It’s officially day ten of our 12 days of giving, and with that we’re proud to announce our tenth organization, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sioux Empire selected by our Director of Business Development Ryan. Read his thoughts below on why he chose to donate $1,000 to the non-profit and his personal connection to the organization. To learn more about Lemonly’s 12 days of giving, read our introductory post here.

Screen Shot 2014-12-23 at 12.01.54 PMWhat charity you selected and what they do: Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sioux Empire provides mentoring services to youth and new mothers. Big Brothers Big Sisters works to help boys, girls and new mothers achieve potential through positive adult relationships.

Why you chose this charity: There are a number of great organizations in Sioux Falls and South Dakota so choosing one to donate to was difficult. Ultimately, I came to the choice of BBBSSE because I believe in the importance of mentorship at a young age. Through positive experiences and responsible actions, I think one can have a great deal of impact on youth and their direction in life. There are a number of mentors and individuals that I’ve looked up to in my life, both personally and professionally and it has made all the difference.  I hope I can help a little brother in the same way.

How to donate: If you’d like to donate to Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sioux Empire, please visit: www.bbbsse.org/donations.html