August 25, 2025 • 17 mins
Big Brothers Big Sisters prepares for their fifth annual Manhattan fundraiser, a 1950s-themed cocktail party on September 20th at the K-State Alumni Center to support their youth mentorship programs.
• One-to-one mentoring connects caring adults with youth facing adversity to build long-lasting friendships
• This year's event transforms from a bourbon tasting to a Mad Men-inspired 1950s cocktail party
• Special auction items include diamond earrings and a mystery trip to an undisclosed location
• Event features photo opportunities, cocktail contests with local bartenders, and both silent and live auctions
• Currently serving 167 matches with approximately 47 children ready to be matched and 50 more in process
• Community member volunteers tend to maintain longer relationships with their "Littles" than college students
• Time commitment is manageable—just 30 minutes weekly for school-based or 4 hours monthly for community-based mentoring
• Anyone can be a "Big"—individuals, couples, and families are all welcome to participate
• The most important qualification is simply showing up consistently for a child who needs connection
Join us September 20th at the K-State Alumni Center in your 1950s attire. Visit The Manhattan on Facebook or kansasbigs.org under community events to purchase tickets or participate in the silent auction.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Philanthropy Today is brought to you by the Greater
Manhattan Community Foundation.
In this episode we feature arecently broadcast segment of
the GMCF Community Hour, asheard on NewsRadio KMAN.
We are back with the GMCFCommunity Hour here on NewsRadio
KMAN and we are going to betalking about a special event
(00:21):
that has become a fun annualthing that raises money for big
brothers, big sisters, kansasbig brothers, big sisters
serving riley county, michellesink and friends always bring a
crowd yeah, I guess so.
And you know what?
It's a fun crowd it is.
I have the funnest entouragethat you'll ever meet uh-huh,
(00:43):
yes, so our entourage here Now,this is not to be confused.
Entourage is what, on HBO, Inever saw it.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
It used to be on HBO.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
It used to be on HBO, is it no longer?
Speaker 3 (00:54):
I mean, it's been canceled for about 10 years.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
Okay good, I never saw it, so you know I'm familiar
with it.
I I'm going to have you pullyour mic a little bit closer to
you.
Okay, All right.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
Does that?
Speaker 1 (01:04):
work.
So they gave me this nicelittle postcard here that says
Melissa Solden that's me, andGabriela Vega Hello, I'm sure
glad you gave me this card Beprepared.
It takes a handful of peopleand a lot of fun people to pull
(01:24):
off the Manhattan.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
It does.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
Yeah, you might give us a little bit of a rundown
about what Big Brothers, bigSisters does.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
Sure.
So we provide a one-to-onementoring service between caring
adults and youth facing somelevel of adversity, and we do a
case friendship throughout that,hoping that it will be a long,
lasting friendship that reallychanges the lives of kids in our
community.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
I saw a picture of a recent match that you guys put
on social media and obviouslyyou know that.
Those two just I can't rememberthe names, but they just look
like they're ready to have somefun together.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
I think almost every time I see one of those pictures
I genuinely see like a bloomingrelationship and you see all of
the excitement and hope, notjust for the kids but also for
the adults that are going tomentor those kids.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
Yeah, yeah, well, you guys do a lot of work and
there's a lot of things thatneed to be done in the community
to help with the process ofgetting everybody mashed up, and
you have created a fun drazer.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
Yeah, is that what you call it?
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (02:35):
Fun drazer.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
Fun drazer, yes, yes.
Yeah, have you never heard thatbefore.
No, I think I thought Iinvented that word actually.
Oh yeah, Maybe have you neverheard that before?
No, I think I thought Iinvented that word actually.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
Oh, yeah, maybe it was.
I call it a fundraiser,fundraiser, not yeah, but this
is our fundraiser.
This is your fundraiser.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
Yeah, it's actually our fifth annual fundraiser I
don't know where that time hasgone here for the Manhattan, and
we're changing things up alittle bit, so we're super
excited for that.
We're changing things up alittle bit, so we're super
excited for that.
