RALEIGH, N.C., June 29, 2006 —DURHAM, N.C., June 29, 2006 — The Duke Endowment has awarded Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Triangle a sizeable grant to assist in the recruitment and retainment of a full-time Fund Development Officer. The Endowment has awarded BBBS/Triangle $82,000 for the first year, with plans to continue support in the following two years. The award allows BBBS/Triangle to use the funds directly toward the salary of a qualified Fund Development executive. Additional funds have been allocated to retain an independent area consultant to assist in the search.

The Duke Endowment is a private foundation established by the late James Buchanan Duke in 1924. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the Endowment serves the people of North and South Carolina by supporting programs of higher education, health care, children’s welfare and spiritual life. In 2005, the Duke Endowment awarded over $124 million in grants.

“Even the most successful mid-sized non-profits have a difficult time bootstrapping their program and operations infrastructure,” said Rhett Mabry, The Duke Endowment Director of Child Care. “We’re pleased to be in a position to help the newly-merged organization become a fully-sustained presence in the Triangle.”

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.

“This award comes at a great time,” said BBBS/Triangle CEO Kimberly Breeden. “Full-time dedication to tapping the Triangle’s tremendous funding resources will allow us to sustain our rapid program growth.”

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Triangle is a non-profit, affiliate agency of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. The agency initiated its signature “one to one” mentoring program in 2000 and today serves nearly 1,000 children, ages 6 through 14, throughout the Triangle. Volunteers are matched with children to provide support, guidance and friendship as they grow to become more confident and caring individuals.

Big Brother Big Sisters, founded in 1904, is the oldest and largest youth mentoring organization in the United States. In 2004, the organization served more than 225,000 youths, ages six through 18, in 5,000 communities across the country in one-to-one relationships. In 2003, Forbes placed Big Brothers Big Sisters on its Gold-Star list of the top 10 charities for its excellence in efficiency and effectiveness. The national headquarters is located in Philadelphia, PA.