Matches, Families, Staff and Friends:
Register for up to 4 free tickets to Travis Scott's Cactus Jack Foundation HBCU Celebrity Softball Classic featuring Travis himself and his celebrity friends* on Thursday, February 13, 2025,
Ticket recipients will be chosen by 'lottery' and the winners will be notified by Monday evening, 2/10/25.
Enjoy a star-studded evening featuring an all-star lineup of legendary athletes and A-list entertainers* who will participate in a Home Run Derby and Softball Game.
Date: Thursday, February 13, 2025
Times:
6pm - Gates Open
7pm - Home Run Derby
7:30pm - Softball Game
Location: Daikin Park (formerly Minute Maid), 501 Crawford St, Houston, TX 77002
(Note: Parking is not included. Street parking, if available, is free after 6pm.)
Click here to register to be included in the ticket lottery: https://forms.gle/ic1ha1h1gaPzhfMC6
REPRESENT BBBS BY WEARING YOUR BBBS T-SHIRT OR OUR GREEN AND BLACK COLORS!
GOAL SETTING AND DREAM BOARDS 2025
Join us for a fun, interactive, creative event to help youths unlock the power of goal setting and bringing dreams to life with their own personal dream board. Mentors and Parent/Guardians will help youths set goals and create a vision board that will serve as an inspirational roadmap and a visual reminder to keep them focused and on track as they work toward their dreams in 2025.
There will be lots of encouragement, fun, games, prizes, and music as Mentors, Parent/Guardians and youths have the opportunity to strengthen bonds and deepen their relationships!
Your friends and families are invited to attend, also, so please share the registration link if you know some folks who would like to join us!
Supplies and Lunch provided.
Date: Saturday, February 15, 2025
Time: 10:30am-1pm
Location: Big Brothers Big Sisters, 1003 Washington Ave, Houston TX 77002
Please click here to RSVP: https://forms.gle/Pq61EW59YtNszM276
FEEL IT, NAME IT, EXPRESS IT: HEALTHY WAYS TO SHARE OUR EMOTIONS IN FORT BEND COUNTY
Feel It, Name It, Express It: Healthy Ways to Share Our Emotions is an interactive and engaging workshop designed to help elementary and middle school youth understand and express their feelings in positive ways. Through fun activities, discussions, and creative exercises inspired by the movie Inside Out 2, participants will learn how to recognize their emotions, understand why they matter, and explore healthy ways to express them.
Whether you're here to unleash your creativity, gain insights into emotional health, or simply connect with others, this workshop is the perfect way to spread love and understanding this Valentine’s season.
Thank you to the Links, Inc., for co-sponsoring this event!
Date: Saturday, February 8, 2025
Time: 10:30am-1pm
Location: Access Health Richmond Clinic, 400 Austin St, Richmond, TX 77469
PLEASE NOTE LOCATION IS IN RICHMOND TX, FORT BEND COUNTY.
Please click here to RSVP: https://forms.gle/XsTGHd6LLCUacjpe9
SISTERS IN THE MAKING: A CELEBRATION OF SISTERHOOD AND MENTORSHIP
Celebrate Women’s History Month with Big Brothers Big Sisters at Sisters in the Making: A Celebration of Sisterhood and Mentorship! This special event is all about honoring the incredible women and girls in our community while building connections that inspire the next generation.
Bring your sisters, cousins, neighbors, friends, colleagues, and family for an unforgettable girls’ day filled with fun, laughter, and purpose. Together, we’ll enjoy activities, refreshments, and meaningful conversations as we celebrate the power of sisterhood and mentorship. Enjoy engaging activities, delicious refreshments, and meaningful conversations as we celebrate the power of sisterhood and mentorship. Moms, Little Sisters, Big Sisters, and friends—everyone is welcome to join the celebration!
Bigs and Parent/Guardians: Please invite someone who has a daughter who would benefit from having a Big Sister, or someone who can make a lasting impression as a Big Sister in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program!
Date: Saturday, March 1, 2025
Time: 11am-3pm (This is a drop-in event so you can arrive when you like!) We will have a presentation at 12:30pm for your friends to learn about enrolling a Little or Big in the program!
Location: Big Brothers Big Sisters, 1003 Washington Ave, Houston TX 77002
Please click here to RSVP: https://forms.gle/woH8fr3K4uNtTvSJ9
SPRING BREAK SMOOTHIE DAY SPONSORED BY ALDI
Join us for a refreshing and fun-filled Spring Break Smoothie Day sponsored by ALDI at the BBBS Downtown office! Parents/Guardians+Littles and their families, along with Bigs and their Littles, are invited to enjoy delicious, freshly made fruit smoothies prepared by the amazing employees at ALDI.
As you sip on your smoothies, you’ll also have the opportunity to learn about healthy eating habits and wellness from a licensed dietitian, courtesy of Aramark. It’s the perfect way to spend a day of Spring Break while focusing on fun and health!
We'll also provide fun activities such as:
- Badminton, jump ropes and other sports activities
- Arts & crafts
- Music and dancing
- Board games and puzzles
- Bean Bag Toss
- Free Books
Plus, don’t miss out on our exciting ALDI Gift Card Drawing—BBBS Littles and their families will have the chance to win!
