Big Brothers Big Sisters works

Big Brothers Big Sisters works - just ask Kim.
Kim is going to college next year and
there’s no doubt that she made it there
with help from her Big Sister Rita. Rita
and Kim were matched on Kim’s first
day of 3rd grade. This year, she graduated
from Hutchison High School in Fairbanks
and she’s still matched with her Big
Sister Rita.
Rita and Kim in 2003
Rita, a Computer Engineer for Alyeska
decided to become a Big Sister as a way
to give back to the community, specifically though working with children. She
went from meeting Kim for lunch at
school when Kim was a 3rd grader to
searching for the best chicken strips
in Fairbanks when Kim was in middle
school. This year, while Kim was a senior,
Rita would meet her at the library to
guide Kim through her work on her
senior project.
There’s no doubt in Kim’s mind about
the effect having a Big Sister has had on
her life. She says that Rita has helped her
to find more possibilities in her life than
she could have found on her own. Kim’s
mom Lizzette is grateful for the effect
Rita has had on Kim. Lizzette says that
Kim has been a “easy-going, wonderful,
very knowledgeable, sweet and
resourceful” friend for Kim.
Now that she’s done with high school,
Kim will be attending University of
Alaska Fairbanks this fall where she will
study Fire Science. After completion of
her degree, Kim looks forward to being
a Firefighter or an EMT.
A simple friendship like the one between
Kim and Rita goes a long way in the life
of a child. Having a Big Brother or Big
Sister has an incredible effect on a child’s
performance in school. A child with
a Big Brother or Big Sister will have a
more positive attitude toward school,
achieve higher grades, have much higher
levels of self-confidence and is more
likely to attend college.
Spring 2010
Members of Team Wells Fargo pause for a photo in Juneau.
Marisa and Kris from Flint Hills Resources bowl in Fairbanks.
It’s Not About Bowling, It’s About Helping Kids.
Rita and Kim at Kim’s Graduation
Kim and Rita’s friendship is a great example
of how Big Brothers Big Sisters works.To
learn how you can become a volunteer,
donor or to enroll a child, visit us online at
bbbsak.org.
Bowl For Kids’ Sake a Success Across Alaska.
Bowl For Kids’ Sake is an opportunity for people and communities across Alaska to support the work of BBBS. Donors,
volunteers, Big Brothers, Big Sisters, Littles and parents participated in this event to raise funds to benefit the children
we serve.
996 bowlers from 258 teams helped raise over $280,000.
The funds will help will create and support matches between
Alaskan children and caring mentors, leading to a brighter,
more vibrant future for children across the state.
1057 W. Fireweed Lane
Anchorage, AK 99503
Thanks to all our team captains, bowlers,
donors and corporate sponsors for helping
to change children’s lives in Alaska!
ASRC Energy Services’ team bowls in Anchorage.
Fairbanks, Delta, Juneau, Bethel, Anchorage, Haines,
Homer, Valdez, Tok, Hoonah, Ketchikan, Mat-Su and
Sitka, came together to raise pledges for BBBS.
Top Fundraisers in Each Community
Eli, an 11 year old Little Brother in
our program, gets ready to bowl. Eli
raised money from family members
and his mom’s coworkers. He said that
he raised money and bowled because
“I have fun with my Big Brother and
wanted to show him that I care too
and think helping others and being
generous is important.”Way to go, Eli!
Jeanine St. John - Anchorage
Troy Turner - Fairbanks
Chris Mertl - Juneau
Karly Klein-McMahon - Ketchikan
Darsie Culback - Haines
Patricia Pyhala - Homer
Daphne Wright - Hoonah
Kelly Heather - Mat-Su
Nicholas McMillan - Seward
James Diffin - Sitka
Delinda Watkins - Tok
Dakota Brown - Valdez
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Alaska graciously thanks our Bowl For Kids’ Sake 2010 Statewide Sponsors:

TM
A Message From Our CEO
As we welcome the sweet Alaska spring with
open arms, fishing poles, gardening gloves and
hiking boots, we want to acknowledge some
wonderful volunteers who make every season
sweet at Big Brothers Big Sisters.
I am very pleased to announce that the 2010
Alaska Big Sister of the Year is Lisa Davis. Lisa,
a therapist, has been matched with Little Sister
Heather for seven years. Heather was first
enrolled when she was 10 after the loss of
her mother to breast cancer. Lisa knew just
what Heather was dealing with, having lost
her mother to breast cancer as well. Their
In January 2010 Big Brothers Big Sisters of
Alaska launched Operation Bigs -- a new
mentoring initiative to grow and improve
our service to the military community.
