When people need mentors in their life, young people who need the friendly steadiness of an older friend, Big Brothers-Big Sisters (BBBS) is one of the best ways to do it.
Golf is one of the favourite pastimes with a lot of Big-Little relationships, and golf was a joyous June fundraiser for Quesnel’s BBBS organization. Eighty-one golfers teed off at Quesnel Golf Course to Golf Fore Kids’ Sake. This 18-hole event raised the community’s spirits because it also raised more than $22,000 for the agency that pairs up kids with responsible adults.
“It was a beautiful day on the links,” said BBBS Quesnel executive director Joanie Newman, and she didn’t mean just the sunny weather.
The money will go to the many programs operated by the organization that brings youth into positive contact with adults who are there just for unconditional recreation, social times, and friendship. Some programs are in the form of weekly visits on an ongoing basis, while others involved group activities, peer mentorship, and more.
“We currently offer the following programs: Traditional Matches, In-School Mentoring, Go Girls, Game On, and Kids In Motion,” said Newman. “It has been a busy year at our agency for programming and fundraising events. The Teen In-School Mentoring Program just finished with 32 Correlieu high school students matched with students at Voyageur Elementary. The teen mentors provided a positive friendly relationship for the elementary youth for one hour per week for the school semester. Thank you mentors.”
After the shotgun start at 11 a.m., many prizes were handed out for all the course-work the golfers did. Jack Albrecht had the men’s longest drive; Christina Bara hit the long-ball for the ladies. Jason Butler and Kendra Petrie were the respective winners for closest to the pin. The putting award went to James Pedersen.
If there was a Happy Gilmour Award it would have gone to Nathan Proulx, for his unique blending of his hockey skills with golfers’ driving skills, with BBBS social skills. He set up a hockey net at the event, donned his goalie gear, and dared anyone to Score Fore Kids.
“Nathan Proulx is a young up-and-coming hockey player who is pursuing his dreams on ice,” said Newman, who was happy to have this net benefit at the golf course as an added element. “Last year he played Junior-A for the Rock Spring Prospectors in the USPHL (U.S. Premier Hockey League). Nate suited up in full goalie gear and golfers tried their best to get a golf ball in his net. No luck!”
It is fundraising like this, all year round, that allows BBBS to connect kids to mentors without having to charge their families.
The mentoring experience enables a life changing relationship by connecting young people in our community with supportive mentors. Mentored children and youth have the confidence they need to grow into whomever they dream of being and realize their full potential.
“We currently have nine matches,” said Newman. “One Big Brother/Little Brother match has been ongoing for seven years. We have 10 girls and seven boys on the wait-list. Our Big Bunch Program has 26 youth that attend the monthly group outings.”
If anyone is interested in becoming a mentor, please call caseworker Shawna Dumaine 250-992-7257.
Appreciated hole sponsors
Hole Sponsors were Ray Blackmore, Active Rent-All, Fraserview Pharmacy, Gary Lilienweiss Barrister and Solicitor, Nortech Forestry, Taseko/Gibraltar Mines,Cariboo Forest Consultants, Clauson Logging, RAM Repairs, City Furniture, JAR Transport, PMT Chartered Accountants, BCCWITT, Brodex Industries, Clayton’s Funeral Directors, Billy Barker Casino Hotel, Memory of Maggie Bello, Memory of Lorene Pulles, Aidan Pedersen.
Hole in One Sponsored by Fraser River GM and ACD Insurance – unfortunately no winner, but close a couple of times.
READ MORE: Be a bigger you with Big Brothers Big Sisters
READ MORE: Golf For Kids’ Sake raises over $14,500 for Quesnel Big Brothers Big Sisters
