ALLENTOWN, PA – January 28, 2019 – FNCB Bank in Dunmore, Pa. has presented Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lehigh Valley with a $1,500 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
“Since 2010, FNCB has contributed more than $1,600,000 to educational and scholarship organizations in our market through the EITC initiative,” said Frank Heston, FNCB Bank Senior Vice President, Lehigh Valley Market Manager. “We’re delighted to add BBBSLV to the organizations we support.”
“We would like to thank FNCB Bank for their support and generosity,” said BBBSLV CEO Susan Bartels. “We are proud to have them as an EITC partner and are delighted to have these funds to use in developing new high school matches while nurturing existing ones.”
About FNCB Bank
FNCB Bank, locally-based for over 100 years, continues as a premier community bank — offering a full suite of personal, small business, mortgage and commercial banking solutions with industry-leading mobile, online and in-branch products and services. FNCB remains dedicated to the communities they serve with an on-going mission to make your banking experience simply better. For more information visit www.fncb.com.
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. www.BBBSLV.org
Information Provided By:
Tracey Werner, Blabbermouth Communications
tracey@blabbermouthcommunications.com
