With summer winding down, Big Brothers Big Sisters will host two of its biggest events.
MANITOWOC - With summer winding down, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Manitowoc is looking forward to hosting two of the organization's biggest events.
Aug. 6, a fish derby sponsored by the Northeastern Wisconsin Great Lakes Sport Fishermen will take more than 50 of the program's kids out on the waters of Lake Michigan to learn to fish. Several days later, the 19th Annual Golf Fore Kids fundraiser Aug. 9 will provide major funding for one of the largest nonprofits in Manitowoc.
A day-long event hosted by Fox Hills Resort, the Golf Fore Kids fundraiser begins with a luncheon and then kicks off the golf games at noon. After the golf games, the resort hosts a cocktail hour, dinner and auctions, before announcing prizes.
This year, golfers will have a choice between two separate courses because of the amount of interest. Around 200 golfers participate each year, and with weeks of registration still left, there are already 30 foursomes signed up.
The day is one of the biggest events of the year, providing almost a quarter of the organization's funding. Foursomes can pay $600 for entry, or individuals can register for $150. Sponsorships that range from $200 to $2,500 are also available for individuals and organizations who want to support the organization. These funds go entirely toward supporting programming for the children involved in Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Currently, 77 children in Manitowoc have been matched with a "Big," a mentor who spends time with them each week to provide a positive influence and role model. These children need a Big for a variety of reasons, often coming from single-parent homes or struggling to fit in and succeed in school.
Each week, a Big meets their Little at school or picks them up at home. The minimum requirement for each mentor is to spend an hour a week with their child, but most go above and beyond. Bigs and Littles bond over everything from ice cream cones and baseball games, going to movies and taking fishing trips together on the weekend. Many of the adults who enter the program to become mentors were previously Littles themselves, and are now inspired to create the same impact in another child's life.
With a variety of mentors ranging from age 16 to 60, Big Brothers Big Sisters is able to pair each child with a Big who fits their personality, interests and needs. Yet, the program's popularity means ]there are still around 30 children on the wait list for their own mentor. However, the 100 kids registered with the organization — matched and unmatched — are invited to participate in special programming each month.
These types of events are supported by fundraising efforts such as the Golf Fore Kids fundraiser and take on all forms. In August, the monthly event will be an annual fishing derby hosted by the NEWGLSF, one of the most popular events of each year. For a morning, captains of charter boats take the children and their mentors or parents out and teach them how to fish, ending with a picnic at Seagull Marina.
The past few years haven't recorded the best fishing, according to the captains, but ask any of the kids aboard and they won't have a clue. Each boat brings back several fish, and last year, the smallest girl of the group brought in a massive fish that she struggled to hold onto.
Both the fishing derby and the golf tournament are two of the highlights each year for Big Brothers Big Sisters Manitowoc. And for Linville and her staff, the week provides some of the highest level of support of the year for their organization.