Big Brothers Big Sisters Receives $188,000
Two Grants Honor Jim Moran’s Birthday

Deerfield Beach and Jacksonville, Fla. (August 15, 2012) – Commemorating what would have been automotive pioneer and philanthropist Jim Moran’s 94^th birthday on August 8th, The Jim Moran Foundation awarded two grants for $94,000 each to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Florida. The funding will benefit Bigs in Schools, a program that matches caring adult mentors with youth (ages 6-18) to improve their academics and opportunities for long-term success.

“My husband understood how important an encouraging adult could be in a young person’s life,” said Jan Moran, chairman and president of The Jim Moran Foundation. “Through our partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters, we are able to connect children with nurturing, positive role models who can help them discover and reach their greatest potential.”

Each year, The Foundation provides two special grants – one in North Florida and one in South Florida – and announces them during JM Family Enterprises’ Founder’s Day, an annual celebration of the diversified automotive company that Moran established in 1968. All of JM Family’s companies and locations throughout the United States, Brazil and Canada commemorated the day with a 94-cent lunch and his favorite chocolate cake.

“Big Brothers Big Sisters seeks to change the lives of children facing adversity for the better, forever,” said Ana M. Cedeno, Chief Executive Officer, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County. “Through the generosity of The Jim Moran Foundation, we can make a significant impact and ensure that we improve children’s odds for succeeding in school and life.”

During weekly, one-hour visits at the children’s schools, “Bigs” and “Littles” build friendships and trust through one-on-one activities. They often read together, work on school projects, play games or simply talk. Big Brothers Big Sisters carefully screens, interviews, monitors and trains volunteers; helps develop specific academic goals for the “Littles;” and offers support for its volunteers, children and their families.

“We are extremely honored to have the support of The Jim Moran Foundation that will place more caring adults in the lives of our community’s children,” said Warren Grymes, Chief Executive Officer, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Florida. “This grant will be a difference maker for some of the next generation of Jacksonville’s youth.”

About The Jim Moran Foundation

Founded by automotive pioneer Jim Moran, the mission of The Jim Moran Foundation is to improve the quality of life for the youth and families of Florida through the support of innovative programs and opportunities that meet the ever-changing needs of the community. The Foundation has invested more than $30 million in education, elder care, family strengthening, after school and youth transitional living initiatives since its inception in 2000 – with efforts currently focused in Broward, Palm Beach and Duval counties. Through a long-term Grant Agreement, The Foundation’s significant funders are JM Family Enterprises, Inc., and its subsidiaries, including Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC. It is located at 100 Jim Moran Blvd., Deerfield Beach, Fla. 33442. To learn more, visit www.jimmoranfoundation.org or call (954) 429-2122.

About Big Brothers Big Sisters

Big Brothers Big Sisters, the nation’s largest donor and volunteer supported mentoring network, holds itself accountable for children in its program to achieve measurable outcomes, including educational success; avoidance of risky behaviors; and higher aspirations, greater confidence and better relationships.

Partnering with parents/guardians, schools, corporations and others in the community, Big Brothers Big Sisters carefully pairs children (“Littles”) with screened volunteer mentors (“Bigs”) and monitors and supports these one-to-one mentoring matches in building safe, enduring relationships. The first-ever Big Brothers Big Sisters Youth Outcomes Summary, released in 2012, substantiates that its mentoring programs have proven, positive academic, socio-emotional and behavioral outcomes for youth, areas linked to high school graduation, avoidance of juvenile delinquency and college or job readiness. Big Brothers Big Sisters provides children facing adversity, often those of single or low-income households or families where a parent is incarcerated or serving in the military, with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one mentoring relationships that change their lives for the better, forever. This mission has been the cornerstone of the organization’s 100-year history. With about 350 agencies across the country, Big Brothers Big Sisters serves nearly 630,000 children, volunteers and families. Learn how you can positively impact a child’s life, donate or volunteer at BBBSBroward.org.

 

Jan Moran (center), chairman and president of The Jim Moran Foundation, presented a $94,000 grant to Ana Cedeno (right), CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County, during Founder’s Day. Joining them were McCharly, a “Little” from Park Ridge Elementary — along with his mother, Natacha (left), and sisters, McNally and McMinalda, who are hoping to soon be matched with a “Big.”

 

As The Jim Moran Foundation’s $94,000 grant recipient, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Florida’s CEO Warren Grymes (right) and Vice President of Fund Development Cheryl Grymes joined Andy Eccher, vice president of Southeast Toyota Distributors (subsidiary of JM Family Enterprises), at the company’s Founder’s Day event in Jacksonville.