Big Brothers Big Sisters of Shelby & Darke County Scholarship Opportunities 

The 2025 application process is now open for Senior’s who are actively participating in our Lunch Buddies Programs as a volunteer “BIG” in Shelby and Darke County Schools who are planning to further their education after graduation. In addition to our traditional Bold Path to A Bright Future Scholarships the agency will also award a 2025 graduate with the first annual Damian Bruns Memorial Scholarship.  

The organization and the entire community lost a very special mentor, Damian Bruns, on May 17, 2024—just two days after he was awarded one of our Bold Path to a Bright Future Scholarships.
Damian was a true role model. He was the kind of person kids looked up to, the embodiment of hard work, dedication, and the kind of mentor who leaves a lasting impact. He was the ideal representative for our Mentoring Program, and someone you always wanted on your team. He was on our team from the very beginning—his mother, Jenny Bruns, worked at BBBS-SD for 23 years and served as a Big Sister to two littles for over 9 years. Through this experience, Damian saw firsthand the profound importance of mentoring, and he carried that understanding with him throughout his life.

He deeply valued the opportunity to help the littles experience the joy of life in the country, with a garden to tend and a backyard to play in. He loved being a part of that, knowing he could help shape their lives.

Beyond his work as a mentor, Damian was also a dedicated volunteer. He gave his time at community events, fundraisers, and our annual Christmas party for Bigs & Littles. During our Duck Derby, you could always count on Damian to bring his unique energy—whether he was wearing the Duck costume or out in the river helping release or catch the ducks.

As he grew older, Damian joined our Buddies program, where he mentored at Northwood School. Through all of these experiences, he learned that the true value of volunteering and giving back to the community far surpassed anything a paycheck could offer.

Damian’s legacy is one of deep impact, touching countless lives both within our organization and in the wider community. It’s in his memory that we establish the annual Damian Bruns Memorial Scholarship—a $1,500 (or more) award given to a recipient who mirrors the qualities that made Damian such an exceptional mentor.

​Damian cherished his time with BBBS-SD and often shared that what he gained through volunteering and mentoring was immeasurably more valuable than any financial compensation. It’s that same spirit of giving, leadership, and community that we hope the recipient of this scholarship will carry forward, just as Damian did.

​“We are proud to honor his memory and continue his work by investing in the future, just as he invested in the lives of so many others. Let us all strive to live by the example Damian set, as a mentor, as a volunteer, and as someone who believed deeply in the power of positive change.” said April Brubaker, Executive Director.

If you would like to make a donation in honor of Damian Bruns you may do so online by visiting the agency’s website at www.bigbrobigsis-shelbydarke.org or by mailing in a check to PO Box 885, Sidney, OH 45365. Please note that it is for the Damian Bruns Memorial Scholarship. The contributions received will be earmarked and given in addition to the $1,500 the agency will contribute starting with the 2026 scholarship recipient. 

The application and qualifications to apply for the agency’s 2025 Bold Path to a Bright Future scholarship and the Damian Bruns Memorial Scholarship can be found on the website or by contacting the agency at [email protected]. The deadline to apply is April 30th, 2025.   

SIDNEY, OH – The Pearls & Ties Program kicked off the 6th grade program on September 19th aiming to continue to plant seeds of success in the young people it serves at Sidney Middle School. The group of community volunteers and esteemed speakers are eager to inspire the youth to become positive role models in the community by leading by example and sharing their stories with them during the 2nd phase of the 2-year program.

The program’s foundation focused on building character, instilling core values, and fostering positive relationships last year during the 5th grade program where participating youth engaged in activities that promote teamwork, leadership and self-discovery. This year during the 6th grade program the returning youth will learn the importance of community. Tom Clark, a well-known community member and founder of Pearls and Ties, lined up Mike and Mike as the guest speakers for the program kickoff. Mike Carter and Mike Clark, both with ties to Sidney shared with the youth the importance of community and what it means to give back.

Mike Carter, senior advisor to the president and chief diversity officer of Sinclair College, engaged the youth by offing them to touch, feel, and pose for pictures showcasing his unique baseball photos, jersey and hat collection while explaining the history of his African American Baseball collection and his passion for it. He asked students if they knew who Jackie Robinson was and explained how he broke the color barrier in baseball. He also emphasized the strengths found in our differences, encouraging the youth to embrace their unique backgrounds as assets that strengthen collaboration between one another and community growth.

