Christmas came a second time for Big Brothers Big Sisters when Tryon Beer Fest made a donation to the organization from proceeds from the fall festival. Big Brothers Big Sisters was named a charity recipient for the event and, in return, the BBBS program coordinator arranged for nearly 20 volunteers to help with the festival. Big Brothers Big Sisters was chosen due to the positive impact of their mentoring programs for area youth.

TDDA strives to promote design and economic development via innovative thinking and creative promotion, and celebrates the uniqueness of our community. In addition to promoting the Town of Tryon, sharing the success of the event is important to the Tryon Beer Fest Committee. They are pleased to give back to the community to support the local branch of Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Big Brothers Big Sisters recruits and trains volunteers to serve as mentors to children in area elementary schools and communities. Most of the youth served are from single-parent homes, live with a grandparent(s), have a parent incarcerated, or live in other nontraditional home circumstances. The mentoring programs, proven in independent studies to highly benefit children, are generously supported through grants and donations from individuals, businesses, civic groups and churches in the community.

Tryon Beer Fest committee member Cindy Viehman, and other members of Tryon Downtown Development Association, Anne Foster Day and Penny Padgett, presented a $1,000 check to Big Brothers Big Sisters.

For more information about Big Brothers Big Sisters, call 828-859-9230, 899-9699, or email polk@bbbswnc.org.

Submitted by Karen Dacey