Big Night Out is dinner / dance / silent auction with local band Ferguson Drive as entertainment
By Mark
Schadenberg
Among the long list of
items in my background is coaching minor sports, and in that arena I
have always believed in the importance of providing 'positive
motivation.'
Kids of all ages need
reasons to smile. Children need to grow up with guidance, which is
genuine, honest and authentic.
One organization
assisting youth who require mentoring is the Big Brothers / Big
Sisters (BBBS) association – both through on-staff trained case
worker and by creating a match (parent-like figure) with a community
volunteer.
I'm not going to
pretend I know a lot about the compassion and knowledge possessed by
social workers, but the BBBS locally do a terrific job of helping
families who require an additional adult friend for a child –
whether it be for walks and talks, chess or checkers, mini golf or
fishing, knitting or painting – or any one-on-one adult-to-child
time.
The BBBS, therefore, is
a great cause to support and the group has many fundraising efforts
around the calendar to attract much-needed dollars to continue their
on-going programs. Events include euchre tournaments, trivia nights,
a car show, the renowned Bowl For Kids Sake benefit, and the
always-popular Tastings evening. Scroll through their website under
'Events' and you will see an impressive list of charity events they
organize to keep their programs not just functioning, but expanding
to meet a growing need.
One event matched and
non-matched BBBS children can attend annually is a Christmas dinner
organized by the Lions Club of Woodstock.
BIG NIGHT OUT
The next major
fundraiser on the BBBS schedule is the charity ball called Big Night
Out and it's on Saturday, Nov. 7, 6 p.m. at the Oxford Auditorium at
the Woodstock fairgrounds on Nellis Street. Dinner is at 7 p.m. and
the night's entertainment is the local band Ferguson Drive, which
plays a wide array of party music from rock to classic rock to retro
dance to whatever is requested and if Mike Gibbons knows how to play
it on a sax.
Tickets are $50 and can
be bought at the BBBS office at 787 Dundas Street, or at Merrifield
Book Shop in Downtown Woodstock or either local Scotiabank branch.
The Big Night Out would not be a big night out without a fun silent
auction table.
(Note: I think it's
important to promote this event, but I can not attend this year as
I'm attending a nephew's buck-and-doe in Guelph that night.)
Event Sponsors
More on BBBS
Big Brother Big Sisters
has been in existence for decades and is best-known for having a case
worker from the association match adult volunteers with a youth member of the community.
The adult can certainly be a retired person, which could create more
of a grand-parent relationship, but solid advice, guidance,
assistance, mentoring, counsel and of course friendship can be
provided to the child/client.
By the way, I do not
have access to the BBBS checklist for an ideal volunteer, but if you
have a few hours to spare each week, consider calling them at 519
537-6404 for an appointment or to just to ask a few questions.
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From
www.bbbswoodstock.ca:
Why Be a Mentor?
For
just a few hours a couple of times a month, you can help a child
succeed. Big Brothers Big Sisters is different from other mentoring
organizations in that we seek volunteers who are committed and
consistent, willing to serve at least a year, but we hope until a
child graduates high school. Studies show that by doing so, our
mentoring services help kids stay in school, avoid risky behaviour,
and experience first-hand the importance of helping others in their
community.
Professional
staff is there to work with you, the child and the family throughout
the course of the mentoring relationship to provide necessary
training and support. Funding allows us to carefully make and support
more matches. Sometimes, the supply of volunteers and kids is greater
than the necessary agency funding. We are grateful for your
willingness to be involved and while it is certainly not a
requirement, we welcome you to also become a donor - as you
volunteer or wait to be matched.
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LINKS:
All BLOGS On This Site Written By:
Mark
Schadenberg, Sales Representative
Senior
Real Estate Specialist (SRES designation)
Royal
LePage Triland Realty Brokerage
757
Dundas St, Woodstock
(519)
537-1553, cell or text
Email:
mschadenberg@rogers.com
Twitter:
markroyallepage
Facebook:
Mark Schadenberg, Royal LePage Triland
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