Sponsor a Little Program

About the Event:

Many of the families involved in Big Brothers Big Sisters need support providing school supplies for their children. In 2018, Big Brothers Big Sisters of SWLA created a new program to help these families in need called “Sponsor a Little.”

People in the community volunteer to become sponsors. They receive a Little’s school supply list and purchase all the supplies they need for the year. They’re also able to get something personal and fun for the Little. 

The overwhelming support from the community has given BBBS the ability to increase the number of Littles they can sponsor every year.

In 2020, between restrictions with COVID-19 and two devastating hurricanes in August and September, Big Brothers Big Sisters was unable to hold their traditional Sponsor a Little Back-to-School program. 

Instead, they decided to hold a Sponsor a Little *Christmas Edition* where the community could provide Littles Christmas gifts instead of school supplies. 

Sponsors dropped off gifts for each Little and we organized a drive-thru Christmas pick-up. It provided a way for the parents and guardians to safely bring the Littles to get their gifts.

Planning:

I was in charge of the marketing, graphic design, coordination of gift dropoffs, securing sponsors, and day-of setup of the event. 

I coordinated with our program team to get the list of Little Brothers and Little Sisters in order to reach out to their parents/guardians. I created graphics to send out as we secured sponsors that included information about each Little.

Each year, I've promoted our Sponsor a Little program through BBBS's social media channels, paid ads, local news media outlets through live and pre-recorded interviews, digital billboards, and by also reaching out to sponsors from previous years.

We've always reached our goal in the number of sponsors needed to provide our Littles with school supplies or Christmas gifts.