BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF THE NORTHWOODS RECEIVES $2,000 PLUM CREEK FOUNDATION GRANT

HAYWARD, Wis.--Nov. 4, 2008--The Plum Creek Foundation recently awarded a $2,000 grant to Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of the Northwoods, Inc. to help empower youth in the areas of social development, emotional well-being and educational enrichment. 

“Take Flight with BBBS of the Northwoods” is a school-based mentoring program that matches youth with carefully screened volunteers who mentor the youth and help them develop into confident, competent and caring individuals. The grant will be used to finance background checks on volunteer applicants to ensure the safety of the children and to provide professional support to each mentoring relationship.

“‘Take Flight’ helps address the problems that many children face in today’s society, by providing them with a positive role model in their life,” said Amy Mareno, executive director of BBBS of the Northwoods.  “This gift from the Plum Creek Foundation will help screen positive role models for these youth, help them become better assets to their communities, and help them reach their full potential.”

The mission of BBBS of the Northwoods is to help children in need reach their full potential through professionally supported on-to-one mentoring relationships with measurable impact.  The organization matches at-risk youth between the ages of five to 17 with carefully screened volunteers over the age of 16 who exhibit qualities of maturity, responsibility and commitment. 

The mission of the Plum Creek Foundation is to provide philanthropic contributions to support and improve the general welfare of life in the communities that Plum Creek serves.  The Foundation board meets quarterly to review applications submitted from organizations in the company’s operating communities.  Visit the Community Involvement page on Plum Creek’s Web site at www.plumcreek.com to download an application.

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Plum Creek is the largest and most geographically diverse private landowner in the nation, with more than 7 million acres of timberlands in major timber producing regions of the United States and 10 wood products manufacturing facilities in the Northwest.  In Wisconsin, Plum Creek practices sustainable forestry on approximately 330,000 acres of forestland in 26 counties throughout the state.  For more information on Plum Creek in Wisconsin, visit www.plumcreek.com/wisconsin.