Mike Clark, a cancer survivor, shared his remarkable journey of volunteering, highlighting his efforts to help raise over $4 million for lymphoma cancer research. His story showed students how community service can open doors to new experiences, including advocating for cancer funding in Washington D.C. Clark’s passion for helping others resonated with the students, underscoring the profound impact of giving back.

“The Pearls & Ties program is designed not only to educate but to empower young people to take action in their communities. Through the Middle Schoolers On The Move initiative, participants will have the opportunity to participate in hands-on volunteering, strengthening the lessons learned and creating a commitment to community service.” said Tom Clark. During October the 6th Grade Pearl and Ties Program participants will get to experience what it feels like to give back to their community be hosting a mini carnival for the residents at Dorothy Love and Sidney Manor.

“The youth experiences provided throughout the program helps to create a supportive network beyond the school walls. The program actively engages with the community by partnering with local businesses, involves parents and local leaders who are eager to support the program through volunteerism and offerings of monetary and in-kind donations.” says April Brubaker, Executive Director for Big Brother’s Big Sisters. In addition, Brubaker also shared with the youth that it was giving community members and area businesses that provided the funds to supply the pearls, ties, shirts, activities, and lunches for each session. It is the volunteers who donate their time and skills to the program that makes the pearls and ties program possible brining it full circle as to why giving back is vital to a community.

Tom Clark, remarked, “Pearls and Ties continues to plant seeds in the minds and souls of middle schoolers. We encourage you to continue to watch the growth of the young leaders we are helping mold that we call “Middle Schoolers on The Move.”

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Shelby & Darke County is excited to launch lunch buddies program

​SHELBY COUNTY - As the new school year kicks off, we’re partnering with Ansonia, Greenville, Jackson Center, Sidney, Tri-Village, and Versailles school districts to bring our Lunch Buddies Program to life. We’re here to encourage students to bring their A-game and activate their learning mode!

What is The Lunch Buddies Program?
The Lunch Buddies Program is a mentoring initiative designed to provide children with an additional positive role model. Teachers and parents help identify students who would benefit from this program. BBBS then matches these students (LITTLES) with youth (ages 13-18) or adult volunteers (BIGS) who meet with them weekly or on a bi-weekly basis during lunch or within the school day. During these visits, matches play games, get to know each other, and build a supportive relationship. As the bond develops, the Big serves as a role model, offering guidance, encouragement, and assistance with learning.

What Are the Benefits?
For Littles:

• Positive school experience
• Improved attendance, attitudes, and behavior
• Academic enrichment and positive relationships

For Bigs:

• Rewarding experience seeing the impact of your time
• Personal growth and fulfillment
• Development of leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills
• Opportunities for new connections, scholarships, and recommendation letters

“I am so glad that I finally shoved my doubts aside and became a Big and was part of a
beautiful and impactful program during my senior year. I was paired with two Littles, both young girls. I absolutely adored the Littles and always looked forward to our weekly meetings, and I know they felt the same way. When I ran into them in the halls their faces would light up, they would instantly run up to me and share any exciting news they had. It's safe to say we grew a close bond, I had seen them grow so much, they gained so much confidence and they are just truly growing into brilliant young ladies. As a high school Big, I think the Littles found me easy to approach and talk with. I know the Lunch Buddies program has many positive outcomes, but the benefits of mentoring are better than I ever could have imagined. According to a study conducted in 2021, Littles are less likely to have youth arrest or reports of substance abuse compared to their peers. The statistics that shocked me the most was how mentoring affects a Littles' school performance; they are less likely to experience discipline from teachers, skip less days of school, have a higher interest in school, and strive to graduate. Mentoring also helps raise Littles' social skills; they have more self-control and are more likely to stand up for themselves. The Littles are not the only ones impacted by mentoring. I have also grown as a person. Mentoring has helped me learn how to step out of my comfort zone. I've learned a lot about how to be a mentor and that the best mentors are reliable and compassionate. Programs like Big Brother Big Sisters are so essential for communities as a whole for both the Bigs and Littles relationships face their own growth and reap a bounty of benefits. By volunteering as a mentor, I had the opportunity to contribute to this positive cycle, making a significant difference in young lives.” said, a 2023 senior mentor.

