TRAVERSE CITY, MI: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Michigan is pleased to announce that it has received over $7,000 in grant awards from three funds of the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation. Overall, the grant awards will support Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring program initiatives that serve at-risk youth in the greater Grand Traverse region. The Genuine Leelanau Charitable Endowment Fund has granted $3,000 to expand mentor-youth matches in Suttons Bay as part of the foundation’s ongoing commitment to Leelanau County communities. Additionally, the Families in Action for Youth Fund has granted $2,000 to help support the Traverse Heights Elementary school-based Big Brothers Big Sisters program, and the Youth Services Endowment Fund has granted $2,316 to support career exploration projects in Antrim, Kalkaska, and Leelanau mentoring matches. “Big Brothers Big Sisters is honored and grateful to receive these grant funds. The awards are very helpful because they come at a critical time for the agency as we work to secure the future of so many local youth who want and need a mentor,” says Gary Swaney, Interim Executive Director for the local agency. Mr. Swaney adds that “Achieving positive outcomes is critically important to the future of the youth we serve, but without the funding to be able to recruit mentors as well as support the children we already have matched, our efforts become more challenging.” Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Michigan serves an eight county region including Antrim, Benzie, Charlevoix, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau, and Manistee Counties. Funding is needed to maintain the existing relationships as well as match those children currently waiting for a mentor. Anyone interested in applying to be a Big Brother or Big Sister volunteer to a child in need is asked to contact the agency at 231-946-2447 ext. 202. To learn more about Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Michigan please visit www.bigsupnorth.com. To learn more about the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation, please visit www.gtrcf.org.