Team Rio

From the Tennessean  12/30/09

 

When Michelle Petree hits a wall, probably around mile 8 of the Music City Half Marathon, she will think about the little people.

 

Like one fifth-grader she’s been mentoring four years through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee. But until then, beginning this Saturday, she and Team Rio — as in Diamond Rio — will meet on the weekends to train for the April run/walk that’s also a fundraiser for the nonprofit.

 

“I could write a check,” Petree said, “but I like to exercise, and it’s the same group of people that’s running, and they’re my friends. … The money is going straight to the agency, so I do feel like I make a difference.”

 

The Team Rio run/walk of the marathon and half marathon, which has been the agency’s biggest fundraiser, has brought in more than $390,000 in the last five years, according to nonprofit’s officials.

 

A kids team is also participating.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee pairs children ages 6 through 18 with adult mentors who serve as role models and supporters.

 

The money raised has paid for some of the logistics involved in making those matches, including running criminal background checks on volunteers, said Lowell Perry Jr., CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee.

The local chapter will serve about 2,500 youths this year, he said. It costs about $1,000 a year to mentor a child.

 

“For $1,000, that’s one child who can have a mentor, which means better schools, safer streets, better communities. It impacts us all,” Perry said.

 

“The old mentality of this being a charity, we need to get away from that. We’ve got to look at this as a social investment.”

 

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee relies on donations from individual and corporate donors, state and federal government, foundations and other sources. This year’s budget hovers around $2.6 million, Perry said.

 

This will be the sixth year for Team Rio to run for the organization. In the first year, the nonprofit received $20,000, he said. The last couple of years netted about $120,000 each.

 

IF YOU GO

The kickoff rally for Team Rio is at 10 a.m. on Jan. 9 at Battleground Academy’s Cherry Sports Center, 336 Ernest Rice Lane in Franklin. Call Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee at 329-9191 or go to www.bbbsmt.org for more information.