Countdown to Kickoff 2016 was a HUGE success thanks to your generosity! We're working hard to make 2017 the best year yet for our Bigs and Littles. 

Please visit our main site at www.bigsofcentralmo.org to volunteer or donate.

 

Countdown to Kickoff: An Evening with Coach Barry Odom, presented by Columbia Insurance Group, is held in partnership with the University of Missouri Football Program. The evening includes hors d'oeuvres and beverages, live and silent auctions, and remarks from Coach Odom on the Tigers' upcoming season. General admission for the event begins at 5:30pm.

Big Supporter tickets are also available. These tickets include reserved seating throughout the event and an invitation from Interim Chancellor Henry C. "Hank" Foley to attend the Chancellor's Reception prior to the main event. The reception will begin at 4:30pm in the Chancellor's Suite at Memorial Stadium. 

Please visit the Tickets & Sponsorships Tab to purchase tickets to Countdown to Kickoff.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Kristan Gannaway at kristan@bigsofcentralmo.org or 573-874-3677 x 219.

 

Countdown to Kickoff
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
4:30 PM, Chancellor's Reception for Big Supporter ticket holders
5:30 PM, General Admission
Columns Club - Memorial Stadium

The 2016 Countdown to Kickoff fundraiser, presented by Columbia Insurance Group, benefits Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Missouri.

By supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Missouri, you are helping children facing adverse experiences gain the skills and support system necessary to become healthy, productive members of our community.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Missouri serves children of single parent families, children with an incarcerated parent, children of active and fallen military, children in longer term foster care, and those who are referred to us by school or other agency personnel. Over 500 youth are served yearly in our community, school, and site based mentoring programs.

We partner with parents/guardians, volunteers, and others in the community and hold ourselves accountable for each child in our program achieving:

  • Higher aspirations, greater confidence, and better relationships
  • Avoidance of risky behaviors
  • Educational success

Locally and nationally, we know that the Big Brothers Big Sisters method of mentoring works in the short and long term:

Short Term- Looking at the impact Big Brothers Big Sisters has in our local community:

  • Among our current Littles, there is a 0% drop out rate compared to Columbia Public Schools' rate of 2.5% in 2015, Mexico Public Schools' rate of 4.4% and Moberly Public Schools' rate of 2.9%. In the past year, none of our Littles have been referred for crimes to juvenile authorities, compared to Boone County's juvenile referral rate, which is around 4.7%, Randolph County's rate which is around 4.8%, and Audrain County's which is around 2.5%.
  • 95% of Littles are mostly sure or very sure they will finish high school compared to 75% who said that when they started the program.
  • 90% of Littles are mostly sure or very sure they will go to college compared to 75% who said that at baseline.
  • Our Littles report a higher prevalence than their peers of believing that underage drinking, illicit and illegal drugs use are not okay.

Long Term - Harris Interactive surveyed adults who had a Big Brother or Big Sisters as a youth and compared them to adults from similar demographics that didn't have a mentor and found that Little Alumni were:

  • More likely to have a college degree
  • More likely to make more money
  • More likely to be involved as a volunteer in their community.