Big Brothers Big Sisters Featured on NBC's Today Show for Bigs in Blue Initiative
Date and Time
Thursday Nov 3, 2016
8:00 AM - 8:05 AM EDT
Thursday, November 3, 2016
8:30 AM
To air on NBC's "Today Show"
Website
Description
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Virginia is thrilled to announce that they will be featured on a national broadcast of the Today Show on Thursday, November 3, 2016 at 8:30 AM. This Today Show story will highlight the national Bigs in Blue initiative, which recruits law enforcement to serve as mentors in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. The Today Show will tell the story of Big Brother Ryan Brady and Little Brother Robert, who are matched in the Big Brothers Big Sisters Oliver Hill Mentoring Program.
Oliver Hill was a prominent African American attorney who fought for equitable pay for minority teachers in the Brown vs. Board of Education case. Robert was in 3rd grade when he was matched with Ryan in January 2014. Big Brother Ryan is a police officer and detective for Roanoke City, which is a pivotal reason he decided to become a Big Brother.
"I became a police officer because I wanted to help the community, but I knew that wasn't enough to make a true impact. That's why I decided to get involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters," Big Brother Ryan said.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America's Bigs in Blue program is built on the belief that trust and understanding in a community are developed one relationship at a time. A police officer who volunteers to be a part of Bigs in Blue will be matched with a child facing adversity in the community. Many children see police officers solely as authority figures, not as regular people. Bigs in Blue will not only enable youth to bond with caring, supportive officers, but will also enable officers to get to know the community they serve.
Learn more about Big Brother Ryan and Little Brother Robert on the Today Show on Thursday, November 3 at 8:30AM or visit www.bigslittles.org.