Mt. Lebanon resident donates $25,000 grant to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh has received a $25,000 grant thanks to a Mt. Lebanon resident.
Dan Jenkins, founder of JKS Financial, an affiliate of Northwestern Mutual – Pittsburgh located in Dormont, has been selected as a 2021 Most Exceptional recipient in the Northwestern Mutual Foundation’s Community Service Awards Program. As part of the award, each winner receives a grant to benefit a local nonprofit.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh is dedicated to connecting local youth with an adult mentor in one-to-one relationships. The relationships help youth develop foundational skills, structures, mental mindsets, values and beliefs to do better in school, avoid risky behaviors and strengthen their relationships with their teachers and family members.
Jenkins, a Northwestern Mutual wealth management adviser, has been involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters for nearly 20 years, during which time he has helped to launch new mentorship programs, provided financial guidance to the organization, held fundraising events and more.
“This year, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the anxiety and stress that the children served already experience on a daily basis,” Jenkins said. “The money from this grant will be used to enroll youth into mentoring programs from the ever-increasing wait list, recruit and train new volunteers, make mentoring matches and support these relationships over time right here in Pittsburgh.”
Since 1995, the Northwestern Mutual Foundation has donated more than $6.3 million through its Community Service Awards program.