(San Rafael, CA) June 25, 2010 – Last Friday, June 18th, Marin County Realtors met on the field at McInnis Park for their third annual Kickball Showdown. It was a tough battle, with the commercial agents playing the residential team, and after 7 innings in the blazing sun, the game ended in a tie, with neither team able to claim victory. In the end though, both teams considered themselves winners as together they raised over $6,000 for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the North Bay.
The Marin County Realtors Kickball Showdown is in its third year. It’s a day for the realtors to get together, enjoy a competitive game of kickball and raise funds in support of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the North Bay. “It was supposed to be our year to win”, said Scott Gerber, team leader for the commercial agents and president of Norcal Investment Real Estate. “But we all had a lot of fun and it was for a great cause.” The residential team was led by Craig Silvestri of Alain Pinel Realtors. Major sponsors of the event included US Bank, Blair Jarcik Insurance Agency, First Federal Saving and Loan – Larry Miller, Luther Burbank Savings, Alain Pinel Realtors, OREXCO 1031 Exchange, NorCal Investment Real Estate and California Bay Nurseries.
“We are so grateful to the Marin County Realtors for their generous donation and for finding such a creative and fun way to raise funds,” stated Edward Kaufman, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the North Bay’s Executive Director. “The proceeds will be used to train volunteers to mentor vulnerable children in our community.”
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San Rafael, CA March 29, 2010 – Mary Sackett of San Rafael, 2009 Big Brothers Big Sisters North Bay Sister of the Year, was named 2010 Big Sister of the Year by the California State Association of Big Brothers Big Sisters Agencies.
Mary was chosen as the California Big Sister of the Year based on her amazing dedication to her Little Sister, Stephanie, and the impact she has had on her life. Mary and Stephanie have been together for a little over three years. Throughout this time, they have both gone through many personal challenges, but have managed to hold onto, and even deepen the close, consistent and special bond they have with each other.
Little Sister, Stephanie is one of five children being raised solely by her mother, Tara, who struggles daily to take care of them. They live in and out of a motel that offers shelter and services to homeless families where they share one bedroom and one bathroom for all six. As they are only allowed to stay six months at a time, Stephanie is constantly moving between shelters and motels around Marin. Despite the constant moves, Mary stays connected to Stephanie, even though that sometimes means having to track down her newest address.
“I don’t know how to find the words that it would take to describe my gratitude to Mary,” stated Tara, mother of Little Sister, Stephanie. “Mary came into our lives 3 years ago and Stephanie’s life has never been the same. No matter how many times we are forced to move, Mary always finds us. She is always there for Stephanie, without fail.”
Tina Faulkner of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the North Bay interviews Tyler Fields of Autodesk, major corporate sponsor for Bowl for Kids Sake. Tyler talks about his experience as a Big Brother & encourages Autodesk employees to get involved & support the upcoming event. Click www.bfks.org for more info.
Click here to view the YouTube video.
Kim Vogee, owner of Marin Orthodontics who is also an equestrian photographer and Novato horsewoman, handcrafted a peacock sculpture to be auctioned at the March 21 fundraiser to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Vogee is among 60 local artists who donated their talent, converting ordinary bowling pins into works of art.
“Kim Vogee, like all of our other artists, has found a way to turn creativity and passion into works of art that will help Big Brothers Big Sisters reach our goals to serve more youth in the North Bay,” explained Executive Director Edward Kaufman.
All the pins are available for bid on the online auction site, www.bfks.org. Proceeds go directly to Big Brothers Big Sisters of the North Bay’s mentoring programs and are part of the 27th annual Bowl for Kids’ Sake to benefit vulnerable children. The event will be held at Double Decker Lanes in Rohnert Park on March 21 and at Country Club Bowl in San Rafael on March 27-28.
“I’m really a photographer, not a sculptor.” Vogee explained, “but the moment I saw the pin I knew what I wanted to do with it. Every morning I wake up to beautiful peacocks lining the rail on my patio. As I held the pin in my hands, I could see the shape taking form.”
Vogee comes from a long line of photographers. Her grandfather, Miller Reese Hutchison II, held the first patent on the Brownie camera. As a child she took hundreds of pictures during summer vacations spent on Nantucket with her grandparents. Vogee’s photographs have been published in “Horses in Art” magazine, “Saddle & Bridle” magazine, “Cowboys and Indians” magazine, “Horse Connection” and other publications.
FAIRFIELD, California (February 23, 2010) - Big Brothers Big Sisters of the North Bay is ready to help the service members of Travis Air Force Base. We have been helping youth succeed in Solano County for over three years. Now Big Brothers Big Sisters would like to extend a hand to Families of Deployed Parents.
Big Brothers Big Sisters is a one-to-one mentoring agency. One-to-one mentoring is a proven means of empowering youth. Matching responsible adults with youth creates lasting friendships and a sense of future for the community. Nationally, the agency has been bringing magic into the lives of youth since1904, and the program works. Kids matched with a Big Brother or Big Sister are far less likely than their peers to get arrested, get pregnant, use drugs, or drop out of school. In fact, they are twice as likely to receive a 4 year college degree.
