Los Angeles, U.S.A. – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles (BBBSLA) will honor media titan Sumner M. Redstone at its Rising Stars Gala on October 26, 2012, at The Beverly Hilton Hotel. The evening recognizes individuals who are outstanding members of the Los Angeles community and inspiring and positive role models for young people.

Sumner M. Redstone, Executive Chairman of Viacom and CBS Corporation, will receive the Walt Disney Man of the Year Award. Mr. Redstone has been Chairman of the Board of National Amusements since 1986, and CEO of National Amusements since July 1967. He is a member of the Advisory Council for the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Foundation and is on the Board of Trustees for The Paley Center for Media. He also served as Chairman of the Board of the National Association of Theatre Owners, and is currently a member of its Executive Committee.

Before that, he was President of the Theatre Owners of America. Mr. Redstone was recently honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Mr. Redstone has devoted himself to a wide variety of civic and community affairs efforts, contributing over $130 million to worthy charities around the world over the last several years.

“Sumner Redstone is a true role model for civic involvement and commitment to philanthropy,” said Tiffany Siart, President and CEO of BBBSLA. ”We are extremely grateful to him for working with us to highlight the dramatic impact of BBBSLA on our youth, making it possible for them to achieve their dreams.”

Since 1955, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles has been the leader in providing children facing adversity, often those of single or low-income households with strong and enduring, professionally supported, one-to-one mentoring relationships with carefully screened adult volunteer mentors that change their lives for the better, forever. The results are clear — children in our programs improve in school, avoid risky and delinquent behaviors, and achieve higher self-esteem and aspirations. Philanthropedia, a GuideStar company, recently named BBBS as the #1 high impact national nonprofit organization serving at-risk youth. BBBSLA is committed to serving more children and changing more lives by partnering with those in the community. Learn how you can positively impact a child’s life by visiting www.BBBSLA.org.

Image Courtesy of  Featureflash / Shutterstock.com

The article Big Brothers Big Sisters to Honor Sumner Redstone appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Popular nationally syndicated radio host Michael Baisden has donated $10,000 to support Mentoring Brothers in Action, Big Brothers Big Sisters’ collaborative enterprise with the three largest historically black fraternities to change the odds for African American boys.

Baisden made the contribution before keynoting the Mentoring Brothers in Action summit in Atlanta, hosted by Big Brothers Big Sisters and its fraternity partners – Alpha Phi Alpha, Kappa Alpha Psi and Omega Psi Phi.  The summit brought fraternity leaders and mentoring and youth services professionals together with community and education experts to identify the most effective ways to recruit African American male mentors.

Children ready and waiting for mentors with Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies are disproportionately African American boys.  But only about 15 percent of the organization’s male mentors are African American.

Big Brothers Big Sisters presented Baisden with the “Mentoring Brothers in Action Michael Baisden Inspiration Award.”  The award will become an annual honor given to an individual who demonstrates the kind of consistent generosity and dedication to the Mentoring Brothers in Action mission, as exemplified by Baisden.

As a result of the summit, Mentoring Brothers in Action leaders will implement a 2012 strategic plan that includes, but is not limited to:

• A national template for fraternity-led barbershop recruiting drives
• A mentoring pilot program that matches fraternity member mentors with boys who are ready to be matched, simultaneously enrolling them in fraternity college prep enrichment group activities
• Establishing a national African American male mentor affinity model with local chapters linked to Big Brothers Big Sisters local agencies
• Establishing culturally relevant mentor recruitment opportunities that appeal to younger male prospective volunteers
• Produce a PSA challenging African American men to invest in Big Brothers Big Sisters as a volunteer or donor
• Hold Mentoring Brothers in Action partners accountable for engaging men in the partnership website – www.MentoringBrothers.org – with creative outreach, such as multi-topic webcasts that attract African American community-minded men

The summit came on the heels of the announcement of the Big Brothers Big Sisters 2011 Youth Outcomes Survey Report, which shows statistically significant improvements for youth throughout the first year of enrollment.  The improvements are in three outcome areas – educational success, avoidance of risky behaviors and socio-emotional competency.

Image Courtesy of   http://www.flickr.com/photos/youthradio/

The article Michael Baisden Donates $10,000 to Support Mentoring Brothers in Action appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

The Mentor Network, a national network of local human services providers, has launched a new website – www.makeadifferenceathome.com – and an online advertising campaign designed to increase awareness about the need for more Host Home providers.

Host Homes consist of individuals and families who provide caring homes in the community for children in need and adults with developmental disabilities.  In partnership with The Mentor Network, Host Home providers open their hearts and their homes and have the opportunity to earn extra money to help make ends meet.

“The Mentor Network is called a ‘network’ for a reason — it’s not just one person or group.  It’s a national network of people, in communities across the country, who are joined by the common belief that positive, nurturing relationships are the basis for growth and change and that these relationships are best fostered through active participation in the daily rhythms of neighborhood and family life,” said Dwight Robson, Chief Public Strategy & Marketing Officer at The Mentor Network.

Across the nation, there are more than 100,000 individuals with developmental disabilities who are waiting for access to community-based services.  In addition, there are more than 400,000 children in the foster care system.

“There are already thousands of individuals who have decided to make a difference at home, but the need for community-based care continues to grow,” Robson said.  “Through this campaign we hope to show people how rewarding this work can be and encourage them to consider how much of a difference they could make in the life of an adult or child in need.”

The new website is designed to help interested individuals learn more about being a foster parent or host home provider and includes videos, case studies and other interactive features.