In the past we've done it as abourbon tasting, but as things
have kind of evolved, we'vedecided that we want to try
something new, and so we aregoing with a decades party,
which is kind of the new thingwith the Manhattan.
(03:20):
The investment you make todaywill change lives forever, and
so we're doing a 1950s themethis year, but not a cop type
thing.
No, sock hops here.
It's a madman cocktail partyanother show I've never seen
yeah, in some tv time, dave.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
What is wrong with you?
Speaker 1 (03:42):
I just just don't watch much TV.
You know, I'm mostly a musicguy, I'm a little bit, I just
don't watch much TV.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
I've heard about that , about you.
You're a music guy.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
Yeah, yeah.
So, gabriella, what's your role?
Speaker 3 (03:55):
here, one of the many wonderful businesses in town
that support Big Brothers, bigSisters and are actual sponsors
of the Manhattan event.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
Actually they are our community sponsors.
So they have been our premiersponsors for our golf tournament
and for the Manhattan and forour Bowl for Kids sake this year
.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
What inspired Adair Law to get involved with Big
Brothers, big Sisters?
Speaker 3 (04:27):
this year.
What inspired Adair Law to getinvolved with Big Brothers, big
Sisters?
Well, simply, we believe that,as a business, it's not enough
to just be in Manhattan andemploy people and serve our
clients.
We believe that, in order totruly serve our community and to
make it the kind of communitythat we want to be involved in,
the kind of community that wewant to be involved in, the kind
of community that we want tolive in, the kind of community
(04:48):
that our employees want to livein, we must do things that
support organizations that aredoing great work.
Our principal focus is onyouth-based organizations, and
so we tend to sponsororganizations that have a bent
towards helping youth flourish.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
And Melissa Solden.
You are on staff the bigbrothers, big sisters but you're
also an entrepreneur anddealing with kids and a mom.
You got all kinds of thingsgoing on here and you know this
is just something.
You bring vibrancy to anythingand everything that you do,
that's true.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
Is that right do?
Speaker 3 (05:28):
I know you guys well enough to say this out loud yes
Speaker 1 (05:32):
absolutely so you know, whenever you and I have
worked together on events andwe've done a lot of work on
events together you just havethis excitement level that is
really tough for a lot of peopleto understand and grasp.
So what is it?
Match, yes.
What is it about the Manhattanin 2025 that brings you joy?
Speaker 4 (05:56):
I think, just when we were sitting and reflecting on
Manhattan 2024 and how impactfulit was to, when we watched a
video that a really specialmatch Jeremy and Sirian had put
together and it just movedpeople in the room, and so when
we went to fill that room with,people continued people being
(06:19):
able to see and engage with ourmatches, seeing and hearing what
our program does, getting tohear from other bigs and being
able to fill their room withmore bigs 2025 started to come
to life and we're really tryingto make an impact for a long
time for our community.
That is something that weinstill with our matches.
(06:40):
It's a focus of wanting tobring matches on that will stay
for a longevity, with kidsstarting them at that
kindergarten, first grade,second grade level and matching
them for their entirety, andit's really special to hear
stories of people that are ableto do that, and so we'll have an
element of bigs being in theroom, which we're excited about,
(07:01):
and then I think, just reallygetting to share that story.
I think, as we talk aboutreally putting the fun in
fundraising, I think that that'swhat makes the event special.
And when Michelle and I wereable to team up and work
together at Big Brothers, bigSisters.
I think that's been the mostexciting thing.
And then having communitypartners in the dares and coming
(07:22):
on, it really has made for areally special event.
And then our 50s theme that wehave we have some cocktail
contests that will be happening,some really special I mean we
feel like at Big Billiards, bigSisters.
I mean if we could have had anew heights show where we would
(07:42):
showcase one of our auctionitems, we maybe could have
broken the internet beforeTaylor and Travis did, but we
were able to share it because wehave a cool auction item.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
We all must have goals.
Speaker 4 (07:53):
So we have some, yeah , just really cool stuff that's
going on.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
Michelle break out the details.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
Yeah, so it is coming up very soon, actually on
September 20th, at the alumnicenter, starting at seven
o'clock.
