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CONTACT:
Kimberly Breeden
Big Brothers Big Sisters
919 286.7155
info@bbbsdo.org

Trustees of The Duke Endowment Endorse Local Mentoring Program

Durham, NC, 31, March, 2001—Big Brothers Big Sisters of Durham and Orange Counties has been awarded a grant of $50,000 from The Duke Endowment, which has indicated its intent to award the program an additional $100,000 over the next two years.

The Duke Endowment is a private foundation established by the late James Buchanan Duke in 1924. The Endowment serves the people of North Carolina and South Carolina by supporting programs of higher education, health care, Children's welfare, and spiritual life. In 2000, the Endowment awarded almost $100 million in grants.

Through its Child Care Division, the Endowment works with not-for-profit Children's homes and agencies like Big Brothers Big Sisters that enhance services and opportunities for children and their families.

"Its an honor to be awarded this grant," said Sabrina Slade, Executive Director of Big Brother Big Sisters of Durham and Orange Counties. "It will strengthen our program initiatives and greatly enhance our ability to implement our agency's signature program-a One-To-One relationship between an adult volunteer and a child at risk."

"The Big Brothers Big Sisters program has a proven record of effectiveness in helping young people develop positive relationships and enhance their ability to handle the challenges of adulthood," said Rhett Mabry, director of the Endowment's Child Care Division. "We are pleased to be able to support Big Brothers Big Sisters and its goals of improving young lives."

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