“Meagan and I had personalities that immediately clicked. After answering questions and getting to know each other a little better, I knew we were about to embark on a friendship that would last years.”

That’s how Jennifer Binnion talks about the first time she met her Little Sister Meagan Bunck. They say they’re the perfect match – thanks to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Houston.

“The first time we met, it was really cool,” Meagan now says about Jennifer. “She was exactly like me. It's like they made the perfect match. I didn't even think it was possible.”

Meagan’s mother Mary Catherine, came to BBBS for a little help for her family. "We were going through a really trying time in our lives, and I thought it would be fun for her to have someone who's a listener, someone for her to bond with who's ‘outside the circle.’ The mantle of motherhood is so heavy, it's nice to have someone else to take up even a little of the slack.”

At first, both Jennifer and Meagan were kind of shy around each other. For the first couple of their outings, they didn’t talk much. But that soon changed. Now, they can’t stop talking, and between visits, often call each other on the phone to chat. It’s a bond that wouldn’t have been formed, without BBBS.

“We're so alike. We think the same way, we're both really girly and happy, and we're just the same and we're able to relate to each other,” says Meagan.  

Mary Catherine says she knows the match has changed Meagan, because Meagan saw the change in herself. “She told me just last week, that one of things she feels more comfortable with now is communicating to adults, and standing up for herself. Personal situations that she used to find overwhelming because she didn't have the skills to cope with, or the maturity, or the know-how, she has now learned those things. Jenny is part of that. You have to consider the source - Bigs sometimes make better impressions than mothers!”

“It makes me feel great to have an impact in Meagan's life,” says Jennifer. “She has had a huge impact on my life and I believe has helped me just as much as I have her. When we meet it is an escape to me. I don't worry about my stressful work or personal life, I just think of having fun with her. It makes me feel good inside to know that I have become a friend and Big Sister to Meagan.”

Back to top

2007 “Magic of Mentoring” Gala Honors Big Brother and Board Member Jim Metcalf

He was named “Big Brother of the Year” for the state of Texas in 2006, and this year he has been named Best Mentor of the Year by Governor Rick Perry’s OneStar Foundation. On March 31st, Jim Metcalf will add another title to this impressive list: Honoree of the Big Brothers Big Sisters’ 2007 “Magic of Mentoring” Gala.

Jim’s involvement with BBBS began 10 years ago, when he became a Big Brother to Shaun Finley. Shaun soon became a big part of Jim’s family, and their relationship continues to this day, as Shaun prepares to enter college. Not only has their mentoring relationship helped Shaun, it also serves as a perfect example of the power of the match.

Jim was so dedicated to the BBBS mentoring program that he began the “Swing for Kids’ Sake” Golf Tournament nine years ago as a fundraiser for the agency. Today, it has grown into one of the agency’s most successful fundraisers, and has brought support from many companies in the oil and gas services industry. Each year, the daylong tournament draws more foursomes of industry leaders and decision makers who have learned that BBBS is a worthy cause for investment.

The “Magic of Mentoring” Gala will be held Saturday, March 31st at the JW Marriott Hotel, located on Westheimer across from the Galleria. The evening will feature entertainment by Collector’s Item Band, gaming tables by Monte Carlo Plus, a martini bar sponsored by Grey Goose, live and silent auctions and much more.

Several businesses have signed on to become sponsors of this event, including BMC Software, Bristow Group, Inc., Capital One, Gardere Wynne Sewell, LLP, H-E-B, The John P. McGovern Foundation, Merrill Lynch, Newfield Foundation, Southern States Offshore, Swift Energy, UPS, Waste Management and others. Corporate and individual sponsorship opportunities are still available. For more information, please contact Amanda Smith, Events Supervisor, at (713) 860-8204 or amsmith@bbbshouston.org

BBBS is pleased to welcome KPRC Local 2 anchor Rachel McNeill as the host of our June golf tournaent now called, "Rachel McNeill's 'Fore!' the Kids Golf Tournament!" Rachel is taking over the annual event from KPRC’s Khambrel Marshall, who hosted it for the past several years.

What is an easy way for companies to raise morale in workers, help employees work better as a team, and show they’re good corporate citizens? The answer lies in bowling, believe it or not.

While Bowl for Kids’ Sake is one of the agency’s biggest fundraisers, it's als a great way for employees to go through a team-building exercise. It’s easy: Companies partner with BBBS to help employees establish bowling teams. The teams raise money, then come out to a BBBS-organized bowling event during an afternoon.

For John Sarvadi, Senior Vice-President of JPMorgan Chase, Bowl for Kids' Sake brought several benefits to the bank's employees.

Chase employes team up for their
2006 Corporate Bowl.

“We thought it was a great opportunity,” he says of their first Bowl for Kids’ Sake Corporate Bowl last year. “It gave people a chance to get involved in a great cause, it was something that they could get excited about, and at the same time, it gave them an opportunity to have fun.”

Sarvadi saw the value in encouraging employees to raise money to help BBBS change what it means for kids to grow up in the Houston area.

“As a bank, part of our mission is to support things in the community, so this was a great way to do something pretty simple to meet that objective,” he says. “We’re hoping to do even better this year, and involve more people.”

The Bowl for Kid’s Sake season is just getting underway, and companies still have opportunities to schedule a bowl for their employees. To find out how simple it is, contact Bowl for Kids’ Sake coordinator Rosalind Moore at (713) 860-8209, or rmoore@bbbshouston.org.

Some Elvises show up to bowl a game for the 2006 Waste Management Corporate Bowl.

We’re growing! Since 2004, the number of children served by BBBS has grown by 70%. In 2006, BBBS served 2,020 area children. This year, our ambitious goal is to serve at least 2,500 children through two BBBS programs, the Community-Based Program, and the School-Based Program.

The Community-Based Program is what most people think of when they think of BBBS. Adult volunteer mentors are matched with local children by BBBS staff. What the matches do together is up to them. The School-Based Program is more structured. Volunteers see their Littles on school grounds for an hour each week. They meet during school hours or after school – in the library, in a classroom, or on the playground. BBBS has partnered with several local businesses which encourage employees to participate in the School-Based Program.

Finding adult mentors takes time and money - $1,000 to make and maintain each match.  That’s why our fundraising budget needs to grow. Our Fund Development staff work hard to establish partnerships with corporations and individual givers to ensure BBBS can serve more children across the Houston area. Last year the agency raised $2.7 million dollars. This year’s goal is $3,000,000.
Back to top

BBBS Honors Grads

A national study has shown that Littles in the BBBS program are less likely to skip school and are more confident of their performance in schoolwork compared to children who don't have a Big Brother or Big Sister. That's why we are taking time to celebrate our graduating Littles with a dinner on April 16th. We will also honor the winners of several scholarships BBBS offers. The scholarship sponsors include Merrill Lynch, Jack in the Box, Helen Hill, and the Freeman M. Bullock Scholarship, named for one of the men who helped establish Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Houston. If you or your company would like to establish a scholarship to help our Littles, contact the agency at (713) 271-5683.

Back to top