March is shaping up to be a big month for at least one area organization.
While Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Simcoe hosts its annual bowling fundraiser in late March, a “BIG” benefit concert featuring Canadian award-winning singer-songwriter Tara Shannon is slated for Tuesday evening at Georgian Bay District Secondary School with all proceeds going to the agency’s in-school mentoring program.
“We are so excited to have Tara bring the show to our community and excited for the opportunity she is providing to our community’s young people,” said Hunter Markle, the organization’s fundraising & community development coordinator, noting Shannon became very familiar with the agency’s work as an ambassador for the Morguard Be You Girl Campaign.
Added Shannon in a release: “I loved everything about their programs and mission statement from the onset and couldn’t believe they had been around for over 100 years which says so much.
“Mentoring is a core function of the work I do as a business consultant, label owner and mother of seven so it’s a natural fit for me and the power of mentoring cannot be overstated – it is truly life changing.”
Markle noted that Shannon will be performing her song Be You with a number of “Littles from our agency” along with the 21-piece youth orchestra from Sistema Huronia, which she noted will add an extra creative element to the show since this marks the only tour performance that includes a youth orchestra.
Also joining Shannon on the bill are Jessica Pearson and The East Wind along with local artist Emma Reynolds, who will be opening the show with Scott Cooper and Carey Moran serving as the evening’s emcees.
The in-school mentoring program, meanwhile, has now expanded to nine schools throughout the region.
“A couple of years ago, we were at four schools. With wonderful growth comes need, so we now need about 40 in-school mentors,” Markle said, noting the program gives students the chance to meet a community mentor once a week.
“A teacher recommends children who might be helped. It’s not necessarily academic attention. It could be (helping) a child who doesn’t like reading or physical activity or is quiet and reserved. It doesn’t have to be groundbreaking things you do with them.”
Markle said mentors, who come from all walks of life, commit to help out for the school year and could eventually decide to become a Big Brother or Big Sister should they really take to the mentoring experience.
As for the agency’s Bowl for Kids’ Sake, it’s scheduled to run March 27 to 29 at Penetanguishene’s Knight Haven Bowling Lanes and Bayshore Lanes in Midland with Tim Horton’s of Midland/Penetanguishene serving as the title sponsor and Charles Morden Construction and Huronia Alarms also onboard.
“It’s our signature event,” Markle said, noting they’re hoping to attract 126 teams of four to six players with each player encouraged to raise a minimum of $50.
“We’ll also have raffles and prizes.”
Tickets for the concert are $25 and can be purchased at the door or here.
