The Green Bay Packers announced today they will recognize Big Brothers Big Sisters as the nonprofit honoree for the Packers Give Back Game on Saturday, Aug. 14.
The preseason matchup between Green Bay and Houston will mark the inaugural Packers Give Back Game, which will annually support a benefiting charity from Wisconsin.
Hundreds of youth called "Littles" will receive a free bus ride to the game, enjoy a special tailgate party with their mentors, called "Bigs," and cheer on the team in a designated Big Brothers Big Sisters area in the north end zone.
"As a former 'big' myself, I know firsthand how important youth mentorship is and how being involved in Big Brothers Big Sisters makes an extraordinary difference in the lives of both the mentor and the child," said Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy. "We're proud to support Big Brothers Big Sisters through the Packers Give Back Game and we encourage those looking for a way to contribute to their community to learn more about the program."
The Packers have worked with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Wisconsin for many years by awarding grants and donations and providing opportunities for Big/Little matches to enjoy experiences at Packers games and Lambeau Field. Additionally, Packers players, alumni and staff frequently appear at Big Brothers Big Sisters events to help raise awareness for the need for volunteers and mentors. There are 15 Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies in Wisconsin. To find the nearest agency in Wisconsin, visit https://wisconsinbbbs.org/.
"Big Brothers Big Sisters is proud to be the charity partner for the Packers' Give Back Game," said Katie Hess, Executive Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Wisconsin. "Mentoring is a powerful tool the community can use to heal from the impacts of the pandemic. We are grateful to the Packers organization for helping bring more awareness to the positive impacts of mentoring."
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America has also been recognized and supported by the NFL, recently receiving an NFL Inspire Change grant under the education category. The funding is aimed at supporting youth in three programs: Children Impacted by Incarceration, Sports Buddies (building a connection through a shared love of sports), and Bigs in Blue/Bigs with Badges. The grant also has helped to generate public awareness of the need for more mentors, with an emphasis on recruiting male volunteers.
This year's Packers Give Back Game will also continue the team's support of Bishop's Charities and the Midwest Shrine Association, traditional recipients of preseason game recognition. During seasons in which the Packers host two preseason games, the second game will be dedicated to celebrating youth football as the USA Football Game.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America:
Founded in 1904, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America is the largest and most experienced youth mentoring organization in the United States. The mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America is to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. Big Brothers Big Sisters' evidence-based approach is designed to create positive youth outcomes, including educational success, avoidance of risky behaviors, higher aspirations, greater confidence, and improved relationships. Big Brothers Big Sisters has more than 230 local agencies serving more than 5,000 communities across all 50 states. For more information, visit: www.bigbrothersbigsisters.org.