Speaker 1 (08:09):
You can dress as you want, so not just a black suit
and skinny ties.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
I mean you can, I love that, but like, especially,
I think, for the women, likewe're all a little bit extra
here in this room and so if youdon't think that I have, four
different dresses to choose fromyou would be wrong, because I
do have four different dresses.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
Decisions are going to have to be made.
Speaker 4 (08:33):
Or costume changes.
Yes, Cocktails.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
But I also don't want people to feel like they have
to come dressed in a certain way.
Dress as you want, but justcome and have fun.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
Okay, all right.
At the K-State Alumni Center.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
And that's a new venue for you this year.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
It is, it is, but I want Melissa to talk about, I
think, one of our funnest thingscoming up, which is our yes.
Speaker 4 (09:03):
Melissa, let's talk about this, one of the funnest
things that you've got coming upwith care travel.
They were kind enough to puttogether a trip that we'll have,
and one of their specialties isstarting to do mystery trips.
So you share, no, our trip.
We already.
We already know, michelle and Ihave a secret envelope that has
this location in it that justthe two of us, as well as our
partners at care travel, knowabout, but we will be sending
(09:25):
someone, through raffle ticketpurchases to a mystery location
that will raffle off that nightsounds like fun.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
We are at.
A live auction is part of thislive auction.
Speaker 4 (09:35):
Yes, we'll have seven really cool uh experiences and
items um Jewelry will be part ofit.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
Yeah, thanks to G Thomas.
Bobby over there gave us areally beautiful set of one and
a half carat diamond earrings.
Speaker 3 (09:55):
I'm going to have to bid on that.
Speaker 1 (09:56):
Did you hear Gabrielle just go?
Speaker 3 (09:57):
boom.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
What do you mean?
Going to have to bid on that?
No, you're going to have to winthat bid on that.
Speaker 3 (10:04):
That's that's what you're thinking.
Speaker 4 (10:06):
That is exactly what I'm thinking uh-huh absolutely
as the guests enter that eveningwe'll have two really special
areas to take fun photos, sokind of think about your 1950s
photos that you want to have.
We we'll have some peoplestyling people, so really cool
takeaways.
But also we'll have a cocktailcontest and we have three really
(10:27):
special bartenders coming torepresent full circle Speak easy
and Aero Cocktail Lounge, sothey'll be, competing for
special helping.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
Is Owen one of those?
Speaker 4 (10:43):
No, okay, yeah, we don't know yet who all is going
to be.
We're along with that mysterycocktail bartender.
That mystery is we don't knowwho it's going to be yet.
Mystery celebrity bartendersright, yes, really now.
Buy your tickets and you'llfind out.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
All right, September 20.
How do you get tickets,Michelle?
Speaker 2 (11:01):
Yeah, well, you can go to our Facebook page.
We actually have a Facebookpage called the Manhattan and on
there there is a link toeverything that you would want
to be, whether it's a sponsor.
Buy a ticket, donate an auctionitem, and then we'll also be
having our auction items listedon there if you want to bid,
because we will open our silentauction a little bit early and
(11:24):
you won't have to be present towin the silent auction items.
So if you're not able to buy aticket, but you still want to
give back to Big Brothers, bigSisters, you're welcome to hop
online and check those out.
Speaker 1 (11:36):
And that website is kansasbigsorg.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
For our website.
Yes, and then you have to go tocommunities and then to events
to find us that direction.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
Navigate around, you'll find it.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
Yeah, but if you do the Facebook page, you can go
directly to the link, because ithas a link to it, right, cool?
Speaker 1 (11:54):
Awesome.
Well, Michelle, let's talk abit about some of the functions
within Big Brothers, Big Sisters.
So how many matches do you havecurrently?
Speaker 2 (12:05):
We have about 167.
Speaker 1 (12:06):
That's up, isn't it?
Speaker 2 (12:08):
It is.
It is One of the things thatwe've seen happen a lot recently
is we've had a lot morecommunity members that have been
applying to be bigs, and thosecommunity members tend to stay
in their matches longer, whichis very awesome.
