Firm donates $2,500 each to Skits Outreach Services, Inc. (SOS Players)
and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota
Burnsville, MN (November 17, 2009) — Hollstadt & Associates (Hollstadt), a leading management consulting firm, has announced the winners of its second annual Hollstadt’s Big Give charity contest. The company called on clients, consultants and staff to nominate their charities of choice to receive a $2,500 grant. Hollstadt announced the winning charities — Skits Outreach Services, Inc. and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota — at a private party on November 12.
Skits Outreach Services, Inc. (SOS Players) is a non-profit traveling teen acting troupe that educates youth in communities throughout the Midwest. Made up of teens committed to helping fellow teens understand they have choices in life — and their choices do affect others — SOS Players educates teens through cutting-edge, powerful theatrical events.
SOS Players was nominated for Hollstadt’s Big Give grant by Hollstadt client Mary Blanchard, VP, RiverSource Investments, an Ameriprise Financial Company. Mary, whose daughter is a cast member for SOS Players, understands and believes in the influence and impact the group is having because of the letters her daughter has received from teens who have been moved by the skits and believe that someone cares and is willing to listen.
Sandy Lee, a judge on Hollstadt’s Big Give selection committee and VP for RJ Ahmann Company, admires the SOS Players’ passion for what they do. “SOS Players deals with issues that are very important for teenagers. And everyone on the selection committee liked the idea that SOS Players is teens helping teens,” Lee noted. “We know it can be hard to get young people to listen to adults sometimes, and find they listen more carefully when they’re hearing from people their own age who are experiencing some of the same things they are. SOS Players has a lot of potential to do a lot of good.”
“We are absolutely thrilled that SOS Players received this generous donation from Hollstadt & Associates. It will be a great deal of help for our kids who go out into the community and do what they do so well,” said Sue Oberg, SOS Players’ executive director. “SOS saves lives every single day, performing for about 40,000 youth and people who care about youth each year. This money will definitely be put to good use as we go into our 20th year.”
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota (BBBS) is a mentoring organization that helps youth realize their potential by providing positive growth experiences through one-to-one mentoring relationships. The organization’s adult volunteers (“Bigs”) nurture and inspire children (“Littles”) through positive life experiences. The goal of every “Big” is simply to be a friend.
BBBS was nominated for Hollstadt’s Big Give contest by Hollstadt consultant John Opdahl. John is a primary sponsor for the upcoming BBBS United Way Day of Action during which “Littles” work with their “Bigs” to make two fleece blankets — one to donate to a local emergency shelter, and one to keep. John’s sons are involved with the school-based program where they each spend an hour a week with an elementary-aged student who is a “Little” in the program.
“The selection committee chose Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota in large part because we were impressed not only with John’s personal involvement with the charity, but also his family’s involvement,” noted Paul Plunkett, a judge on Hollstadt’s Big Give selection committee and a partner at the Larkin Hoffman law firm. “Another significant factor was that the charity runs on a shoestring budget with a lot of good people doing a lot of good things. In choosing them, we thought our donation would have a big impact.”
“Winning Hollstadt’s second annual Big Give was such a pleasant surprise, especially in light of what’s going on in today’s economy,” said Irv Cross, executive director, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota. “It takes about $1,000 a year to support a match between a ‘Big’ and a ‘Little,’ and if that match stays together for a year, it really makes a big difference in a kid’s life. $2,500 will make a huge difference — that’s two-and-a-half kids whose lives will be turned around by Hollstadt’s generous donation.”
A panel of six judges — made up of Hollstadt clients, consultants and vendors — chose the winning charities in Hollstadt’s Big Give contest from a pool of 18 nominations. The winners were announced during a private celebration on Thursday, November 12, 2009 at Hollstadt’s Burnsville office. Along with the recognition of the contest winners, Hollstadt thanked clients and consultants for their strong support and loyalty throughout the year.
“Giving back to our community is such an important part of our culture at Hollstadt,” commented the company’s Founder and CEO, Rachel Hollstadt. “It’s a pleasure knowing that so many of our clients, consultants and staff are working with such wonderful volunteer programs as SOS Players and Big Brothers Big Sisters. And we’re proud to help them in such a fun, meaningful way.”
Hollstadt will begin accepting nominations for its 3rd Annual Big Give charity contest in July 2010. For more information, contact Susan Lowe at slowe@hollstadt.com or 952.898.6828.
About Skits Outreach Services, Inc.
Founded in 1990 with locations in Hudson, Wisconsin and St. Paul, Minnesota, Skits Outreach Services, Inc. (SOS Players) is a non-profit traveling teen acting troupe that educates youth in communities throughout the Midwest. SOS Players is committed to helping teens understand they have choices in life, and that their choices affect others. Through the powerful medium of drama, SOS Players helps young people feel hopeful about the future, empowered to affect its outcome, and informed about resources they can access. As teens themselves, the SOS casts have a strong impact on their peers with ever-positive and educational messages that can reach hurting, searching and even hardened teens. After nearly two decades of service, SOS Players boasts audiences totaling well over one million. Learn more at www.sosplayers.org.
About Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota
A well-respected mentoring organization based in St. Cloud, Minnesota, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota (BBBS) helps youth realize their potential by providing positive growth experiences through one-to-one mentoring relationships. The organization’s caring and carefully screened adult volunteers nurture and inspire children through positive life experiences, thereby enriching the child, the child’s family and the assets of the community today and in the future. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota was incorporated in 1969 and is one of 471 affiliate agencies located in all states, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. To learn more, visitwww.bbbscentralmn.org.
About Hollstadt & Associates (Hollstadt)
A Minnesota company established in 1990 and headquartered in the Twin Cities, Hollstadt & Associates, Inc. is an award-winning management consulting firm dedicated to helping its clients change and grow by providing professional consultants who define, analyze and manage business and technology initiatives. Hollstadt consistently provides clients with highly qualified management consultants, program and project managers, and business analysts. Hollstadt is an anchor member of the Minneapolis and St. Paul communities and actively supports several philanthropic ventures. Learn more at www.hollstadt.com.
Media Contact
Susan Lowe
slowe@hollstadt.com
952.898.6828
1333 Northland Drive, Suite 220
Mendota Heights, MN 55120