Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

A total of $16,711 in funding to support mentoring in McKean County was raised by bowlers and local businesses during the 2011 Bowl for Kids’ Sake event, held April 2, 2011 at Byllye Lanes in Bradford. 181 people bowled during the event, which is held annually to raise funds for Big Brothers Big Sisters of McKean County. Funds are used to support local matched pairs, children waiting to be matched, and for program promotion and development. Many ‘veteran’ teams returned to bowl in support of the program and there were also many new teams who came to the event to raise money for a good cause. Children and Youth Services of McKean County brought eight teams consisting of staff, youth, and participants in the Independent Living Program. The group was led by Breanne Abbott, Independent Living supervisor, and assisted by members of Alpha Phi Omega, a service fraternity from the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. Participants donned bright orange T-shirts, and showed off their team s...

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Casey announced today that $453,713 in federal funding has been awarded by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to the Guidance Center, part of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, in Bradford. This grant will allow local communities to expand mentoring and support services for youth foster care programs. “Children in foster care too often lack a stable support system,” Senator Casey said. “This funding will allow the Guidance Center to provide additional mentors and volunteer programs so that foster children can go through their daily lives knowing that someone is there for them.” This funding was awarded by the DOJ Mentoring Initiatives for Foster Care Youth Program. It will assist the Guidance Center to provide quality supportive mentoring services and to recruit volunteers within the children’s existing social networks. This will reduce juvenile delinquency, boost school attendance and performance, enhance familial relationships and prevent substance ab...