Bryant offers children a day of fun in the sun

On April 21, the Big Sisters of Bryant paired up with the University’s football team and hosted an interactive event for children of the community. This past fall, the Big Sisters of Bryant underwent some major changes in creating a new mentor program that would be under the name of the Big Brothers and Big Sisters of the Ocean State. Soon after, the organization paired up with the Bryant football team and created this new mentor program.

Within the program, volunteers of both organizations traveled to local schools of the surrounding areas to help children with a variety of different needs.

Throughout the year, big sisters and brothers were matched with little sisters and brothers from these local schools. Quickly, the matches began forming special bonds as their relationships progressed during their Monday afternoon meetings. The Big Brothers and Big Sisters along with the football team worked hard to help these children with homework and assignments. However, they also recognized the importance of interaction through some fun activities including football and wrestling. Upon this interaction, it was recognized that a special day should be dedicated in honor of these children.

As a result, Bryant’s two organizations invited the children from the mentor program to campus this past Saturday. The Big Sisters of Bryant’s traditional matches from previous years were also invited and joined in on the festivities. Smiles prevailed throughout the entire afternoon as members of the Bryant community provided the children with an assortment of activities.

The football team was of great assistance under the supervision of Marty Fine in organizing a football clinic for the children, inviting the children into the team’s locker room for lunch, racing the children back towards the field for game time and gifting the children severa different prizes. Fine along with the Big Brothers and Big Sisters provided the attendees with a day that will never be forgotten. Among football, corn-hole, frisbee, duck-duck-goose and Bryant’s annual spring football scrimmage, there was something available for every child’s interest. As the day approached an end with a game of ‘stuck-in-the-mud,’ the children were awarded goody-bags to pair with their gifts from Marty Fine. Before sending the children and their matches back home, it was recognized that a difference was made in those children’s lives that day.

In moving forward, the Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Bryant look forward to hosting events with the football team and hope to continue making a positive impact on the community. The mentor program will be renewing membership again next fall, and anyone interested is urged to contact the Big Sisters of Bryant for more information at bigsisters@organizations.