Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon kicks off ‘The Big Draft’ recruitment campaign in partnership with NFL

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon, a program of J Bar J Youth Services, is kicking off The Big Draft, a community-wide recruitment campaign in partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and the NFL Inspire Change Initiative.

The national effort aims to recruit volunteer mentors, “Bigs,” to support youth across Central Oregon who are waiting for a positive, life-changing relationship.

The Big Draft taps into the excitement of football season to encourage community members to “get in the game” by stepping up as mentors and making a lasting impact in a young person’s life.

“Right now, we have 85 youth on our waitlist waiting for a mentor,” said Jenn Davis, program director for BBBSCO, a 21 Cares for Kids partner. “The Big Draft is about rallying our community to take action and show up for these kids in a meaningful way.”

Community Engagement at Greg’s Grill
As part of the campaign, BBBSCO will host a weeklong presence at Greg’s Grill in the Old Mill District.

• April 16–22: Community members can stop by and pick up information to learn more about becoming a Big and how mentorship changes lives.
• April 23: BBBSCO staff and volunteers will be onsite to connect directly with the community, answer questions, and help interested individuals take the first step toward becoming a mentor.

On Thursday, April 23, Greg’s Grill will also host a Give Back Day, donating a percentage of sales to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon to support local mentoring programs.

How to Get Involved

• Visit the BBBSCO table at Greg’s Grill April 16–23
• Meet the team and learn about becoming a Big on April 23
• Dine at Greg’s Grill on April 23 to support BBBSCO through the give-back event
• Help ensure every child in Central Oregon has a mentor

About The Big Draft

The Big Draft is a national recruitment initiative designed to address the critical need for mentors across the country. Through the partnership between Big Brothers Big Sisters and the NFL Inspire Change Initiative, local agencies like BBBSCO are mobilizing their communities to create more one-to-one mentoring relationships.

About Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon

A program of J Bar J Youth Services, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon was founded in 1994. The mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon is to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth.

BBBSCO serves over 220 youth annually and continues to grow programming. "We are committed to serving at-risk youth and youth facing adversity with mentors in our community," the organization says.