Big Brothers Big Sisters gets donation from sheriff’s deputies

Big Brothers Big Sisters
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Illinois serves nearly 800 youth in Bloomington, Champaign, Decatur and surrounding areas. (Photo courtesy Facebook/Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Illinois)

By Adam Studzinski

BLOOMINGTON – McLean County Sheriff’s Deputies made a $5,000 donation to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Illinois this past week.

“The McLean County Deputies, the FOP Lodge 176, has been a sponsor for us ever since we came into the community in 1996,” CEO Corey Burrows said.

Burrows explained it costs approximately $1,200 to support one match over the course of a year.

“$5,000 goes a long way to helping make sure we have the adequate programming we need for the kids,” he said.

Nearly 800 children in Bloomington, Champaign, Decatur and surrounding areas are involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Adam Studzinski can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…