St. Louis, Mo., September 30, 2009 – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwestern Illinois, based in Belleville, is among two charities and ten businesses who are winners of TORCH Awards for exceptional ethical business practices from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) Serving Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois.
Barbara Cempura, president and CEO, has guided the agency since it was founded in 1980, keeping it focused on changing young lives by pairing them with mentors from the community. Big Brothers Big Sisters serves young people at 40 schools in a four-county area.
The agency, a BBB Accredited Charity, takes pride in making good matches between young people and their mentors, screening volunteers carefully and training them thoroughly. Cempura says word-of-mouth is one of the most successful recruitment tools, with many friends of other volunteers signing up.
The BBB will present the TORCH Awards at a luncheon on Friday, Oct. 30 at the Chase Park Plaza. Tickets for the luncheon are available at $40 a person, or $400 for a table of 10. Patron tables for 10 are available for $1,500. Reservations can be made by calling 314-645-3300.
Contact: Michelle Corey, President & CEO, 314-645-3300,
mcorey@stlouisbbb.orgChris Thetford, Director of Communications, 314-645-3300,
communications@stlouisbbb.org
The BBB is a non-profit organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. The BBB provides objective advice, free business Reliability Reports, charity wise-giving reports, and educational information on topics affecting marketplace trust. Please visit www.bbb.org for more information.