Posts by Claire Becknell
Mentorship took Christian to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Christian stood on the Tom Turkey float in the 2024 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade wearing a small pin from his mother, a reminder that she was still with him. For the seventh grader from Atlanta, the moment felt unreal. It was his first time leaving the city he grew up in, his first trip to…
Read MoreAnnual toy drive brought joy to local families
Families gathered at the BBBS office this holiday season for our annual toy drive, where staff and volunteers helped create a joyful, welcoming experience for children and their families. Through the generosity of our supporters and sponsors, our annual toy drive welcomed around 80 Littles from our program. Families were invited to shop a festive,…
Read MoreBigs and Littles celebrate the holidays at Macy’s Little Holiday Breakfast and Shopping event
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta (BBBSMA) Littles and Bigs kicked off the holiday season in style at Macy’s Little Holiday Breakfast and Shopping Event. The events were held at Lenox, Perimeter, and Mall of Georgia, giving Littles the chance to enjoy a morning of holiday cheer. Each store hosted 20 Littles, who were…
Read MoreHoliday giveaway provides 150 turkeys to Chattahoochee Valley families
Our recent Holiday Box Giveaway was a true highlight of the season. Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Chattahoochee Valley (BBBSCV) partnered with the Civic Controllers to make sure families in our community felt supported. With their help, 45 families in our program received turkeys for Thanksgiving. The rest were given out in the community,…
Read MoreBuilding financial confidence in middle school classrooms across metro Atlanta
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta (BBBSMA) expanded its commitment to youth empowerment by bringing the Wells Fargo Hands on Banking Financial Literacy Module into five partner middle schools across Metro Atlanta. Through the Level Up mentoring program, this initiative reached more than 400 seventh-grade students at Russell, Bunche, Young, and Price Middle Schools…
Read MoreLegacy Luncheon inspires community, raises $350k+ for youth
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta (BBBSMA) is thrilled to announce the overwhelming success of its 2025 Legacy Luncheon, presented by the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation. The event welcomed 240 guests at the Fox Theatre on Nov. 12 and raised over $350,000 to support BBBSMA’s life-changing youth mentoring programs. Click here to see…
Read MoreBBBSMA and Emerging 100 of Atlanta launch “Big for a Day: Educate, Engage, Elevate”
In celebration of National Mentoring Day, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta (BBBSMA) partnered with the Emerging 100 of Atlanta to host Big for a Day: Educate, Engage, Elevate, a dynamic mentorship initiative created to empower middle school students through education, engagement, and financial literacy. The event was held at Jean Childs Young Middle…
Read MoreHighlights from Level Up this month
The Level Up program continues to shine across metro Atlanta schools bringing students, mentors, and families together. Here’s a look at some of the incredible moments from this month. Family & Friends event On Tuesday, Oct. 28, the Young Middle School Level Up Team hosted its first-ever Family & Friends Event! A total of 64…
Read MoreChanging lives through mentorship: Legacy Luncheon 2025
At this year’s Legacy Luncheon, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta is proud to celebrate two remarkable alumni: Benjamin and Lailah. These young leaders’ journeys were transformed when a mentor supported and believed in them. After losing a parent early in life, Benjamin was raised by his grandmother. As she grew older, he stepped…
Read MoreOctober Big Spotlight: Cory Sparks’ journey from mentee to mentor
Meet Cory Sparks, Vice President of Promotion at Warner Records, based in DeKalb County. Check out this Q&A where he shares what inspired him to become a Big, how mentorship changed his life, and what he’s learning through his experience with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta. Why did you become a Big? I…
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