Big Brothers Big Sisters of Brown County is launching a new fundraiser called “Keep the Change” in partnership with Brown County banks: Citizens National Bank, First National Bank of Baird, and Mills County State Bank. Throughout the month of March customers who cash or deposit checks at these banks can decide to donate the change on that check to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Brown County. Tellers will collect the change and at the end of the month the funds collected will be given to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Brown County.

Big Brothers Big Sisters director Shane Blackshear says “It means a lot that these banks have stepped up to support the children of Brown County, it speaks volumes about their devotion to support the community. I’m confident that the bank customers of Brown County will also respond with support.”

All money raised will stay in Brown County to fund the cost of matching children with safe and caring mentors. The cost of matching a child with a mentor is $1,000 and an additional $500 each year to sustain that match. The safety of the children in the BBBS program is the primary concern, the donations help cover the costs of background checks and insurance, while ensuring trained professionals match children to caring and responsible Big Brothers and Big Sisters. Training is essential to success and safety of mentoring relationships, donations recieved will help provide instructors and instructional materials during professional training sessions provided for each volunteer matched to children in the program. The well being of all of the Bigs, Littles and families involved in the program is critical to the success of the program, and donations allow BBBS to professionally screen, interview, match and monitor the children and their mentors in the program.

Currently Big Brother Big Sisters of Brown County has 53 matches and a goal of 40 new matches for 2010. No matter how much an individual gives, the contribution will improve the lives of young people in Brown County. The donation will help them meet the challenges of growing up into happy, confident young adults.