How to Become a Big
Interested in becoming a Big volunteer? Applications are available in the participating school districts’ offices, guidance counselors’ offices, or online at bigbrobigsis-shelbydarke.org. Whether you’re an adult, high school student, College Credit Plus student, or junior high student, you can make a difference by aligning your availability with the school district’s program schedule.

About Big Brothers Big Sisters of Shelby & Darke County
We are a nonprofit dedicated to providing professionally supported mentorship through our Site-Based Lunch Buddies and Community-Based Matches. Our mentoring relationships support the critical social and emotional development needed to build resilience and promote mental well-being.

Get Involved
Invest in a child’s future and help ignite, empower, and defend their potential. To learn more, visit our website at bigbrobigsis-shelbydarke.org or contact April Brubaker, Executive Director, at [email protected] or (937) 492-7611.

​Join us in making a lasting impact!
 

SHELBY COUNTY - The Shelby County Bassmasters hosted its annual Youth Day Fishing Derby for local families participating in programs offered by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Shelby & Darke County and other guests. The event was held on August 17, 2024 at the home of Mike Meyer, the owner of Meyer’s Garage and Drive Thru in Newport. Mike served previously as a board member for BBBSSD and enjoys supporting this annual event that has a positive impact on the youth in the community. He has partnered with the Bassmasters to host this annual event for over two decades.

“Our agency is grateful for Shelby County Bassmasters and Mike Meyer’s efforts to provide a day full of FUN for the families we serve through our Community and Site-Based Mentoring Programs. Their actions prove to us that they are defenders of potential and that they are committed to helping us ignite the potential within every child through meaningful mentorship.” said April Brubaker, Executive Director.

​The Bassmasters had over 20 volunteers on hand ready to assist BBBSSD Littles, Bigs, and families with the fundamentals of fishing during the derby. Volunteers taught the ins and outs of baiting a hook, casting a line, reeling in fish, untangling line, releasing fish, and most of all…. Patience! Bassmasters’ are passionate about fishing and want nothing more than to get youth hooked on fishing. “My heart melted every time I witnessed the excitement of a youth catching their first fish. Seeing their eyes light up and their smiles grow from ear to ear, and hearing the excitement in their voices, was priceless! What a wonderful way for our Big & Littles to spend time together.” said Jennifer Henke, Vice President of BBBSSD.

“This year’s event was a huge success with 20+ youth catching a total of 157 fish.” said Randy Dickerson, President of Shelby County Bassmasters. The event concluded with a picnic style lunch and an award ceremony to congratulate and award the winners with trophies and every youth taking home a FREE fishing pole.
Free fishing poles for each child was made possible by the proceeds generated from the Shelby County Bassmasters’ weekly “boat only” Fishing Tournament held at Lake Loramie every Thursday from May to September from 5:00-8:30pm. For more information about the tournament reach out to Rick Driskell at (937) 638-2184.

Funding and resources for the annual event were donated by Davis Meats, Hartzell Industries, Jason Vanderhorst, Kiwanis Club of Sidney, Meyer’s Garage & Drive Thru, Mully’s Outwest Drive Thru, Ohio Division of Natural Resources, Russ Michael, Sidney Foodtown, Sons of The American Legion Piqua Post #184, Spillway Bait & Tackle and Vicky Tipps.

​“Thank you to the Bassmasters members for hosting the event and for sharing your love for fishing with our Big Brothers Big Sisters family. Special thanks to Doug Wetzel for planning and coordinating the fun-filled event.” Says Jenette Stark, Mentor Specialist at BBBSSD.

​Group activities, such as the Youth Fishing Derby are offered at no cost to the agency’s Bigs & Littles Matches and their families. They are a great way for families and the BBBSSD staff to get to know one another, thus strengthening the positive impact on the youth our programs serve.

The Big Brothers Big Sisters of Shelby and Darke County Board of Trustees have selected
​ April Brubaker to lead the agency as the new executive director.

Brubaker is a Darke County native with more than a decade of nonprofit
organization experience, including Main Street Greenville, The Light Foundation,
Noble Circle Project, and United States Navy Cruisers Sailors Association. Her
experience includes youth program development, fundraising, grant writing and
event planning.