We love our college students,but we typically know that those
will be a two-year match, whichis still great, and we love
(12:29):
that those kids are being served, but having those community
members is so vital and soimportant.
I really look at our program aswe are one of the few programs
that's proactive in changing ourcommunity, not reactive.
So our job is really to makesure that we're changing what
Manhattan will look like in thefuture by helping these kids.
Speaker 1 (12:50):
Okay.
Do you have a bunch of kids onthe waiting list?
Speaker 2 (12:53):
We'll always have a bunch of kids on the waiting
list.
We actually don't do anyrecruiting.
We have about 47 kids right nowthat are ready to be matched,
so, and then we have aboutprobably another 50 that are in
the queue, that are goingthrough their interview
processes and getting theirfamilies interviewed, and all of
(13:13):
that.
Speaker 1 (13:15):
There always seems to be some terrific stories that
you can tell about the matchesbetween your bigs and littles.
What comes to mind when I askyou for one example?
Speaker 2 (13:26):
I'm always going to tell you my favorite story,
which is about my little sister,sophie, and I have been matched
for going.
It'll be five years in October.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
So you practice what you preach.
Speaker 2 (13:37):
I do, I do.
I'm picking her up from schooltoday and hanging out.
I'm going to give her thechoice that we can go to to
maybe to who hot or and eat, orI'm going to see if she wants to
come over and help me decoratefor Halloween, because it is.
It is August and it's almostover, so we've got to get that
Halloween going.
It's almost September, it'sHalloween time.
Speaker 1 (13:57):
Oh yeah, we only have the Manhattan right in between
Right.
Speaker 2 (14:01):
But one of the things I think that's really impactful
.
So we've actually been schoolbased so up until this summer we
have just had lunch at schoolonce a week during the school
year.
We don't meet over the holidays.
We didn't meet over thesummertime, but in that time
(14:26):
we've still developed a really,really great friendship and we
knew that we were going to beconverting to be a site plus,
which means we'll meet at schoolbut we can also do stuff
outside of school.
And I did my part.
But her mom is very busyn'tgotten their part of their
conversion interview completedand her mom texted me and said
Sophia is really struggling thissummer and she's isolating
(14:47):
herself, she's not taking careof herself, she seems really sad
and one of the things that shekeeps asking me is when do I get
to see Michelle?
And then I read that and then Istarted to cry and um, I might
cry now, um, so like yeah.
I know that we like really justmake an impact on those kids and
(15:09):
, um, I'm not her mom, I'mgenuinely her friend and you
know we hang out, we try newfoods, we do all of that stuff.
But just showing up for thatkid is so important, so
important, Just showing up.
Speaker 1 (15:23):
There are always some myths about being a big.
Speaker 2 (15:28):
Yeah, there are.
I think that one of them istime.
People think that I don't havetime to do that, but really what
I ask for your time is either30 minutes of your lunch or
during your work day, justduring the school year, once a
week.
And then, if you're meeting ina community-based match, I'd ask
(15:50):
you that you commit to meetingtwice a month for at least one
to two hours, so four hours max.
And if you are married, you canstill be a big.
You can be a big as anindividual, you can be a big as
a couple.
I have one married couple.
They are both bigs.
(16:10):
She has a little sister, he hasa little brother.
They do stuff apart from eachother, but then they also
sometimes do stuff with the fourof them.
And you can be a big as afamily.
So the husband and wife or thepartners can all be background
checked so you can transportthat child, but then that kid
can come just do stuff as, notas a foster child, but just as
(16:34):
as a friend coming along.
And so I think that having thetime and and and, then people
say like, well, I'm notqualified or I'm not good enough
.
I'm like can you just show up,because just showing up is what
they need.
They don't need somebody thathas an immense amount of talent
or that is great with kids,because sometimes you might not
(16:54):
be great with kids, but you knowyou might be a great friend to
a teenager.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
Melissa, we uh a little bit short on time, but
give us the details again on theManhattan.
Speaker 4 (17:06):
Yes, join us September 20th in your 1950s
attire at the K-State AlumniCenter.
Go to the Manhattan on Facebookor visit us at kansasbigsorg.
Navigate to community eventsand find us there.
