Fulton Bank supports Big Brothers Big Sisters program

Fulton Bank designated $1,250 of its Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) dollars to support Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bucks County (BBBSBC) in support of the agency’s innovative High School Bigs and “BLAST” programs.

The High School Bigs program is in the Council Rock, Pennsbury, and Quakertown School Districts. In this program, high school students, called “High School Bigs,” are matched as mentors one-to-one with elementary school students, called “Littles,” within their district.

In the 2017-2018 school year, 70 elementary school students were matched with High School Bigs. The Littles in this school-based program made significant improvements both academically and socially, while they also increased their ability to avoid risky behavior.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bucks County’s “BLAST” (Bigs & Littles Autism Support Team,) program was launched in 2015, in the Council Rock School District. In this program, specially trained High School Bigs are matched two-to-one with elementary-aged Littles who are diagnosed with having autism spectrum disorder (ASD). BBBSBC staff provides ongoing training, support, and coaching to the High School Bigs, specific to meeting the needs of children with ASD.

In both of these programs, the high school students receive leadership education and training, and experience the value of community service. The younger students benefit from having older role models who encourage, motivate and inspire them to learn new skills, and achieve their goals.

All EITC funds go directly toward supporting the in-depth screening and training of the High School Bigs, as well as the on-going coaching and guidance provided to both the Bigs and the Littles.