I love writing this blog! It gives me a chance to reflect on how we can best help the vulnerable youth in our community. I hope to create messages that cause you to find passion in your heart that will move you to action, whether as a charitable donor of Big Brothers Big Sisters or a caring mentor. The Big Brothers Big Sisters mission culminates with the idea of changing the lives of children for the better, forever. And, really, it's more than just an idea, it’s our promise. When a parent, grandparent, school or even a juvenile judge brings a youth to Big Brothers Big Sisters, they do so knowing - not hoping, that we will help by matching them with a passionate, trained and professionally

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Detroit, a non-profit mentoring organization serving Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties, named eight new board members to three year terms on its board of directors: The new members are Keith Mobley, Director of Community Relations for AAA Michigan; Hope Landgraff, Wealth Adviser at Wells Fargo Private Bank; Dr. Marlene L. Garland Hill, CEO for Marlene L. Garland Hill Agency, Inc; Chris VanTol, President,VanTol & Vitelli Insurance Group; David McClelland, Executive Vice President of Marketing & Sales at Ford Motor Credit Company; Lois Bingham, Esq, Vice President, General Counsel, Secretary & Compliance Officer for Yazaki North America, Inc; Rob Mil

Although the sound of end of school year bells may still be ringing in our ears, the first day of school is just around the corner for many Metro Detroit students. BBBSMD is now accepting donations of new back to school supplies for children of all ages. Backpacks, Wide/College Rule Spirals, Pocket Folders, Wide/College Rule Paper, Crayons, Colored Pencils, Erasers, and Pencil Pouches are among the most needed supplies. Donations can be sent to or dropped off at our office Monday –Friday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Financial donations can be made online or by check, please write Back to School Supplies in the memo space.

We want to give a BIG thanks to Comcast and Nerium, our August Partners of the Month! Comcast is a longtime supporter of Big Brothers Big Sisters both financially and by providing mentors for a site-based program in Southfield. Now in the seventh year, the 20+ group of volunteers is already preparing for the new school year and new mentors are currently being interviewed. Thank you Comcast! We also want to thank Nerium for hosting their first Bowl for Kids' Sake this year. Nerium has been a national partners of Big Brothers Big Sisters for some time but this year local members came together to raise an incredible $20,854.00 for our Metro Detroit agency. We are grateful for this budding p