RALEIGH, N.C., August 23, 2006 — Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Triangle announced today that UNC basketball commentator Eric Montross has partnered with Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Triangle to serve as the agency’s spokesperson. As a well-known role model in the Triangle, Eric will use his resources to help raise awareness, recruit volunteers and gain the community’s support of BBBS/Triangle. He will be the main spokesperson in upcoming radio and television commercials for BBBS/Triangle.

Eric is best known in the Triangle community as a member of the 1993 UNC NCAA Championship basketball team. In 1994, he was the ninth overall pick in the NBA draft by the Boston Celtics. Throughout his NBA career he also played with the Dallas Mavericks, New Jersey Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, Detroit Pistons, and ended his professional basketball career with the Toronto Raptors in 2004. Currently, Eric is one of the lead color analysts for the Tar Heel Sports Network.

As part of his ongoing service to the Triangle community, Eric established The Father’s Day Basketball Camp in 1995. More than $600,000 has been raised since the camp’s inception, and all proceeds from the camp benefit the North Carolina Children’s Hospital.

“Eric is truly a role model and we are fortunate to have him as our spokesperson,” said Kim Breeden, CEO of BBBS/Triangle. “His involvement will hopefully bring awareness to BBBS and get more individuals involved to help us serve more children in the Triangle.”

"Big Brothers Big Sisters is a wonderful organization and I am proud that they selected me to be their spokesperson,” said Eric Montross. “Mentoring is important, I know first hand from my days with Coach Dean Smith. I hope I can help recruit new Big brothers and Big sisters."

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 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.