The Security Service Charitable Foundation has donated $10,000 to help Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Texas (BBBS) train 1,000 volunteer mentors and another 1,000 San Antonio area parents.
“Security Service’s generous $10,000 donation is helping us to train mentors and parents in navigating topics like drugs and alcohol, bullying, social media and materialism—with the end goal of positively enhancing each child’s choices and quality of life,” said Denise Barkhurst, president and CEO for Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Texas. “Raising kids in this millennium can be difficult, and this is compounded by many of the struggles our clients face such as being a single parent, poverty, language and cultural barriers, incarceration, and the transitions and travel that comes with being a military family.”
The mission of BBBS is to provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one mentoring relationships that change their lives for the better, forever. In 2017, they served 2,482 youth, ages 5 to 21 years. Some 63% of these young people live in single parent homes, with grandparents or in foster care. Another 18% have a parent incarcerated, on probation or parole which puts them at a 70% higher risk of being imprisoned during their own lifetime. Additionally, 26% have household incomes below $10,000, and another 22% come from households with incomes between $10,000 and $20,000.
“At Security Service, we know that people become more successful when they are given the resources they need to thrive,” said Michelle Scott, board member for BBBS and senior vice president of consumer lending for Security Service Federal Credit Union. “We are honored to help Big Brothers Big Sisters as they equip more parents and volunteers with essential tools to positively shape the paths of at-risk youth. When volunteers and parents receive proper training, their mentoring relationships can be even more effective.”
The Security Service Charitable Foundation helps further Security Service Federal Credit Union’s corporate goal of community service by contributing to deserving organizations and causes in the credit union's market areas that better the community and help to improve the quality of life.
Cutline (from left): (L to R): Michelle Scott, Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Texas board member and senior vice president of consumer lending for Security Service Federal Credit Union, and Denise Barkhurst, president and CEO for Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Texas.