By Heather Graves
Correspondent
GREEN BAY – Mentors and mentees gathered for a night of holiday fun with the help of Santa and Green Bay Packers players Manny Wilkens, Danny Vitale and James Looney.
Nearly 300 Bigs, Littles and their families kicked off the holiday season at the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Wisconsin (BBBSNEW) annual holiday party on Thursday, Dec. 12, at The Woods Golf Club.
Vic Valdez, BBBSNEW marketing and communications director, said thanks to the support of event sponsors and a contribution from an anonymous donor, attendees were able to enjoy a dinner, visits with Santa, gifts and family activities.
“Even though the weather wasn’t the best, we had a full turnout,” Valdez said.
Volunteers from Fox Communities Credit Union decorated the facility, were servers for the dinner and supplied a photo booth for the event.
Festival Foods provided all the supplies for the event’s cookie decorating station.
Every Little in attendance received a gift of his or her choice collected by BBBSNEW staff and volunteers during a shopping spree with the Marines’ Toys for Tots program earlier this month.
“As part of the NFL’s Inspire Change program, Green Bay Packers players Manny Wilkens, Danny Vitale and James Looney added to the evening’s excitement by handing out gifts, posing for pictures and played games with the Littles,” Valdez said.
He said the holiday party is an important opportunity for Littles to connect with their Bigs and celebrate the holidays in a way they may not be able to otherwise.
The BBBSNEW is in need of mentors for its program, especially male Bigs.
“If someone is interested, or thinking about, being a Big, we have informational meetings twice a month where they can come in to learn about the program,” Valdez said. “There is more than one way for a person to be a Big. They can be a Big by themselves, or with their spouse or significate other. So, there are lots of ways a guy to become a Big.”
For more information on how to become a Big or on the BBBSNEW, visit bbbsnew.org.