Operation Bigs addresses the unique challenges faced by children in military families
and also provides military personnel the
opportunity to serve as volunteer mentors.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Alaska has always
served military families. But as you can imagine, wars overseas and frequent deployments
of military parents have made the need for
our one-to-one mentoring program greater
than ever before.
In 2009, 4,680 of Alaska’s 23,400 military
personnel were deployed; many of them are
parents. A recent national study shows that
the deployment of a parent can have a deep
effect on a child.
• 60% of military spouses say their
children had increased levels of fear and anxiety when their parent was deployed.
• 57% reported increased behavioral
problems at home.
• 36% cited increased behavioral problems
at school.
relationship has blossomed over the years, and
Lisa has been able to provide Heather with
the kind of friendship that has helped Heather
develop a strong sense of self-worth. From
helping her shop for things far too embarrassing to shop for with her father, to helping her
have healthy relationships, avoid risky behavior,
and study hard to prepare for college – Lisa
has been there for Heather. In Heather’s
words, “We’re together for good.”
Congratulations too, to Roger Pfeifer, the 2010
Alaska Big Brother of the Year. Roger has
been matched with not-so-Little-anymoreBrother Taylor since 2001. Roger has shared
his experiences with Taylor – hunting, working
on cars, carpentry – great “guy” stuff that is
part of Roger’s life. Roger says the relationship hasn’t been about entertaining Taylor, but
about experiencing real life together. Taylor
credits Roger with helping him develop his
character, helping him get through some rough
patches of his teen years (including the loss of
his grandmother), and giving him a clear sense
of his capabilities and potential. In Taylor’s
words, he has learned from Roger “how to
be respectful to others and how to be a good
person.”
There is another exemplary volunteer I would
like to recognize – one who doesn’t serve as
a Big Brother, but whose efforts have helped
us match scores of youngsters over the years.
That man is Troy Turner. Troy has, for more
years than we can remember, been one of
the top Bowl For Kids Sake fundraisers in the
state. This year Troy’s total was a whopping
$6,190! Troy strongly believes in the mission
of Big Brothers Big Sisters, and raising money
through Bowl For Kids’ Sake is his chosen way
to support the great work of our volunteers
and our staff. And he’s a darned good bowler
too!
Thanks to the many volunteers and donors
who help us change for the better what it
means to grow up in Alaska.
Your Investment Shapes the Future of Alaska
Big Brothers Big Sisters works - here’s proof.
As a donor, volunteer or friend of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Alaska,
you already know in your heart that our mentoring programs
change lives for the better. If you’re a donor, it’s easy to imagine
how a child can benefit from having an additional caring adult in
their lives. If you’re a Big, you see the positive results every time you
spend an hour or two with your Little.
But did you know that our program of one-to-one
mentoring has also been proven - through research - to
have a significant and positive impact on children? Several
recent studies and program evaluations demonstrate the successes
we have been able to achieve for Alaska’s kids thanks to your support. Here’s what they tell us:
We keep kids in school.
Need: To improve academic performance in communities throughTaber Rehbaum
Chief Executive Officer
And even when their immediate family is
intact, military kids have a unique need for
an additional role model in their lives due
to frequent residency changes that result in
children often living far away from extended
family and friends.
out Alaska. Over 3642 of Alaska’s children will drop out and not
finish high school this year. These kids will earn at least $9,000/year
LESS than their peers who do finish.
Outcome: Littles in our program are 52% less likely than their
unmatched peers to skip school. They stay more engaged in class,
do better in school and ultimately, graduate. Teachers in our
school-based program report that our Littles have reduced
unexcused absences.
We help kids make good decisions.
Need: To reduce the rate of teen drinking in Alaska. Underage
drinking costs the citizens of Alaska $317 million annually, inclusive
of medical care, work loss, and pain and suffering .
Outcome: Littles are 27% less likely to use alcohol. As a result they
are also less likely to engage in a whole variety of behaviors linked
to alcohol use and abuse including drinking and driving.
We keep kids healthy.
Need: To reduce troubling substance abuse rates. 12,650 kids in
Alaska aged 10-17 will use drugs this year. Societal cost of drug use
is estimated to be approximately $12,000 per year per user.
Outcome: Littles are 46% less likely to ever begin using drugs. Big
Brothers Big Sisters volunteers have great impact in the area of
alcohol and substance abuse prevention. Minority boys and girls
were the most strongly influenced; they were 70% less likely than
their peers to initiate drug use.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Alaska Thanks Our Additional Bowl For Kids’ Sake 2010 Sponsors
Lt. Speckhart and Kody
We also know that military personnel themselves want opportunities to serve other
military families and become positively
involved in the communities in which they
live. Being a Big provides just that opportunity. Military personnel make great Bigs. They
are wonderful role models, are often far
away from extended families, and can provide
a deeply personal understanding of the challenges faced by military Littles.
