Clear Channel Partners with Big Brothers Big Sisters
Big Brothers Big Sisters to Improve the Odds for Kids Facing Adversity
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Philadelphia, PA,听March 7, 2013听-- As part of a new national partnership,听Clear Channel Communities鈩, the community engagement brand of Clear Channel Media and Entertainment, is launching a campaign to help Big Brothers Big Sisters change the lives of kids facing adversity across America.听 The public service campaign is an extension of听Start Something庐, an initiative the nationwide mentoring organization unveiled two years ago with the Ad Council.
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The campaign launches听March 11 鈥 24听with public service announcements (PSAs) on all 850 Clear Channel Media and Entertainment radio stations in 150 markets -- an estimated value of $3.0 to $3.5 million.听 Created pro bono by听Clear Channel鈥檚听Creative Services Group, the ads听feature testimonials from current and alumni Big Brothers Big Sisters mentors and mentees.听 The 鈥淏igs鈥 and 鈥淟ittles鈥 share special moments that illustrate how the mentoring program changes lives for the better.听 The ads invite listeners, including Big Brothers Big Sisters alumni, to go to 听to听Start Something by volunteering, donating or sharing their own 鈥淏ig鈥 mentoring stories.
Big Brothers Big Sisters carefully matches children of single, low-income or incarcerated parents or sons and daughters of military personnel in long-term, professionally supported one-to-one mentoring relationships. Independent studies find Littles are more likely than children from similar backgrounds who do not have mentors to show improvement in school, their behavior and their self-esteem and aspirations.
"We are extremely grateful to Clear Channel for partnering with us in this way -- with the pro bono ads and such powerful messaging,鈥 said Big Brothers Big Sisters of America President and Chief Executive Officer Charles Pierson.听 鈥淲e rely on donations to carefully recruit, screen and match volunteer mentors with kids facing adversity and to provide ongoing support to keep our mentoring safe and strong.听 This new campaign communicates how supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters is an easy way for Americans to change the odds for children and families in their own communities.鈥
Clear Channel will also support the nationwide mentoring network locally throughout the year.听 Big Brothers Big Sisters鈥 nearly 350 local agencies will extend the campaign through social media and future placement of the PSAs in their local markets.
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鈥淎t Clear Channel we believe it is our responsibility to address serious challenges facing the many local communities in which we live and work,鈥 said Clear Channel Director of Community Engagement Jessica King.听 鈥淲e hope this campaign lets radio listeners know how quality mentoring helps children and strengthens families and communities.鈥
About Big Brothers Big Sisters
Big Brothers Big Sisters, the nation鈥檚 largest donor and volunteer supported mentoring network, holds itself accountable for children in its program to achieve measurable outcomes, such as educational success; avoidance of risky behaviors; and higher aspirations, greater confidence and better relationships.听 Partnering with parents/guardians, schools, corporations and others in the community, Big Brothers Big Sisters carefully pairs children (鈥淟ittles鈥) with screened volunteer mentors (鈥淏igs鈥) and monitors and supports these one-to-one mentoring matches throughout their course.听 The first-ever Big Brothers Big Sisters Youth Outcomes Summary, released in 2012, substantiates that its mentoring programs have , areas linked to high school graduation, avoidance of juvenile delinquency and college or job readiness.
Big Brothers Big Sisters provides children facing adversity, often those of single or low-income households or families where a parent is incarcerated or serving in the military, with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one mentoring relationships that change their lives for the better, forever.听 This mission has been the cornerstone of the organization鈥檚 100-year history.听 With about 350 agencies across the country, Big Brothers Big Sisters serves nearly 630,000 children, volunteers and families. The organization is engaged in a nationwide search to reunite with alumni mentors, mentees, donors, and family, staff and board members.听 Learn more at BigBrothersBigSisters.org.