Speaker 1 (17:21):
And Gabriella Vega.
We appreciate your support andthe engagement in the community
that Adair Law has.
Speaker 3 (17:27):
Thank you.
We're so honored to be part ofthis community and we're so
honored to be part of BigBrothers, big Sisters.
Speaker 1 (17:32):
In our next segment, flint Hills Volunteer Center's
Executive Director, lori Bishop,will be joining us.
This is the GMCF Community Hourhere on NewsRadio KMAN.
You can always find out moreabout the work that is being
done here at the GMCF on ourwebsite, mcfksorg.
Philanthropy Today is brought to you by the Greater
Manhattan Community Foundation.
In this episode we feature arecently broadcast segment of
the GMCF Community Hour, asheard on NewsRadio KMAN.
We are back with the GMCFCommunity Hour here on NewsRadio
KMAN and we are going to betalking about a special event
(00:21):
that has become a fun annualthing that raises money for big
brothers, big sisters, kansasbig brothers, big sisters
serving riley county, michellesink and friends always bring a
crowd yeah, I guess so.
And you know what?
It's a fun crowd it is.
I have the funnest entouragethat you'll ever meet uh-huh,
(00:43):
yes, so our entourage here Now,this is not to be confused.
Entourage is what, on HBO, Inever saw it.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
It used to be on HBO.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
It used to be on HBO, is it no longer?
Speaker 3 (00:54):
I mean, it's been canceled for about 10 years.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
Okay good, I never saw it, so you know I'm familiar
with it.
I I'm going to have you pullyour mic a little bit closer to
you.
Okay, All right.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
Does that?
Speaker 1 (01:04):
work.
So they gave me this nicelittle postcard here that says
Melissa Solden that's me, andGabriela Vega Hello, I'm sure
glad you gave me this card Beprepared.
It takes a handful of peopleand a lot of fun people to pull
(01:24):
off the Manhattan.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
It does.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
Yeah, you might give us a little bit of a rundown
about what Big Brothers, bigSisters does.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
Sure.
So we provide a one-to-onementoring service between caring
adults and youth facing somelevel of adversity, and we do a
case friendship throughout that,hoping that it will be a long,
lasting friendship that reallychanges the lives of kids in our
community.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
I saw a picture of a recent match that you guys put
on social media and obviouslyyou know that.
Those two just I can't rememberthe names, but they just look
like they're ready to have somefun together.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
I think almost every time I see one of those pictures
I genuinely see like a bloomingrelationship and you see all of
the excitement and hope, notjust for the kids but also for
the adults that are going tomentor those kids.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
Yeah, yeah, well, you guys do a lot of work and
there's a lot of things thatneed to be done in the community
to help with the process ofgetting everybody mashed up, and
you have created a fun drazer.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
Yeah, is that what you call it?
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (02:35):
Fun drazer.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
Fun drazer, yes, yes.
Yeah, have you never heard thatbefore.
No, I think I thought Iinvented that word actually.
Oh yeah, Maybe have you neverheard that before?
No, I think I thought Iinvented that word actually.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
Oh, yeah, maybe it was.
I call it a fundraiser,fundraiser, not yeah, but this
is our fundraiser.
This is your fundraiser.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
Yeah, it's actually our fifth annual fundraiser I
don't know where that time hasgone here for the Manhattan, and
we're changing things up alittle bit, so we're super
excited for that.
We're changing things up alittle bit, so we're super
excited for that.
In the past we've done it as abourbon tasting, but as things
have kind of evolved, we'vedecided that we want to try
something new, and so we aregoing with a decades party,
which is kind of the new thingwith the Manhattan.
(03:20):
The investment you make todaywill change lives forever, and
so we're doing a 1950s themethis year, but not a cop type
thing.
No, sock hops here.
It's a madman cocktail partyanother show I've never seen
yeah, in some tv time, dave.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
What is wrong with you?
Speaker 1 (03:42):
I just just don't watch much TV.
You know, I'm mostly a musicguy, I'm a little bit, I just
don't watch much TV.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
I've heard about that , about you.
You're a music guy.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
Yeah, yeah.