Lieutenant James Speckhart is a great example of the committed role models that can
be found among Alaska’s military community.
Lt. Speckhart, a Safety Officer with the U.S.
Coast Guard, has lived in Ketchikan for 18
months and became a Big Brother because
he believes that one-to-one personal relationships with a child can make a big difference in the lives of kids like his Little Brother
Kody.
Lt. Speckhart and Kody have enjoyed many
activities together since being matched.
Kody says he likes to spend time with James
because James is easy to talk to, and they
“both love to be outside.” Most importantly,
Kody feels that he’s made a good friend he
can rely upon both now, and even after James
leaves Alaska.
Results from the first year of Military
Mentoring Initiative programs in other states
have been impressive. In fact, 84% of the
children matched with a Big had increased
self-confidence, and 57% performed better
in school. With the continued help of our
volunteers and donors like you, Operation
Bigs can have a similar impact for children
right here in Alaska.
To learn more about Operation BIGS, visit us
online at www.bbbsak.org.
ABC Alaska’s Superstation, Smith Media, LLC
A&A Roofing
Advance Printing Co.
Air Excursions
AK Star Training Institute
Alaska Broadcast
Communications
Alaska Commercial Company
Alaska Marine Lines
Alaskan Steakhouse and Motel
Alcan Electrical & Engineering, Inc
Alyeska Pipeline Service Company
Alyeska Resort
American Seafoods Co.
Anchorage Pediatric Group
Arbor Capital Management
Arctic Bowl
Arctic Circle Enterprises
ASRC Energy Services
AT&T
Atkinson, Conway, & Gagnon, Inc.
Bachner Company, Inc.
Beacon Occupational Health and Safety
Best Western Chena River Lodge
Best Western Landing Hotel & Restaurant
Bill McRoberts
Boeing Company
Burger King/Aurora Foods
C & R Pipe and Steel, Inc.
Cape Fox Corp.
Chena Kiwanis Club
CIRI
Coast Guard Enlisted Association
Cold Spot Feeds, Inc.
Credit Union 1
Davies-Barry Insurance
Delta Clearwater Moose Lodge #911
Denali State Bank
Design Alaska
Diamond Parking Service
Diversified Investments
DJ ATM
Doyon, Ltd.
Edison Chouest Offshore
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Fairbanks Kiwanis Club
Fairbanks Memorial Hospital
Fairbanks Northern Football Lions
Fairbanks Youth Sports Bingo
First Bank
Fish Whisperer Lodge
Fishing Vessel Ruslter
Flint Hills Resources
Foggy Mountain Shop
Food Factory & Jay Birds
Wingworld
Fraternal Order of Eagles #4207
Fred Meyer West
GBC, Inc.
Glow Putt Alaska
Great Alaskan Shirt Company
H & S Warehouse
Hilton Hotel Anchorage
Home Depot
Hot Licks Ice Cream
Howsers IGA Supermarket
Huna Heritage Foundation
IBEW Local 1547
Indian Valley Meats, Inc.
Information Insights
Juneau Bowling Center
Juneau Steamboat Company
K3 Radio
KATH-TV
Ketchikan Ready Mix & Quarry, Inc.
KMS Consulting Engineers, PC
Kohl’s
KTKN-Gateway
Lynden, Inc.
MAC Federal Credit Union
Madison Lumber & Hardware
Major Marine Tours
McDonald’s of Juneau
Midnight Sun Lions Club
Mike and Dawn Terminel
Mt. McKinley Bank
Mt. Roberts Tramway
MTA
NANA Development
NANA Management Services
Neeser Construction, Inc.
North Pole Moose Lodge #306
North Star Hospital
NorthStar Trekking
Outlaw Signs
Petro Marine Services
Pizzeria Roma
Power and Transmission Inc
R&M Consultants
Red Robin
Richards, Johnson & Granberry, PC
Rotary Club of Fairbanks
Russell, Wagg, Gabbert &
Budzinski, PC
Santina’s Flowers and Gifts
Schmolck Mechanical Contractors
Sound Aviation
Sourdough Fuel
Southeast Alaska Building
Industry Assoc. (SEBIA)
Stan Stephens Cruises
Subway of Juneau
Taquan Air
Temsco Helicopters
The Coast International Inn
Tongass Federal Credit Union
Totem Ocean Trailer Express, Inc.
Udelhoven Oilfield System
Uncle Joe’s Pizzeria
UPS
Usibelli Foundation
Wings of Alaska
Yukon Title Co.