Big Brothers Big Sisters seek matches to challenge grant
Marion County residents and all Kansans have an opportunity to see a gift to Big Brothers Big Sisters' Big Ambition Capital Campaign truly make a difference in the life of a child.
Every contribution to the Big Ambition Campaign will help the organization access a $750,000 challenge grant, issued recently by the J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation of Tulsa, Okla.
The campaign, which began in April, has a goal of increasing the number of Kansas children who are matched with a Big Brother or Big Sister to 10,000 by year-end 2004. To support this initiative, Big Brothers Big Sisters is seeking to raise $7.2 million in funds by October 2003.
Different from a conventional grant, a challenge grant only will be paid once the organization has raised all other funds for a campaign. Therefore, to receive $750,000 from the Mabee Foundation, the campaign must generate the first $6,450,000 of the $7.2 million.
Gifts generated by the Big Ambition Capital Campaign will be used to support five major areas: the growth of Big Brothers Big Sisters programs, technological updates and training equipment for staff and volunteers, the statewide expansion of Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters, a sustaining fund for the organization, and the purchase and renovation of Big Brothers Big Sisters' new headquarters, located at the corner of Second and Broadway in Wichita.
So far, the campaign has raised $5 million. Initial support from companies such as Boeing, Koch Industries Inc., and SBC Southwestern Bell, as well as many private donations, have helped to generate the funds.