We ask for one hour a week for one year from our adult volunteers. This is a chance for the youth to get out and have some fun. That is the mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters. The relationships are based upon mutual interests, so the matches are always fun.
Families of Deployed Parents have become a focal point for our agency in Solano County. “The sacrifices our service people make are recognized by many caring individuals and organizations within the community. Help is almost expected,” stated Paula Howells, Program Manager. “Big Brothers Big Sisters would like to let the Families of Deployed Parents know that our free services are here and we are ready to help. We are delighted to help our service people in any way possible.”
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Well-known Marin photographer donates talent to Big Brothers Big Sisters of the North Bay
San Rafael, CA Feb. 7 - Kim Vogee, an equestrian photographer and Novato horsewoman, found a way to give back to her community – and the inspiration came from a bowling pin and the feral peacocks that roam the area near her horse ranch. After the breeding season is over by early summer, the peacocks shed their feathers and from Vogee’s collection of feathers she painstakingly cut each feather, and layered them on to the pin. The end result was a magnificent replica of a peacock that will be auctioned off to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters annual Bowling for Kids’ Sake fundraiser. “I’m really a photographer, not a sculptor, but the moment I saw the pin I knew what I wanted to do with it. Every morning I wake up to these beautiful birds lining the rail on my patio and I as I held the pin in my hands I could see the shape taking form.”
Barbara Lawrence, well-known landscape artist and Marin county native, found a way to give back to her community – and the inspiration came from a bowling pin. Reminiscent of the deep fall colors used in her award winning landscape oil paintings, Lawrence sculpted the bowling pin into a soulful eyed golden retriever puppy that will be auctioned off to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters annual Bowling for Kids’ Sake fundraiser. “I’ve always wanted to sculpt and I love animals,” stated Lawrence. “I had no idea what I was going to do with the pin and it just took shape. I think of art as alchemy: taking bits and pieces of material and creating something of value.”
Lawrence is among 60 local artists that have donated their talent, converting ordinary bowling pins into works of art. All the pins are available for bid on the online auction site www.bfks.org. Proceeds go directly to Big Brothers Big Sisters of the North Bay’s mentoring programs and are part of the 27th annual Bowl for Kids’ Sake to benefit vulnerable children in the North Bay. In addition to the auction, you can sponsor bowling teams or even join or start your own bowling team. The event will be held at Double Decker Lanes in Rohnert Park on March 21, 2010 and at Country Club Bowl in San Rafael on March 27 and 28, 2010.
Marin Independent Journal
February 3, 2010
Local artists have creatively morphed 60 bowling pins into art - including a peacock and a penguin - which will be auctioned online for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the North Bay's 25th annual Bowl for Kids' Sake campaign. Pins of Marin, now in its fourth year, is part of the nonprofit organization's effort to raise $150,000 this year for its mentoring program.
The auction ends April 1. For information, call Jill Rodby at 847-6768 and to bid on the pins, visit www.bfks.org.
By Paul Jones
January 13, 2010
The 17th annual Heart of Marin Awards ceremony Jan. 7 drew over 750 people to the Marin Center Exhibition Hall in San Rafael to honor local volunteers and nonprofits for exceptional accomplishments in seven categories. Over 200 nonprofits and businesses were represented at the event, organized by the Center for Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership and founding sponsor Tamalpais Bank.
The event was opened by Mark Garwood, president and CEO of Tamalpais Bank.
“This is an event that celebrates the accomplishments, often against great odds, of individuals and organizations who share a common goal: to do good deeds for those who are less fortunate, who are in need, and for whom the support is often life-sustaining,” Garwood said. “The fact that this room is once again sold out is a testament to the strength and resolve of the people of Marin County and their collective commitment to community.”
Linda Davis, CEO of the Center for Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership, said that with the ongoing recession, charity and volunteerism were more important than ever. Throughout 2009, she said, “The need for our services, such as food, mental health, domestic violence counseling, homeless shelters, in-home care and medical needs were increasing at a pretty steady pace.”
Davis said volunteers benefit from their work as much as the recipients of their aid.
“When things are tough, give of yourself, volunteer. Because as tough as things are for us, they are always worse for somebody else.”
(San Rafael, CA) Jan. 11, 2010
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the North Bay was honored with two of the seven awards at the 17th Annual Hearts of Marin Luncheon. Both the Executive Director and volunteers were recognized for their outstanding work, passion and commitment to making Marin a better place to live and work.
Edward Kaufman, Executive Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the North Bay, received the Excellence in Leadership Award sponsored by the Marin Community Foundation, presented to an executive director who has demonstrated excellence and innovation within their organization and community. Kaufman was nominated by his board of directors for his innovative leadership that enabled Big Brothers Big Sisters of the North Bay to initiate new programs, serve more North Bay children and secure funding in a tight economic era. “Within the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization, the North Bay agency is viewed as a leader and innovator,” said Deborah Kemper, board president. “Eddie’s leadership has helped define the course of direction for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the North Bay and helped us serve an increasing number of the youth in our community, primarily from single, low-income and or incarcerated parents.”