Big Brothers Big Sisters ribbon cutting at Tahoe Mountain Lab

Big Brothers Big Sisters of El Dorado County (BBBS) has served at-risk children since 1977, primarily on the Western Slope. On October 15, 2015, BBBS will be hosting a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony to announce the expansion of their programs into South Lake Tahoe.

The ceremony will take place from 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. at Tahoe Mountain Lab located at 1048 Ski Run Blvd. The owners of Tahoe Mountain Lab, David and Jamie Orr, have generously donated the space to BBBS for meeting purposes. David was previously a “Little” and considers this an opportunity to “give back” to his community.

“We are excited to expand our programs to South Lake Tahoe. We know there are almost 10,000 vulnerable children in El Dorado County and our goal is to provide services to as many as possible” said Brenda Frachiseur, BBBS Executive Director. “BBBS will be offering several “site-based” programs in South Lake Tahoe.”

The BBBS Start Early Program will be working in conjunction with El Dorado County Office of Educations’ (EDCOE) Head Start program and the El Dorado County Health and Human Services for the purpose of providing mentors for children as young as 3 to 5 years old. Mentors will be trained to detect the early signs of mental illness and will help children learn through play. The goal is to teach the children to use skills to increase their social and emotional development and academic performance.

BBBS will also provide mentors for children 6-18 through their School and the Beyond School Walls programs. Bigs and Littles meet one-to-one on the playground, in the classroom, school library, school computer room, and neighborhood computer center or at the mentors’ workplace. Bigs and Littles typically read together, play sports or computer games, or simply talk about life. They form strong, long-lasting relationships that positively impact them for a lifetime.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of El Dorado County help the children and families who are most in need, including those, but not limited to, living in single parent homes, growing up in poverty and coping with parental incarceration. Professionally screened adult volunteers “Bigs” are carefully matched with children “Littles."

If you might be interested in becoming a “Big” or know a child who might benefit, or would like more information about the South Lake Tahoe programs, contact Todd White at the BBBS office: 530.626.1222 or Todd@bbbs-edc.org.

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