Society: Big Brothers Big Sisters gets big support

The Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) held quite the swanky gourmet dinner fundraiser Oct. 22 at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla. There were tables laden with seafood and tray-pass, Robert Armstrong-arranged bites - and that was just during cocktail hour.

Jaden with his Big Brothers Big Sisters San Diego "Big Brother" Chad Black

More than 600 guests were there to support the organization’s one-on-one mentoring relationship programs to keep kids on the right track.

“Spending quality one-on-one time with children is what BBBS is all about,” Robert Moore CFO of sponsoring LPL Financial. “It works. Expanding that principle to the children of military personnel who have been deployed into action is tremendously important and inspiring.”

That military program is called Operation Bigs and it’s a hit with all the littles - and the organization’s supporters, too.

Among the patrons there were Lisa and Steve Altman of Qualcomm, Jonathan Andrews, Padres radio broadcaster Jerry Coleman, football player Chris Chambers, former Padres player and Hall of Famer Dave Winfield, Linda and Steve Wendfeldt, Katherine Kennedy and Robert Horsman, Kristen and John Frager, and Marge and Paul Palmer.

The organization honored Madeleine and T. Boone Pickens.

“The Pickens were great meeting guests and graciously accepted their award with the introduction from radio personality Mark Larson, who has known them for several years,” said Paul Palmer, the CEO and president of BBBS of San Diego County. “The morning of the event, Boone had an 8 a.m. meeting in New York, then the couple flew do Dallas for four hours on business, and then flew to San Diego for the 6 p.m. reception; a busy schedule for an 81-year-old international icon. Boone and Madeleine’s philanthropic passions are children and the military, so supporting BBBS one-to-one mentoring of children of deployed Marines and Navy was a natural. They recently provided $3 million over five years ($600,000 per year) for 22 BBBS agencies that have military programs.”

The Pickens also threw in an extra $76,000 during the auction to round off the $124,000 in donations that came in to support future Little Brothers and Little Sisters.

All told the event netted more than $425,000. And those dollars will work hard. Over 80 percent of each dollar goes directly to mentoring the children.

The experience for Littles and Bigs is priceless as noted by new Big Brother Chad Black.

“I first learned about BBBS when I was in high school,” Black said. ”A family friend was involved with it and it got me thinking that I wanted to do the same thing. I am the youngest of three boys in my family so I have never really been able to play the “big brother” role. My parents have always taught us that giving back is important, and I thought that BBBS would be the perfect way to do that. In fact, I became president of my fraternity Delta Tau Delta Theta Zeta at the University of San Diego last spring and Michael Purcell from BBBS has been in to talk to us about getting involved. So far, about 20 people within my fraternity have begun the registration process so I’m pretty excited about that.”

In reference to Jaden, Chad’s “Little Brother,” Chad said, “As far as Jaden goes, we have now known each other for 5 weeks. Our first visit was on Sept. 15, and I have seen him now every Tuesday since then. The Operation Bigs program has been amazing. Meeting one time a week in the afternoon really has worked perfectly with my school and work schedule. ”
BBBS board chair John Frager added, “All of our major corporate donors like LPL Financial and Jack in the Box thought it was one of our best dinners ever. It was a memorable evening that helped raise significant funding to advance mentoring in San Diego County and it will change children’s lives.”

LPL Financial’s Robert Moore, the ”007′ Roger Moore of support” for the event, summed it up, saying, “The event showcased the genuine care and generosity found here in San Diego.”

To learn more about Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County, visit www.sdbigs.org

To view more photos and coverage of this event, visit www.thesocialdiary.com

Margo Schwab is the editor of TheSocialDiary.com, the society reporter and specialty reporter for San Diego Home & Garden Magazine, and the society writer for San Diego News Network. To notify her about your upcoming event, e-mail mschwab@san.rr.com.

Tags: Big Brothers Big Sisters San Diego, Chris Chambers, Dave Winfield, Hyatt Regency La Jolla, Jerry Coleman, Lisa and Steve Altman Qualcomm, Robert Moore LPL Financial, SDNN

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