Date: Tuesday, March 11, 2025
Time: 11am-2pm
Location: BBBS Downtown, 1003 Washington Ave, Houston TX 77002
Please click here to RSVP: https://forms.gle/pA8t1Sqf4EsFbdza7
BBBS PARTNERSHIPS
Sailing Angels with Captain Dave
Description: Matches and Families are invited to learn about sailing and sailing safety, and then enjoy a sailing adventure! The sailing adventure is about two to two and a half hours long. The first half hour is spent getting to know the crew and sailing safety, and when you leave the dock, Littles help steer the boat as you motor out to open water. Littles will learn knot-tying, navigation, and piloting of the sailboat along the way. Once the sails are raised, Littles can take the helm and steer the boat!
Date: Please select your day (during the week or weekends) on the link below.
Time: Be at the dock by about 9:30am for pre-boarding safety training so you are prepared to set sail by 10am.
Location: The boat departs from a marina in Kemah. Exact location will be delivered with confirmation.
Registration Link to Sign Up: Sailing Angels
YMCA Memberships for Littles and Bigs: FREE YMCA Memberships for Littles and Bigs: The YMCA of Greater Houston partners with BBBS to offer free memberships to Littles and Bigs. Membership is valid for one year and may be renewed as long as the Little/Big is active or the Little is on our waitlist. If the Match closes, membership discontinues the following month. Parents/Guardians must accompany the youth to the YMCA to complete their enrollment. Children under age 12 cannot use the YMCA facility without the presence of a Parent/Guardian or Big. Active Bigs and Active or waitlist youth may click this link and a membership application will be mailed: YMCA Sign-Up
tutoredbrAIn.com is a free tool that can help improve reading comprehension with the use of innovative technology. This web app utilizes AI-generated short stories and questions to help readers enhance their ability to understand and retain information. Everyone should have access to high-quality reading material and the tools to develop their reading comprehension skills. The goal is to create a community of lifelong learners who can confidently engage with various types of text and gain a deeper understanding of the world around them. At tutoredbrAIn.com, they are committed to promoting literacy and helping individuals achieve their full potential.
REMINDERS
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America has announced a national partnership with T-Mobile, where we have the opportunity to connect our eligible Little/Mentee families to the T-Mobile Project 10 Million. This initiative has T-Mobile providing FREE 100 GB of internet per year for 5 years AND a FREE hotspot (including free shipping) to qualifying families. There are no fees, costs or annual re-certifications. Check out the following link to see the eligibility requirements and to learn more: T-Mobile Project 10 Million
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America is offering tips to our volunteers on how to make the most of the Match relationships with Littles and their families. During each episode, you’ll hear from a Big and a Parent/Guardian as they share how they’ve enriched their mentoring relationship through positive experiences, collaboration, and engagement. You can listen to episodes 1-5 by clicking here: https://bbbsofamerica.podbean.com/
MATCH ACTIVITIES IDEAS:
- Miller Outdoor Theatre has free performances all summer long: https://www.milleroutdoortheatre.com/performance-list/
- Discovery Green has free yoga, Tai Chi, Screen on the Green, and a lot of fun activities for Bigs+Littles and Littles+Families.
- Check out Hello Woodlands for fun and free events in the Woodlands/
- Houston on the cheap is your resource for saving money on entertainment, fun, restaurant deals, special events and other bargains: https://www.houstononthecheap.com/
- Looking for a list of Things to do in Houston, with kids? Check here for restaurants, activities, things to do, and places to go: https://www.jillbjarvis.com/
- For a list of 365 Things To Do In Houston, you can find general activities and events here: https://365thingsinhouston.com/\
If you are Big Brother or Big Sister and are on Facebook, please join our BBBS Greater Houston Community-based Bigs Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bbbshoustonbigs
If you are a Parent/Guardian, please join our BBBS Greater Houston Parent/Guardian group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bbbsparentsguardians
SERVICES AND TOOLS FROM OTHER AGENCIES AND PARTNERS:
- A free, confidential helpline operated by United Way of Greater Houston, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, the 211 Texas/United Way HELPLINE connected more than 1.25 million of our neighbors with help in 2023. Top calls were for utility assistance, rent and mortgage assistance, housing, public benefits assistance, and food assistance. https://unitedwayhouston.org/what-we-do/211-texas-united-way-helpline/
- If you or a person you know is thinking about harming themselves or needs to talk to someone — get immediate support. Use this link to the Trevor Project to connect via chat or text or call 1-866-488-7386. You can also call or text The 988 Lifeline at 988 (chat: 988lifeline.org)
- Hopelab, CenterLink and The It Gets Better Project have a free online resource for LGBTQ+ youth imi to support their mental health and well-being
- Chat with like-minded peers in live chats designed for youth! Q-Chat provides online discussion groups for LGBTQ+ and questioning teens ages 13 to 19.
- The Family Acceptance Project offers a plethora of resources including, but not limited to, a family support resource guide, an educator guide for supporting families, and educational posters about the importance of family acceptance available in 11 languages.
PAST MATCH & FAMILY EVENTS 2025
2025 Chevron Houston Marathon - Volunteers helped clear the street in front of the BBBS building after the 28,000 runners raced past!
Date: Sunday, January 19, 2025
Time: 5:30AM-8:30AM (Not a typo: 5:30AM)