At its Annual Meeting tonight at the Petoskey Bay View Country Club, Big Brothers Big Sisters will receive a grant award for $3,500 from the Hestia Women’s Giving Circle.

Hestia is a group of local women who started making grants in 2007 and is committed to making a difference in the lives of women and girls in Emmet and Charlevoix Counties.  The group’s mission “to promote economic self-sufficiency and well-being for women and girls”, is a direct parallel to that of Big Brothers Big Sisters “providing professionally supported adult mentors to help them change their lives for the better”.

“We are so thankful to the Hestia Women’s Giving Circle for providing these dollars to support young women in the Charlevoix and Petoskey area”, said Executive Director, Cecilia Chesney.  “These grant dollars will go directly toward our program and expose these young women to college and career-focused resources and opportunities, empowering them to consider education beyond high school as a realistic option.”

“All they need is just a little extra support and guidance, and they’ll do great”, she said.