POSEY COUNTY
Big Brothers Big Sisters Receives Grant Funds
Big Brothers Big Sisters serving Posey County was awarded grant funds from the WIN Energy REMC Community Trust on September 13th. The funds will support match activities for the two school programs at North Posey and Mt. Vernon Schools during 2019 and 2020. In these school programs, high school students mentor junior high students. They meet at school once or twice a week during the school year. These programs help support mentored students socially, emotionally, and academically.
WIN Energy REMC is a not-for-profit electric distribution cooperative in southwestern Indiana serving almost 17,000 homes and businesses in rural Clay, Gibson, Greene, Knox, Pike, Posey, Sullivan, and Vigo counties. The grant funds are from REMC members that participate in the Operation Round Up® program. These members have their electric bill rounded up to the next whole dollar in order to benefit and support charitable community organizations. The Operation Round Up® program started in May 2013.
First Big Brothers Big Sisters’ Little Sister Graduates
Dealia Carlino is an extra-special “Little Sister” in the Posey County Big Brothers Big Sisters programs. She is the first Little Sister to graduate from high school since the programs started in Posey County in 2011. Dealia and her “Big Sister”, Cathy Vaal, have been matched in the community program for about 3.5 years, and they have developed a wonderful friendship. In their times together, they experienced a wide array of activities: attending the Nutcracker, Disney on Ice, and a hockey game; a visit to the museum and Amish Country that included a quilt show; canoeing; going to the movies; and a bike ride at Harmonie State Park “that about killed Dealia”! Braking down a hill resulted in a crash, but fortunately, Dealia was not hurt badly. However, Dealia’s favorite activity that she and Cathy shared together was making Christmas cookies. Cathy commented that they made a lot of cookies, and Dealia decorated them beautifully. When asked about her bucket list, Dealia commented that she wants to go to Hawaii and climb a mountain. So as their last “official Little Sister-Big Sister” activity, Dealia and Cathy may go to VerticaleXcape Climbing Center in Evansville to get Dealia some practice for
climbing that mountain!
But Cathy would tell you that Dealia has already climbed a mountain. Cathy says that Dealia is truly remarkable. She has faced much adversity in her young life and is doing well and thriving. Dealia is graduating from Mt. Vernon Senior High School with honors, possibly attending Vincennes University this summer to get a jump on some college credits, and will be attending the University of Southern Indiana this fall. Dealia received the Whitney Wehr Memorial Scholarship, a USI Scholarship, a 21st Century Scholar Award, and an award from Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Dealia said it was important for her to have a Big Sister because she was a friend. And it is clear that this mentoring relationship has changed the life of one individual, a beautiful young lady, for the better, forever. Big Brothers Big Sisters serving Posey County is so proud ofDealia and wishes her many more successes in the next step of her life. Big Brothers Big Sisters thanks Big Sister Cathy for her support and caring mentorship to her Little Sister Dealia.
Bowl for Kids' Sake Recap
The 7th annual Bowl for Kids’ Sake event was held Sunday, April 8th. The event was a BIG success, raising over $26,000! These funds are so important because they sustain both community and school-based mentoring programs and allow Big Brothers Big Sisters to make new child-mentor matches in Posey County. Almost 40 county and area businesses and organizations provided sponsorships to underwrite the event. In addition, over 60 businesses, individuals, and sports teams provided donations, prizes, and items for a well-stocked Facebook Silent Auction! Big Brothers Big Sisters hosted 189 bowlers in four sessions with Mr. Mark McDonald, the emcee, having lots of fun with the bowlers and giving away lots of prizes. Mr. Joe Risher donated his audio system and also provided some great music. All bowlers received a free Bowl for Kids’ Sake t-shirt, designed by one of our own Littles, Maddie, and a cinch bag from Dan’s Comp.
There were 13 teams from clubs from the county schools that bowled and supported Bowl for Kids’ Sake. Collectively, they raised over $3,200 for our kids.
We appreciate and applaud students helping children in our communities. Thank you Posey County for your generosity and compassion. Because of your
support, Big Brothers Big Sisters does and will continue to make a BIG difference in the lives of at-risk children in Posey County.
WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT OF BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS HERE IN POSEY COUNTY.
Check out our 2017 infographic!
Khrista York, our local Case Manager, works to match new children, enrolls and
trains new volunteers and supports our current mentors and
children in their matches.
Posey County Satellite Resource Group
Thank you to the Satellite Resource Group in Posey County that leads all of
our local fundraising and advocacy efforts!
Beth Schilling, Chairperson
Kay Kilgore, Vice-Chair
Beth Russell, Secretary
Melissa Chambers, Treasurer
Ann McDonald
Jordan Beach
Susie Tooley