So, gabriella, what's your role?
Speaker 3 (03:55):
here, one of the many wonderful businesses in town
that support Big Brothers, bigSisters and are actual sponsors
of the Manhattan event.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
Actually they are our community sponsors.
So they have been our premiersponsors for our golf tournament
and for the Manhattan and forour Bowl for Kids sake this year
.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
What inspired Adair Law to get involved with Big
Brothers, big Sisters?
Speaker 3 (04:27):
this year.
What inspired Adair Law to getinvolved with Big Brothers, big
Sisters?
Well, simply, we believe that,as a business, it's not enough
to just be in Manhattan andemploy people and serve our
clients.
We believe that, in order totruly serve our community and to
make it the kind of communitythat we want to be involved in,
the kind of community that wewant to be involved in, the kind
of community that we want tolive in, the kind of community
(04:48):
that our employees want to livein, we must do things that
support organizations that aredoing great work.
Our principal focus is onyouth-based organizations, and
so we tend to sponsororganizations that have a bent
towards helping youth flourish.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
And Melissa Solden.
You are on staff the bigbrothers, big sisters but you're
also an entrepreneur anddealing with kids and a mom.
You got all kinds of thingsgoing on here and you know this
is just something.
You bring vibrancy to anythingand everything that you do,
that's true.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
Is that right do?
Speaker 3 (05:28):
I know you guys well enough to say this out loud yes
Speaker 1 (05:32):
absolutely so you know, whenever you and I have
worked together on events andwe've done a lot of work on
events together you just havethis excitement level that is
really tough for a lot of peopleto understand and grasp.
So what is it?
Match, yes.
What is it about the Manhattanin 2025 that brings you joy?
Speaker 4 (05:56):
I think, just when we were sitting and reflecting on
Manhattan 2024 and how impactfulit was to, when we watched a
video that a really specialmatch Jeremy and Sirian had put
together and it just movedpeople in the room, and so when
we went to fill that room with,people continued people being
(06:19):
able to see and engage with ourmatches, seeing and hearing what
our program does, getting tohear from other bigs and being
able to fill their room withmore bigs 2025 started to come
to life and we're really tryingto make an impact for a long
time for our community.
That is something that weinstill with our matches.
(06:40):
It's a focus of wanting tobring matches on that will stay
for a longevity, with kidsstarting them at that
kindergarten, first grade,second grade level and matching
them for their entirety, andit's really special to hear
stories of people that are ableto do that, and so we'll have an
element of bigs being in theroom, which we're excited about,
(07:01):
and then I think, just reallygetting to share that story.
I think, as we talk aboutreally putting the fun in
fundraising, I think that that'swhat makes the event special.
And when Michelle and I wereable to team up and work
together at Big Brothers, bigSisters.
I think that's been the mostexciting thing.
And then having communitypartners in the dares and coming
(07:22):
on, it really has made for areally special event.
And then our 50s theme that wehave we have some cocktail
contests that will be happening,some really special I mean we
feel like at Big Billiards, bigSisters.
I mean if we could have had anew heights show where we would
(07:42):
showcase one of our auctionitems, we maybe could have
broken the internet beforeTaylor and Travis did, but we
were able to share it because wehave a cool auction item.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
We all must have goals.
Speaker 4 (07:53):
So we have some, yeah , just really cool stuff that's
going on.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
Michelle break out the details.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
Yeah, so it is coming up very soon, actually on
September 20th, at the alumnicenter, starting at seven
o'clock.
Speaker 1 (08:09):
You can dress as you want, so not just a black suit
and skinny ties.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
I mean you can, I love that, but like, especially,
I think, for the women, likewe're all a little bit extra
here in this room and so if youdon't think that I have, four
different dresses to choose fromyou would be wrong, because I
do have four different dresses.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
Decisions are going to have to be made.
Speaker 4 (08:33):
Or costume changes.
Yes, Cocktails.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
But I also don't want people to feel like they have
to come dressed in a certain way.
Dress as you want, but justcome and have fun.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
Okay, all right.
