Nike dedicates nearly half a million to Big Brothers Big Sisters Columbia Northwest

July 8, 2011 - PRLog -- Big Brothers Big Sisters Columbia Northwest is the beneficiary of $445,000 from Nike, with individual gifts from Nike employees continuing to stream in.

"Nike has been a critical part of our growth. This growth propelled us to serve 3,000 children annually, becoming the eighth largest Big Brothers Big Sisters program in the country," said Big Brothers Big Sisters Columbia Northwest CEO Lynn Thompson. "Furthermore, the investments are strategic. Their recent gifts help us recruit male and African American mentors, and get children moving and active through sports. Through the donation of time and money, Nike is helping us reach our goal of serving 6,000 children by 2014. Together, we envision more children graduating from high school and college and reaching their potential in Oregon and Southwest Washington.”

As the title sponsor for the agency’s largest fundraiser, Bowl For Kids’ Sake, Nike and its employees raised $132,000. With the help of community supporters and partners, Bowl For Kids’ Sake raised over $212,000, beating the event goal of $200,000 and ensuring professional support to 200 volunteer and child matches for one year.

The Nike Black Employees Network stepped up yet again by donating $50,000 from sales of a shoe designed for Black History month.

Nike’s goal to impact the local community does not end in 2011. The company donated $50,000 a year for five years to fund the agency’s newest mentoring program: Sports Buddies. Sports Buddies is a great way to impact the life of a child while participating in sports.

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Big Brothers Big Sisters Columbia Northwest provides children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever. The agency serves Clackamas, Clark, Cowlitz, Multnomah, Skamania, Wahkiakum and Washington counties — with future expansion planned for Marion County. In 2010, Big Brothers Big Sisters Columbia Northwest supported 2,784 children — and the volunteer mentors who serve them, making it the largest Big Brothers Big Sisters agency on the west coast and 8th largest nationwide.