Ponoka County council will continue its support for Big Brothers Big Sisters Rimbey.
When the program began one year ago, executive director Beth Reitz asked council to donate $10,000 each year, for two years.
“The money you gave last year was a great help to what we’re doing,” said Reitz, who attended the Nov. 6 meeting to give a report of the last year and ask that the funding continue as planned.
“It was a very profitable year. Rimbey got on board with the program more than I’d seen previously,” said Reitz.
In its first year the program made 22 mentor matches, which, according to Reitz is unheard of in a town the size of Rimbey. “We’re anticipating that this next year will be even better.”
The program offered services to three schools but is planning to expand to Bluffton School; Ponoka’s branch has expanded to Mecca Glen School.
In the upcoming year Reitz said their goal is to offer youth programs similar to those offered at the Ponoka Youth Centre.
Over the last year Rimbey’s and Ponoka’s programs raised a combined $60,000 for themselves. Big Brothers Big Sisters also receives funding from United Way and FCSS.