At the K-State Alumni Center.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
And that's a new venue for you this year.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
It is, it is, but I want Melissa to talk about, I
think, one of our funnest thingscoming up, which is our yes.
Speaker 4 (09:03):
Melissa, let's talk about this, one of the funnest
things that you've got coming upwith care travel.
They were kind enough to puttogether a trip that we'll have,
and one of their specialties isstarting to do mystery trips.
So you share, no, our trip.
We already.
We already know, michelle and Ihave a secret envelope that has
this location in it that justthe two of us, as well as our
partners at care travel, knowabout, but we will be sending
(09:25):
someone, through raffle ticketpurchases to a mystery location
that will raffle off that nightsounds like fun.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
We are at.
A live auction is part of thislive auction.
Speaker 4 (09:35):
Yes, we'll have seven really cool uh experiences and
items um Jewelry will be part ofit.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
Yeah, thanks to G Thomas.
Bobby over there gave us areally beautiful set of one and
a half carat diamond earrings.
Speaker 3 (09:55):
I'm going to have to bid on that.
Speaker 1 (09:56):
Did you hear Gabrielle just go?
Speaker 3 (09:57):
boom.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
What do you mean?
Going to have to bid on that?
No, you're going to have to winthat bid on that.
Speaker 3 (10:04):
That's that's what you're thinking.
Speaker 4 (10:06):
That is exactly what I'm thinking uh-huh absolutely
as the guests enter that eveningwe'll have two really special
areas to take fun photos, sokind of think about your 1950s
photos that you want to have.
We we'll have some peoplestyling people, so really cool
takeaways.
But also we'll have a cocktailcontest and we have three really
(10:27):
special bartenders coming torepresent full circle Speak easy
and Aero Cocktail Lounge, sothey'll be, competing for
special helping.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
Is Owen one of those?
Speaker 4 (10:43):
No, okay, yeah, we don't know yet who all is going
to be.
We're along with that mysterycocktail bartender.
That mystery is we don't knowwho it's going to be yet.
Mystery celebrity bartendersright, yes, really now.
Buy your tickets and you'llfind out.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
All right, September 20.
How do you get tickets,Michelle?
Speaker 2 (11:01):
Yeah, well, you can go to our Facebook page.
We actually have a Facebookpage called the Manhattan and on
there there is a link toeverything that you would want
to be, whether it's a sponsor.
Buy a ticket, donate an auctionitem, and then we'll also be
having our auction items listedon there if you want to bid,
because we will open our silentauction a little bit early and
(11:24):
you won't have to be present towin the silent auction items.
So if you're not able to buy aticket, but you still want to
give back to Big Brothers, bigSisters, you're welcome to hop
online and check those out.
Speaker 1 (11:36):
And that website is kansasbigsorg.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
For our website.
Yes, and then you have to go tocommunities and then to events
to find us that direction.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
Navigate around, you'll find it.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
Yeah, but if you do the Facebook page, you can go
directly to the link, because ithas a link to it, right, cool?
Speaker 1 (11:54):
Awesome.
Well, Michelle, let's talk abit about some of the functions
within Big Brothers, Big Sisters.
So how many matches do you havecurrently?
Speaker 2 (12:05):
We have about 167.
Speaker 1 (12:06):
That's up, isn't it?
Speaker 2 (12:08):
It is.
It is One of the things thatwe've seen happen a lot recently
is we've had a lot morecommunity members that have been
applying to be bigs, and thosecommunity members tend to stay
in their matches longer, whichis very awesome.
We love our college students,but we typically know that those
will be a two-year match, whichis still great, and we love
(12:29):
that those kids are being served, but having those community
members is so vital and soimportant.
I really look at our program aswe are one of the few programs
that's proactive in changing ourcommunity, not reactive.
So our job is really to makesure that we're changing what
Manhattan will look like in thefuture by helping these kids.
Speaker 1 (12:50):
Okay.
Do you have a bunch of kids onthe waiting list?
Speaker 2 (12:53):
We'll always have a bunch of kids on the waiting
list.
We actually don't do anyrecruiting.
