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PPL ELECTRIC UTILITIES AWARDS EITC GRANT TO BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF BUCKS COUNTY, INC --Donation will be used to support mentoring agency’s work as an Education Improvement Organization-- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bucks County (BBBSBC), the County’s leading youth mentoring agency, recently received a $2,500 Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) donation from PPL Electric Utilities. This generous contribution will support the agency’s work on behalf of Bucks County youth as an Education Improvement Organization and further assist with general support for two of the agency’s most innovative programs -- the High School Bigs and “BLAST” (Bigs & Little Autism Support Team) programs. The High School Bigs program matches outstanding high school students as mentors to elementary school students, who have been referred, by their guidance counselors or teachers within their specific school district, as needing extra support. This mutually beneficial relationship enables the high school student to receive valuable leadership education and training while experiencing the value of community service. The younger students in the program benefit from having role models who encourage and inspire them. This program is available in the Quakertown, Pennsbury and Council Rock School District. BLAST (Bigs & Littles Autism Support Team) is a ground-breaking program developed by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bucks County and is an extension of the traditional High School Bigs program. Specially trained high school students are matched two-to-one as mentors to elementary school students in their district who have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). BBBSBC staff provides ongoing training, support and coaching to the High School Bigs, specific to meeting the needs of children with ASD. Currently, 30 Bucks County youth are benefitting from this program. The BLAST program is available at Goodnoe Elementary in Newtown, PA. “PPL is proud to support Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bucks County,” said Carol Obando-Derstine, regional affairs director for PPL Electric Utilities. “We are firm believers in the power of mentorship and the long-lasting impact it can have on children.” About Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bucks County Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bucks County (BBBSBC) has been providing children facing adversity with professionally supported one-to-one mentoring relationships since 1963. Affiliated with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, the Bucks County agency has been nationally recognized for providing the highest quality programs. Located in Jamison, Pa., BBBSBC is a donor supported, volunteer driven organization dedicated to helping Bucks County youth achieve their full potential. Children matched with mentors gain greater self-confidence, are less likely to engage in risky behaviors—like using alcohol and drugs—and create higher goals for their future. There are over 200 kids on their waiting list and 70% of them are boys. At Big Brothers Big Sisters, mentoring is not about saving a child, but rather about igniting the power and promise of youth. Please reach out to Laura Jones, Director of Development, for more information on how your business can help our organization through the EITC program. For general information about BBBSBC please call 215-343-8260 or visit www.bbbsbc.org About PPL Electric Utilities PPL Electric Utilities provides electric delivery service to more than 1.4 million homes and businesses in Pennsylvania and ranks among the best utility companies in the country for customer service and reliability. PPL Electric Utilities is a major employer in the communities it serves. It is a subsidiary of PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL). For more information, visit www.pplelectric.com In the photo: a High School Big & a Little Brother from the High School Bigs program at Quakertown Elementary, with Toni Schmidt, BBBSBC Match Support Specialist and Program Coordinator, (center) and Carol Obando-Derstine, Regional Affairs Director, of PPL Electric Utilities, (top right.)
PPL ELECTRIC UTILITIES AWARDS EITC GRANT TO BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF BUCKS COUNTY, INC --Donation will be used to support mentoring agency’s work as an Education Improvement Organization--
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bucks County (BBBSBC), the County’s leading youth mentoring agency, recently received a $2,500 Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) donation from PPL Electric Utilities. This generous contribution will support the agency’s work on behalf of Bucks County youth as an Education Improvement Organization and further assist with general support for two of the agency’s most innovative programs -- the High School Bigs and “BLAST” (Bigs & Little Autism Support Team) programs.
The High School Bigs program matches outstanding high school students as mentors to elementary school students, who have been referred, by their guidance counselors or teachers within their specific school district, as needing extra support. This mutually beneficial relationship enables the high school student to receive valuable leadership education and training while experiencing the value of community service. The younger students in the program benefit from having role models who encourage and inspire them. This program is available in the Quakertown, Pennsbury and Council Rock School District.
BLAST (Bigs & Littles Autism Support Team) is a ground-breaking program developed by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bucks County and is an extension of the traditional High School Bigs program. Specially trained high school students are matched two-to-one as mentors to elementary school students in their district who have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). BBBSBC staff provides ongoing training, support and coaching to the High School Bigs, specific to meeting the needs of children with ASD. Currently, 30 Bucks County youth are benefitting from this program. The BLAST program is available at Goodnoe Elementary in Newtown, PA.
“PPL is proud to support Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bucks County,” said Carol Obando-Derstine, regional affairs director for PPL Electric Utilities. “We are firm believers in the power of mentorship and the long-lasting impact it can have on children.”
About Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bucks County
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bucks County (BBBSBC) has been providing children facing adversity with professionally supported one-to-one mentoring relationships since 1963. Affiliated with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, the Bucks County agency has been nationally recognized for providing the highest quality programs. Located in Jamison, Pa., BBBSBC is a donor supported, volunteer driven organization dedicated to helping Bucks County youth achieve their full potential. Children matched with mentors gain greater self-confidence, are less likely to engage in risky behaviors—like using alcohol and drugs—and create higher goals for their future. There are over 200 kids on their waiting list and 70% of them are boys. At Big Brothers Big Sisters, mentoring is not about saving a child, but rather about igniting the power and promise of youth. Please reach out to Laura Jones, Director of Development, for more information on how your business can help our organization through the EITC program. For general information about BBBSBC please call 215-343-8260 or visit www.bbbsbc.org
About PPL Electric Utilities
PPL Electric Utilities provides electric delivery service to more than 1.4 million homes and businesses in Pennsylvania and ranks among the best utility companies in the country for customer service and reliability. PPL Electric Utilities is a major employer in the communities it serves. It is a subsidiary of PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL). For more information, visit www.pplelectric.com
In the photo: a High School Big & a Little Brother from the High School Bigs program at Quakertown Elementary, with Toni Schmidt, BBBSBC Match Support Specialist and Program Coordinator, (center) and Carol Obando-Derstine, Regional Affairs Director, of PPL Electric Utilities, (top right.)