Big Brothers Big Sisters of Jackson County held their annual Mentor Appreciation Breakfast and Awards Ceremony January 28th at First United Methodist Church as they begin their 5oth year of service to Jackson County. This event is held during National Mentoring Month as a celebration of the investment of the community in the young people they serve.
Hosted by Tony Hollow, Executive Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Jackson County, awards were presented to mentors, volunteers and donors; many of whom brought their little brothers and sisters.
In celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of BBBS of Jackson County, Carolyn Bloodworth of Consumers Energy Foundation presented a $50,000 check.
“As Consumers Energy celebrates our 130th anniversary of calling Jackson our home, we are pleased to make this donation to an incredible community asset and we applaud your work in creating relationships that change lives for the better.” Bloodworth said.
Following a keynote address by John Willis, Neighborhood Outreach Coordinator for the City of Jackson, staff and board members distributed the awards:
Community-Based Big of the Year: Olivia Outhwaite
Site-Based Big of the Year: Lydia Perry
Jr. Advisor Awards: Moriah Bristow, Kamryn Barrett, Molly Nutt
Site-Based Big Brother of the Year: Conner Pelham
Jr. Advisor Award: Mason McClougham, Brett Haynes
New Big Sister of the Year Community-Based: Lori Frewen
New Big Brother of the Year Community-Based: Joshua Guy
New Big Sister of the Year Site-Based: Pam Maynard
New Big Brother of the Year Site-Based: Jordan Lawe
Mac Gwinn Consumers-Retiree Service Award: Kathy Alexander & Jack Decker
Media Advocate of the Year: JTV, Karen & Bart Hawley
Marketing Contributor of the Year: Tripp’s Auto Shop & Collision Center, Phil Tripp
Contributing Organization of the Year: First United Methodist Church, Judy Licking
Community Supporter of the Year: Cheryl Enger & Byron Crary
Educator of the Year: Matt Desmarais, Michigan Center High School
Educational Partner of the Year: Northeast Elementary, Jackson Public Schools
Dave Mulholland Social Media Communicator Award: Gary Swartzlander
Volunteer of the Year: Lynn Kenworthy
Event Supporter of the Year: Faruk Pilav
All Event Friend/Fundraiser: Sheets Family Dentistry, Dr. John Sheets
Activities Supporter of the Year: Rhonda Rudolph
Foundation of the Year Award: Consumers Energy Foundation, Carolyn Bloodworth
Big Sister of the Year (Community-Based): Dawn Gehlbach
Big Brother of the Year (Community-Based): Arthur Turner
Big Brother of the Year (Site-Based): Will Johnson
Big Sister of the Year (Site-Based): Sherry Kail
The next major event for the organization is Bowl for Kids’ Sake, March 10th at Airport Lanes. Openings remain for teams which consist of five bowlers. Volunteers are also appreciated. To sign up, call 517-784-7181 or visit bbbsjackson.org.
