[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 18 (Tuesday, January 29, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E101-E102]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CELEBRATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF CENTRAL 
                               CALIFORNIA

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 29, 2019

  Mr. COSTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate Big Brothers 
Big Sisters of Central California (BBBS) on the occasion of their 50th 
anniversary. Since its creation, BBBS has assisted in establishing 
meaningful, professional, and long-lasting relationships between adult 
volunteers and young adults.
  Big Brothers of America was created in 1904, by Ernest Kent Coulter. 
Ernest worked as a children's court clerk in New York City and watched 
countless young boys shuffle in and out of the courtroom. He believed 
that if caring adults could guide and help the children, they could 
stay away from trouble and grow up to become productive members of 
their community. At the same time, members of the organization Ladies 
of Charity, were maintaining friendships with young girls who had gone 
through the New York children's court. This organization would become 
the Catholic Big Sisters. This growing movement of mentorship brought 
caring role models into the lives of children across the nation.
  In 1946, the United States Congress recognized Big Brothers of 
America as a social welfare organization. The simultaneous growth of 
the two organizations led to the merging of Big Brothers of America and 
Big Sisters of America into Big Brothers Big Sisters of America in 
1977.
  Locally, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central California has served 
over 20,000 children and their families. In 1997, satellite offices 
were opened in Hanford and Madera, to cover an expanded service area of 
Kings and Madera counties. Expanding yet again, in late 2007 BBBS 
merged with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tulare County and became the 
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central California to reflect their new 
region. Today, BBBS Central California

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serve four counties in the Central Valley and serves over 1,000 
children each year through various mentorship programs.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Big 
Brothers Big Sisters of Central California's 50th anniversary. I 
commend the service of all past and present members of this 
organization, who have worked collectively to motivate, promote, 
support, and educate children and young adults in Central California.

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