By battlefordsNOW

Big Brothers Big Sisters wins community airtime award

Oct 3, 2017 | 12:00 PM

It’s been an exciting few weeks for the Battlefords branch of Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS). On Sept. 18 the City of North Battleford declared Big Brothers Big Sisters Day; then later that day program coordinator Renee Sperling received a telephone call telling her they were the recipient of the Q98/CJNS-CJNB/93.3 The Rock Community Airtime Award.

“I think my expression was no freakin’ way,” Sperling quipped. “We didn’t expect it but we are certainly thankful for the airtime award.”

The award is a $100,000 airtime package presented to a non-profit group that meets selection committee criteria.

“It’s been an amazing transformation over the past few years,” said Sperling. “We have grown in our matches, in the programs we offer and in just the last month our list of youth waiting to be matched has doubled.”

Just a few short years ago the Battlefords branch of BBBS was in jeopardy. Programs were scrapped, volunteers were at an all-time low and there was a real fear in the community that the organization would dissolve according to Sperling.

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“There has been a lot of hard work on everyone’s part,” Sperling added. “We are seeing the results now as the community recognizes we are an entity in the Battlefords once again.”

However with the recent success of BBBS, comes the added pressure of matching young people to adults in the area; especially men.

“Traditionally we have always had a longer wait list for little brothers not only here in the Battlefords area but across Canada as well,” said Sperling. “So we need men in our area to come forward and be a mentor to a young boy.”

Sperling added that she feels the recent influx of youth to BBBS means that the organizations message is getting out in the community.

“Youth are basically coming into our office with their families saying I want someone who can hang out with and spend time with,” she added. “So the need is out there, we just need to find the right matches for these children.”

For more information on how you can become a Big Brother or Big Sister click here.

roger.white@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @RJWtheReporter