There is a wide variety of reports streaming daily about the spread and reach of the COVID-19 virus and its effects on people all over the world. We are aware of these reports and are closely monitoring the situation in regards to measures that we can take. We want to assure you that, now and always, the health and safety of clients, volunteers, staff & stakeholders as the top priority.

Effectively immediately, our offices will be closed to the general public until further notice and we will provide updates as things unfold. Our staff will continue to work remotely as normal. Trainings, workshops, interviews, info sessions that take place in our offices in the next three weeks will be postponed.

Our programs at various sites will be put on hold until further notice. Staff will be in contact with all volunteers and families to assess needs. Mentors are encouraged to continue to maintain contact with their mentees through scheduled phone conversations or video calls, with parent and guardian support present. We will continue to provide our regular support to all families and stay in line with all BBBS of Canada and our agency standards. If you are a client or volunteer with any questions, our Mentoring Coordinators and Program staff can be reached by their work cell phones or their emails during work hours.

Our Scotiabank Bowl for Big Brothers events will be postponed until further notice. We are presently working with our venue partners to determine next steps and we will try to reschedule bowling events when circumstances allow.  This is one of our major fundraisers and we continue to look for your support. We encourage you to continue to fundraise through bowlforbigbrothers.com

Our Clothing Donation service is suspended until further notice. We ask that you hold onto your donations until we re-establish our clothing donation operation.

As the COVID-19 situation is continuously changing, we appreciate your patience with us as we navigate this time of uncertainty, but be assured we are working closely to ensure everyone’s safety and well-being.

Thank you for your continued support as we work through these challenges together.

Sincerely,

Valerie Lambert, CPA, CA, ICD.D
Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver
Executive Director

If you would like to support Big Brothers by donating or set up your own fundraiser click below.

CLICK HERE TO DONATE OR CREATE A FUNDRAISER

In case you missed it in your mailbox, you can read our latest newsletter, BIG News, in PDF format.

We love sharing stories of how your hard work and support as donors and volunteers are making a difference in the lives of local children.

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On Saturday, August 4th, Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver trucks will be at IKEA Coquitlam and IKEA Richmond for the August Clean Up Event! Customers are welcome to stop by with clothing donations anytime between 11am-3pm! Look for the Big Brothers truck inside the parking lot.

When you donate 2 large bags of clothing you will receive an IKEA coupon for $30 off your next purchase of $150 or more. Donated items must be suitable for resale and in working order. Unfortunately, we are unable to accept used electronics or furniture. The proceeds of the sale of donated items will benefit our Big Brothers mentoring programs for children in our community. Click here to see where the money goes.

When are the coupons valid until?

The coupons will be valid from August 4 to August 12.

 What do you consider as a large bag?

A large garbage bag or something similar in size would be ideal. Here is a photo for reference: http://bit.ly/1qre8mJ

If I bring more than 2 bags can I receive another coupon?

The more bags you bring the more the more coupons you receive.  For example, if you bring 6 large bags of clothing donations you will receive 3 coupons.

Read the Spring/Summer 2018 edition of our newsletter.

Stay up to date on the latest news by following us on social media (@BigbrothersYVR on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter) or sign up for our monthly e-newsletter using the form below.

On Saturday, May 5th, Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver trucks will be at IKEA Coquitlam and IKEA Richmond for the Spring Clean Up Event! Customers are welcome to stop by with clothing donations anytime between 11-3pm! Look for the Big Brothers truck inside the parking lot.

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In the modern world of non-profits, there are a variety of choices for how to raise funds.  While traditional or “offline” methods are still important, the rise of online fundraising platforms has opened up a whole new world of fundraising possibilities! We have put together some of the main benefits for why we think using an online platform is the way forward. Here are our 4 main perks summarized just for you:

Extended Reach:

Raising pledges online allows you to surpass geographical limitations. You can use your email and multiple social media channels to spread the word about your event to reach more potential donors, attract new supporters or to create a buzz or friendly competition between event participants. Online fundraising usually produces a higher give result than traditional methods. You are also increasing Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver’s online visibility and are helping to spread our message.

Personalized Account

One of the key benefits that online fundraising offers is that you are empowered to become the voice of the organization within your social groups. By adding pictures, personal messages and stories to your online account, you are making a personal appeal that creates a bridge to your audience saying “Big Brothers is important to me and OUR community and this is why”.  This message is so important when it comes from a volunteer, event participant or donor as it shows an unbiased view of what we do and who we are as an organization.

Cost effective collection

Preparing an event can be expensive when factoring in the printing and manpower costs that are related to creating and distributing offline donation materials such as pledge books; not to mention the staff time costs that are incurred while counting and recounting the pledges during and after the event. Online pledging is both convenient and affordable making it more cost effective in both out of pocket costs and time. Here at Big Brothers we aim to maximize our profit at every event so that we can support even more local kids through our mentoring programs. Help us to DECREASE our expenditure and INCREASE our success by signing up online today!

Ease & Convenience

Gone are the days when you had to go door to door collecting pledges and keeping them safe until your event. By signing up online you minimize any risks that are associated with collecting large sums of money. You can easily track what has been pledged to you by your donors and you can enter any offline donation you might receive.

By using an online fundraising account, you can easily monitor your personal and team goals and achievements on your home page. You can rest easy knowing that all of your donors have received a tax receipt and a thank you email for their support as these are both automatically generated once a donation is received. You can also modify your goals or messages and instantly update your entire network of donors on your progress or team news. This is an easy and efficient way for you to fundraise that reduces stress, frustration and your time commitment so that you can focus on what’s really important……practicing your bowling skills for the big day!

Click here to register online and start fundraising today!

On February 24^th, North Vancouver’s Griffins Boxing and Fitness rolled out the red carpet for their 12^th Annual Evening at Ringside event, a VIP boxing gala benefitting Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver where guests enjoyed a VIP reception with cocktails and canapés, and participated in auctions and raffles all while watching a live Olympic-style boxing tournament.

Griffins owner Dave Brett believes strongly in the power of mentorship both inside and outside of the ring: “We’re not a regular boxing gym, we’re a community; mentorship and mutual respect is what makes our communities strong. That’s just as true inside our facility as it is beyond the walls of our gym.” It is our shared interest in improving the lives of today’s children through mentorship programs that makes this an amazing partnership that Big Brothers would like to see continue for many years to come.

This year, thanks to many generous sponsors, donors, and guests we have successfully raised a record breaking $19,882.22. We at Big Brothers would like to thank the entire Griffins Boxing and Fitness team for all of their hard work and the dedication shown to this event year after year.

Due to popular demand, the 13^th Evening at Ringside event will be held on October 20, 2018. Keep an eye on our website for information on how to get tickets to this award winning philanthropic event.