“We refer to our host home providers and foster parents as ‘Mentors’ because they do so much more than just provide a home to an individual in need — they help them grow and learn, forever changing their lives,” Robson continued.  “Mentors make a huge difference to the life of an individual and they also earn extra money at home that can help make ends meet.”

Mentors are caring individuals from all walks of life who provide support for children with emotional, medical and behavioral challenges and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  Mentors help children and adults thrive as part of the community and positively impact their home life.

“When you take in and care for a foster child or an adult with developmental disabilities, you’re giving them something money can’t buy — a helping hand, a home, a family, and someone who wants to share a life with them.  As a Mentor, you show them through your actions that we all matter and we all deserve to live life to the fullest,” said Robson.

The article New Campaign to Recruit Caring Homes for Adults and Children in Need appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

The Tostitos brand recently announced plans to kick off the college football bowl game season by hosting one of the most exciting social occasions of 2011 – the “Tostitos Fiesta in the Square.” This one-of-a-kind football-themed “party with a purpose” will benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters and take place in the heart of New York City from 1:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET on Dec. 16, 2011.

The celebration will convert the Times Square Military Island into a regulation-size college football end zone where fans will help the Tostitos brand set a new Guinness World Records title for the most people to kick successful American football field goals in six hours. As part of the event, the Tostitos brand will donate $100,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters.

If a new Guinness World Records title is set, the Tostitos brand will double that amount for a total donation of $200,000. Highlights from the event will be shared during the nationwide broadcast of the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl on ESPN on January 2, 2012. Tostitos, a flagship brand of PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay division, has sponsored the Fiesta Bowl for the past 17 years.

Former college and pro football greats, including Jim Kelly, Rodney Peete, Antonio Pierce, Martin and Bill Gramatica, and Eddie George, will be on hand to offer tips and coach fans as they take turns attempting successful field goal kicks.

Joining the players will be multi-platinum recording artist, television personality and Big Brother Nick Lachey, who will serve as the official host for the Tostitos Fiesta in the Square, rallying fans throughout New York City and beyond to join the fun and contribute to the World-Record cause.

Also in attendance will be “Bigs” and “Littles” from the Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City who will join the celebration and have their shot at contributing to the potentially record-setting achievement. ”The Tostitos brand believes in being social and making any occasion a party, and this time we’re partying for a purpose by partnering with an organization that shares our passion for bringing people together,” said Justin Lambeth, vice president, marketing, Tostitos.

“Through the Tostitos Fiesta in the Square, we are celebrating mentorship and showcasing the link between great social skills and successful mentoring relationships with the hope that many of the participants will be moved to get involved with Big Brother Big Sisters.” During the Tostitos Fiesta in the Square, attendees can celebrate with one another, play interactive football-themed games together and enjoy Tostitos tortilla chips and other delicious snacks.

Fans across the country who are unable to join the party in Times Square can also be a part of the action and make donations to Big Brothers Big Sisters by visiting www.facebook.com/tostitos or www.bbbs.org/tostitos between Dec. 16, 2011 and Jan. 1, 2012. The Tostitos brand will match consumer donations made from Dec. 16, 2011 through Jan. 1, 2012, up to a maximum of $25,000.

The complete list of participating football greats includes:

• Jim Kelly – Inducted into the University of Miami Hall of Fame in 1992. Kelly led the Buffalo Bills to four consecutive Super Bowls from 1990-1993, and in his first year of eligibility (2002), was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

• Rodney Peete – First player ever from University of Southern California to win the Johnny Unitas Award as the nation’s best senior quarterback. He played in the NFL for 16 years with six different teams.

• Antonio Pierce – As a standout linebacker, Pierce played college football for the University of Arizona. During his nine-year NFL career, Pierce played in 137 regular-season games and seven playoff games. In 2007, he led the New York Giants’ defense as part of an upset win over the undefeated New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. He currently serves as an analyst with ESPN.

• Eddie George – George was awarded a Heisman Trophy at Ohio State University in 1995 and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2011. He played in the NFL for the Tennessee Titans and spent his final season with the Dallas Cowboys.

• Bill and Martin Gramatica – These two standout sibling kickers have been members of several NFL teams. Martin played at Kansas State, where he set the single-season school record with 135 points, earning him the nickname “Automatica.” Bill played for Florida State University and the University of South Florida. During his NFL career, he made 37 of 48 field goal attempts and 60 of 61 extra point attempts.

The Tostitos brand has been a longtime supporter of college football, including 17 years as the title sponsor of the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. The Tostitos Fiesta in the Square event builds upon a long-standing partnership between PepsiCo and its Frito-Lay division and Big Brothers Big Sisters. Since 2005, PepsiCo has contributed more than $500,000 to support Big Brothers Big Sisters by sponsoring dozens of local “Bowl for Kids’ Sake” fundraising events in Dallas and other cities across the country, including Chicago,Houston, Los Angeles and New York.

“We are excited to build our relationship with PepsiCo and its Frito-Lay division through the Tostitos brand and this unique fundraising party in New York City,” said John Avondolio, Big Brothers Big Sisters Vice President of Marketing & Communications. “The Fiesta in Times Square event will be a fun and meaningful experience for our mentoring matches and families.

It will also help to raise critical funds that support our programs and provide more children with long-term, quality mentoring relationships that help them achieve educational success, avoid risky behaviors and have greater confidence and improved relationships.”

Image Courtesy of   https://www.facebook.com/BigBrothersBigSisters

The article Tostitos in Times Square, A Benefit for ‘Big Brothers Big Sisters’ appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.