August 25, 1999

Big Cheese Day benefits United Way

By Garret Leiva
Herald editor
       What ever the euphemism - mucky-mucks, head honchos, top dog - more than 30 local bosses showed they could cut the mustard as fund-raiser volunteers at the third annual United Way of Northwest Michigan "Big Cheese" Day.
      Area community and business leaders helped staff all five local Burger King restaurants Thursday during the lunch rush from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and the dinner crowd from 5 to 7 p.m. Working in shifts of three and four, the "Big Cheeses" handed out discount coupons benefiting the United Way annual campaign. The Casciano family, owners of the local Burger King franchise, in turn donated fifty cents to United Way for every Big King Value Meal sold during the "Big Cheese" fund-raiser.
      Under the Targeted United Way Community Fund, the Cascianos requested that the fund-raiser contributions be earmarked for youth development programs, noted Lisa Bracey, United Way Development Director.
      "The goal is to help young people develop potential. Dollars raised today will support that goal through programs like the Grand Traverse Bay YMCA and Boys and Girls Club, Bracey said.
      Some of the other organizations supported through the United Way goal of developing youth into responsible citizens include: The Arc, Grand Traverse, Big Brothers, Big Sisters, Catholic Human Services, Crooked Tree Girl Scout Council, Scenic Trails Council-Boy Scouts of America, Grand Traverse Youth For Christ and Northwest Michigan Child Guidance Center. Other goals under the specific community fund include promoting economic self-sufficiency while maintaining basic needs and overcoming crisis, violence and substance abuse.
      One program benefiting from the "Big Cheese" Day is the United Way "GivEm 40" campaign. Working to develop youth into responsible citizens, the GivEm 40 program was launched this spring following a five county Youth Asset Survey of 4,500 teens; the results of which showed that children had less than half of 40 important building blocks or assets they need to succeed.
      From these results, "Rally Around Youth" challenged 900 youth and adults to make a personal commitment to young people in their community. Michigan State University also awarded a three-year research grant to support the youth initiative program.
      As education chair of the local United Way, Mike Kenney has a vested interest in the GivEm 40 campaign. A first-year "Big Cheese" volunteer, the Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District employee said through teacher training and community awareness, programs can be established to create those necessary building blocks.
      "The GivEm 40 program has given us some very good date about what kids think about their school and community; how they feel about themselves and how the community values them," said Kenney, who handed out coupons at the U.S. 31 South Burger King during the lunch rush.
      "Schools are so much a part of a community. If we don't step forward and be involved in the development process, we are really missing the boat."