We have about 47 kids right nowthat are ready to be matched,
so, and then we have aboutprobably another 50 that are in
the queue, that are goingthrough their interview
processes and getting theirfamilies interviewed, and all of
(13:13):
that.
Speaker 1 (13:15):
There always seems to be some terrific stories that
you can tell about the matchesbetween your bigs and littles.
What comes to mind when I askyou for one example?
Speaker 2 (13:26):
I'm always going to tell you my favorite story,
which is about my little sister,sophie, and I have been matched
for going.
It'll be five years in October.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
So you practice what you preach.
Speaker 2 (13:37):
I do, I do.
I'm picking her up from schooltoday and hanging out.
I'm going to give her thechoice that we can go to to
maybe to who hot or and eat, orI'm going to see if she wants to
come over and help me decoratefor Halloween, because it is.
It is August and it's almostover, so we've got to get that
Halloween going.
It's almost September, it'sHalloween time.
Speaker 1 (13:57):
Oh yeah, we only have the Manhattan right in between
Right.
Speaker 2 (14:01):
But one of the things I think that's really impactful
.
So we've actually been schoolbased so up until this summer we
have just had lunch at schoolonce a week during the school
year.
We don't meet over the holidays.
We didn't meet over thesummertime, but in that time
(14:26):
we've still developed a really,really great friendship and we
knew that we were going to beconverting to be a site plus,
which means we'll meet at schoolbut we can also do stuff
outside of school.
And I did my part.
But her mom is very busyn'tgotten their part of their
conversion interview completedand her mom texted me and said
Sophia is really struggling thissummer and she's isolating
(14:47):
herself, she's not taking careof herself, she seems really sad
and one of the things that shekeeps asking me is when do I get
to see Michelle?
And then I read that and then Istarted to cry and um, I might
cry now, um, so like yeah.
I know that we like really justmake an impact on those kids and
(15:09):
, um, I'm not her mom, I'mgenuinely her friend and you
know we hang out, we try newfoods, we do all of that stuff.
But just showing up for thatkid is so important, so
important, Just showing up.
Speaker 1 (15:23):
There are always some myths about being a big.
Speaker 2 (15:28):
Yeah, there are.
I think that one of them istime.
People think that I don't havetime to do that, but really what
I ask for your time is either30 minutes of your lunch or
during your work day, justduring the school year, once a
week.
And then, if you're meeting ina community-based match, I'd ask
(15:50):
you that you commit to meetingtwice a month for at least one
to two hours, so four hours max.
And if you are married, you canstill be a big.
You can be a big as anindividual, you can be a big as
a couple.
I have one married couple.
They are both bigs.
(16:10):
She has a little sister, he hasa little brother.
They do stuff apart from eachother, but then they also
sometimes do stuff with the fourof them.
And you can be a big as afamily.
So the husband and wife or thepartners can all be background
checked so you can transportthat child, but then that kid
can come just do stuff as, notas a foster child, but just as
(16:34):
as a friend coming along.
And so I think that having thetime and and and, then people
say like, well, I'm notqualified or I'm not good enough
.
I'm like can you just show up,because just showing up is what
they need.
They don't need somebody thathas an immense amount of talent
or that is great with kids,because sometimes you might not
(16:54):
be great with kids, but you knowyou might be a great friend to
a teenager.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
Melissa, we uh a little bit short on time, but
give us the details again on theManhattan.
Speaker 4 (17:06):
Yes, join us September 20th in your 1950s
attire at the K-State AlumniCenter.
Go to the Manhattan on Facebookor visit us at kansasbigsorg.
Navigate to community eventsand find us there.
Speaker 1 (17:21):
And Gabriella Vega.
We appreciate your support andthe engagement in the community
that Adair Law has.
Speaker 3 (17:27):
Thank you.
We're so honored to be part ofthis community and we're so
honored to be part of BigBrothers, big Sisters.
Speaker 1 (17:32):
In our next segment, flint Hills Volunteer Center's
Executive Director, lori Bishop,will be joining us.
This is the GMCF Community Hourhere on NewsRadio KMAN.
You can always find out moreabout the work that is being
done here at the GMCF on ourwebsite, mcfksorg.
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