big brother big sister slo

From left, Big Brothers Big Sisters development director Patty Carpenter receives a donation from Ted Frankel, owner of Tom’s Toys.

Tom’s Toy’s, located at 682 Higuera Street, in San Luis Obispo, donated $1,000 of holiday sales to Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Luis Obispo County. When Tom’s Toy’s owner Ted Frankel became a Big Brother more than 40 years ago, he had no idea of the lasting impact his decision would make on his life. Ted was there when his Little Brother graduated from high school and college, and had attended his wedding years later. Now, his Little Brother became a successful accountant with a family of his own, but they still stay in touch. Each December, Tom’s Toys holds an annual fundraiser donating a portion of the proceeds to Big Brothers Big Sisters. “Supporting children’s programs seemed like a natural fit for a toy store and Big Brothers Big Sisters holds a place in my heart,” said Frankel.

The donation from Tom’s Toys will allow the agency to ensure child safety and maintain successful, long-term relationships with positive outcomes for San Luis Obispo County youths.


About Big Brothers Big Sisters

For more than 100 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters has operated under the belief that inherent in every child is the ability to succeed and thrive in life.  Most children they serve are in single-parent, low-income families or in 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 slobigs.org.