Community Spotlight: MetLife Foundation Awards $1,000 grant to Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast

Brad Ohmes with Jack Ethier

VENICE – MetLife Foundation has awarded a Volunteer Ventures grant of $1,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast in support of our one-to-one mentoring program for children facing adversity. The grant was proposed by Brad Ohmes, a MetLife employee who volunteers with Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast. Brad has been a Big Brother for three years to 14 year old Jack Ethier.

The Volunteer Ventures program encourages and supports employee involvement at the local level in nonprofit organizations that work to improve the quality of life for all. Grants are made for specific projects in which MetLife employees have continuing involvement as volunteers.

The mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters is to change the lives of at risk children and youth for the better, forever and is accomplished with the support of important community stakeholders like MetLife, and with the dedication of valued volunteers like Brad Ohmes, MetLife employee and long time Big Brother. Financial support from MetLife will fund direct program services for the children, including recruiting, screening, and training volunteer mentors; youth outreach; one-to-one mentoring; professional match support; and youth outcomes evaluation.