Carole Mottaz, Board Chair of the St. Croix Valley chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Wisconsin and River Falls Rotarian, is shown with the Events Manager, Paula Skoviera and Program Manager, Nate Schorr. St. Croix Valley has recently changed their business model, closing the office in Hudson so that Paula and Nate can work remotely. Carole opened a used sporting goods store called Sporting World in August to raise funds for St. Croix Valley BBBS on N. Main Street, River Falls.
Sporting World of River Falls is a special project of Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of Northwestern Wisconsin. BBBS's vision is that all children achieve success in life. The organization hosts a number of fundraising events throughout the year and saw an opportunity to create something that not only betters River Falls but also helps sustain the programs in the St. Croix Valley.
Nate Schorr and Paula Skoviera from the Big Brother/Big Sister organization (pictured here with Rotary Carole Mottaz) recently visited our Rotary club to tell us about the project and thank Rotarian Carole Mottaz, who was instrumental in the formation of the store. She started the ball rolling to make the store a reality by authoring the grant application for the River Falls Community Foundation's "$10,000 Big Idea Grant". The grant was designated for community-minded projects that benefit the community by enhancing the quality of life, strengthening community connections or building community pride.
The grant allowed BBBS to rent the building, located in the development housing Verizon, Little Caesar's and Tip Top Nails at 707A North Main Street.
BBBS strives to provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported 1-to-1 relationships that change their lives for the better, forever.
The store expects to provide several benefits.
- Cost effective sports equipment for low income families. All families will be welcomed at the store but the impact will be more meaningful for low income families.
- A regular revenue stream to support the mentoring of about 100 children in River Falls who are enrolled in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program.
- Free equipment to children in the Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring program and children whose parents can't afford sports equipment.
- Funding for more matches as the BBBS program currently has a waiting list of children who cannot be matched.
You can drop off donations at the store, all River Falls School District schools, Ironworx Gym, Crankworx Bike Shop, First Congregational United Church of Christ and St. Bridget Catholic Church. By shopping at Sporting World, we directly support mentoring relationships for children facing adversity.
You can also donate direction to BBBS. Check out the Sporting World website for more information.