Press Releases

November 25, 2003

Southampton College Big Brothers Big Sisters Celebrate Holiday Season in Style
"Bigs" and "Littles" Enjoy Spending Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays Together

Contact:
Seth Hurley pr@southampton.liu.edu
631-287-8313

Southampton, NY — The Big Brothers Big Sisters Program at Southampton College of Long Island University is celebrating the upcoming holidays in style. For the Thanksgiving celebration on November 25^th, the kids made picture frames and decorated cupcakes with their sponsors, and, as always, had fun doing it.

Big Brothers Big Sisters is a wonderful organization for children of all backgrounds. "Most people think it’s a program designed especially for needy or disadvantaged kids," said case manager Janet Douglass. "That’s not true at all. It’s an enrichment program for children of all walks of life where they can explore the opportunities a college environment has to offer."

The Big Brothers Big Sisters program at Southampton College works with children from the Bridgehampton and Southampton districts, and is divided into two semester-long programs. The "littles," as the children are affectionately called, are usually allowed to remain in the program for an entire two-semester period before they are "graduated" and new kids are brought in. The "bigs," Southampton College students, are encouraged to remain as counselors as long as they please, and most do, some even adjusting their class schedules so they can spend more time with the kids.

This year’s program has a record number 20 "bigs" paired with 20 "littles" and together they have all sorts of exciting and educational adventures. In its fifth year, Southampton College Big Brothers Big Sisters is the only program of its kind on Long Island. Some activities this year have included a visit to the radio station WLIU 88.3 FM, designing Internet web pages in the computer lab, and, coming up for the Christmas celebration, they will be baking some holiday treats and celebrating the winter season.

Big Brothers Big Sisters program meets once a week. "We’re proud of this program, and it provides a nice day for both our college students and the area children," said Tara McCarthy, Director of Student Activities. For more information contact (631) 287-8362.