Communications
tracey@blabbermouthcommunications.com
