Most 10 year-olds want the latest toys, games and clothes, but Graciela Vance asked instead that friends and family help others, less fortunate than her. In lieu of gifts, Graciela asked that party-goers make donations to Big Brothers Big Sisters and help provide mentors to kids primarily from low-income, single parent homes. For her 10th Birthday, Graciela presented a check for $280.60, two bicycles and a basketball to Big Brothers Big Sisters staff.
“I am honored and humbled by this young person who thinks of others first. Her donation will reap long-term benefits for her another child in her neighborhood, as well as our community as a whole,” said Anna Boyd-Bucy, executive director for the organization.
In the attached Photo from left to right stand mother Heidi Vance with her children Liliana, Lucas and Graciela as they present their gifts to Big Brothers Big Sisters.
About Big Brothers Big Sisters
For more than 100 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters has operated under the belief that inherent within every child is the ability to succeed and thrive in life. Most children they serve are in single-parent and low-income families or households where a parent is incarcerated. As a part of the nation’s largest donor and volunteer supported mentoring network, they make meaningful, monitored friendships between adult volunteers and children. Funding provides for a system of ongoing evaluation and support that is proven by independent studies to help families by improving the odds that participating children will perform better in school, avoid violence and illegal activities, and have stronger relationships with their parents and others. For more information on volunteering or contributing to Big Brothers Big Sisters, call 805-781-3226, or log onto www.slobigs.org.