Mt. Vernon Register-News

Local

June 6, 2008

Miners partner with mentoring program

By KANDACE MCCOY

kandace.mccoy@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — The Southern Illinois Miners are lining up to bat in a big way. The minor league baseball organization in partnership with Rent One, has announced it has selected Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Illinois as its 2008 charitable organization.

This announcement means the Minors will donate net profits from opening week events, hold special player and mascot appearances throughout the season and also provide special recognition during some home games, among others. BBBS will be presented with a check for the net proceeds on June 13 at Rent One Park on behalf of Rent One and the Southern Illinois Miners.

BBBS of South Central Illinois is a not-for-profit mentoring organization in Southern Illinois that matches children in the communities of Jefferson, Franklin and Williamson counties, with caring adult role model in one-to-one relationships. The organization depends on the United Way, grant monies, matching tax dollars and fundraising projects to sustain it, and the Rent One/Southern Illinois Miners contribution is “a major factor in growing” the organization, according to Chris King, program coordinator.

“With the Miners in our corner we will hopefully be able to not only provide our kids with fun experiences all summer, but heighten our community awareness, and increase our operating funds,” states Chris King, Program Coordinator.

King credits BBBS board member Mark Williams, Vice President of Marketing in the Rent One organization and Erik Haag, Executive Vice President of the Southern Illinois Miners, for the recognition.

“We are extremely happy to be the recipient of this special recognition,” states King. “We feel we have a partnership with both Rent One and Southern Illinois Miners that will continue well into the future. This recognition as well as the financial contribution, will be a real asset to the children we serve.”

King stresses that mentors do make a difference in the lives of their mentees. The Program Outcome Evaluations, as well as monthly telephone supervision indicates that the adult mentors report an increase in self-confidence, ability to express feelings and make decisions, and an increase in their sense of future, information states.

According to BBBS Prevention Specialist Tisha Graf, there are currently 16 Jefferson County children on a waiting list for a mentor, of which seven are boys and nine are girls.

Of the 16 children, seven fall into the CHAMPS program, a federally funded program for children ages 4 to 15 who have one or both parents in state or federal prison.

In conjunction with the announcement, King and Graf were on hand Thursday morning as Mt. Vernon Mayor Mary Jane Chesley signed a proclamation making June 13 Big Brothers Big Sisters Day. King added that mayors from the tri-county service area will be given tickets to that day’s recognition game, and will be sharing a banquet room at Rent One Park with Jesse White and his Tumblers.

For more information on how you can become involved in the program, please phone 997-5336, ext. 6430.

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