Brubaker’s ability to collaborate, organize and execute programs effectively
combined with her passion to positively impact of youth aligns exceptionally well
with the organization mission to create and support one-to-one mentoring
relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth.
Starting April 1, Brubaker will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of Big
Brothers Big Sisters operations, including program development, fundraising,
school and community programs and engagement initiatives. She will work closely
with the Board of Trustees, staff, volunteers and community partners to ensure the
organization continues making a positive impact in the lives of youth in Shelby and
Darke counties.

“On behalf of the Board of Trustees we are thrilled to welcome April to lead
our agency forward,” said Terri Flood, board president. “April’s creative ideas
to enhance youth programs, proven ability to leverage connections with
community partners, and diligent leadership makes her our preferred choice.”
Brubaker is excited to be centering her efforts around making a positive
impact on young lives. “It’s no secret that I am very passionate about kids.
They light up my world and feed my soul, which is something that I have
greatly missed and am beyond excited to be working in this rewarding field
again! I am honored to serve in the community where I am rooted and am
eager to also grow roots in Shelby County,” said Brubaker.

​Brubaker is influenced by the motto “Great things in business are never done
by one person they’re done by a team of people” - Steve Jobs. This motto is
valuable in every aspect of BBBS organization from the team of employees, to
the team of volunteers, supporters, and trustees and I can’t wait to get
started and become a part of the team!” said Brubaker.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Shelby and Darke County (BBBS) continues its mission to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. The organization’s vision is for all youth to achieve their full potential. After a change in leadership early last year, BBBS has continued to create and grow their mentoring programs to meet the ever growing demand for mentors for the youth in our community.

Executive Director Katie Prices has submitted the following report:

The core Community-based program is the most known program for the agency. In this program, adult “Bigs” are matched with youth “Littles” from the community to provide a mentoring relationship. Matches are asked to meet twice a month and are assigned to a Match Support Specialist who connects with them on a regular basis to offer assistance with building a safe, mentoring relationship. BBBS currently has 46 Shelby County matches, and eight Darke County matches with a growing waiting list for both counties.
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After a successful recruitment campaign, BBBS hit 94% of their goal to recruit 50 new prospective Bigs in 30 days. The agency rang in the new year with a whopping 28 new matches made in 2022 and celebrated their first match of 2023 on Friday, Jan. 6. Welcome Big Sister Tami and Little Sister Maddie!

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Big Brothers Big Sisters of Shelby and Darke County has announced they were selected to be the recipient of a $5,000 grant award from Emerson’s Women’s Impact Network. The Women’s Impact Network is one of many employee resource groups that Emerson provides to their employees in effort to promote diversity, equity and inclusion.
By supporting female employees in the STEM field, the Women’s Impact Network works to increase the number of women in leadership, attract a new generation of women through their many networking partnerships, and empower all women in their workforce.

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Volunteers from Big Brothers Big Sisters and their “Littles” recently enjoyed a Youth Day Fishing Derby. The Fishing Derby was sponsored by the Shelby County BassMasters with over 40 volunteers and Littles in attendance. This annual event was held on Saturday, Aug. 20 at the home of Mike Meyer in Fort Loramie. The outing included a cookout for all BassMaster members, their children, and the Big Brothers Big Sisters volunteers and Littles. The fishing event concluded with an award ceremony for the top fishermen in several age categories.
The Shelby County BassMasters were able to put on this event as a result of local fishermen participating in bass tournaments throughout the year with a modest portion of the entry fee going toward the purchase of individual poles for each child. Other donations were received by Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Hartzel Industries, Sons of the American Legion Piqua, Dannon Corporation, Davis Meats, Spillway Bait and Tackle, Vanderhorst’s wax worms, Mike Meyer, Russ Michaels, and Viki Tipps.

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Big Brothers Big Sisters has announced their 2022 scholarship recipients. The “Big Buddies” Scholarship is a $500 scholarship that could be awarded to up to four Shelby County and four Darke County students for the 2022/2023 college academic year.
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To qualify for this scholarship, students must have maintained at least a 2.5 GPA throughout high school, they must be a high-school senior enrolled in a Shelby County or Darke County school, and they had to have been involved as a volunteer for with at least a 60% attendance participation with the Big Brothers Big Sisters Big Buddies program in the last two years. Applicants must also have plans to pursue an associate’s or bachelor’s degree or Certificate in any field of study at an accredited two-or four-year college or university, technical school, or trade school. The scholarship also required students complete an application, submit references and write an essay or create a speech about why volunteering is important in the community and the impact volunteering has had on them.

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