Davis kicks off Big Brothers Big Sisters recruitment challenge

IU head basketball coach Mike Davis is a big brother.\nAt a press conference Thursday morning at Assembly Hall, Davis accepted his position as the honorary chair person for the Big Brothers Big Sisters' new project. \nThe "Think BIG Volunteer Recruitment Challenge" is aimed toward signing on 100 new volunteers. These volunteers are needed to help with One on One Brothers/Sisters and with school mentoring programs that Big Brothers Big Sisters carries out for the community throughout the year.\n"By me being chosen as an honorary chair is a real big thing for me," Davis said.\nDavis spoke about someone who made a big impact on his life, and he expressed how glad he was to be a part of the Big Brothers Big Sisters program this year. He said he wanted to make close bonds with several of the children in the program and he also wants to get his players involved.\n"We must not forget, that for our children, their world consists of their home, their family and their community," said Stacee Evans, President of Big Brothers Big Sisters Board of Directors.\nMore than 100 children, mostly boys, are on a waitlist for a big brother or big sister. \nEvans said the group is seeking people that will be beneficial to the children, and give them an adult figure to admire.\nThe recruitment challenge ends Nov. 3 at a Tailgate party outside of Memorial Stadium. At the tailgate party, the newly recruited volunteers and prospective volunteers will meet up with several of the children on waitlists and go to the football game together. \nLast year, 300 children were enrolled in the program, and 100 were in the school mentoring program.\nThe panel of supporters at the meeting was a representation of much of Monroe County, as well as a representative from Owen County. Some of those at the conference were the Monroe County Community School Corporation Superintendent, Monroe County Commissioner, Administrator for Bloomington Parks and Recreation (on behalf of Mayor John Fernandez) and an attorney representing the Bloomington Chamber of Commerce.\nThe speakers attested to the value of Big Brothers Big Sisters and applauded participants' determination. They showed their support from their respective groups with short speeches, and some of the representatives themselves even signed up to volunteer after the meeting.\n"I don't think you could have picked a better person than Mike Davis," said Mick Renneisen, the Administrator for Bloomington Parks and Recreation.