Big Brothers Big Sisters School and Community Programs

 

Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
Image: bbbs.org

A divisional sales manager at T. Rowe Price in Maryland, Barrett Wragg is an adaptable professional with years of experience in multiple aspects of finance. Outside of work, Barrett Wragg enjoys helping young people find their paths in life and served as a Big Brother.

Big Brothers Big Sisters programs operate in a wide range of contexts and locations. The organization operates both school-based and community-based activities for “Bigs” and the children they mentor.

In school-based programs, Bigs meet the children in a school setting. While this may involve discussions of homework, reading, or other academic activities, there is no academic requirement. The pairs are free to use the playgrounds, go to the gym, or use other school facilities. Community-based programs involve area activities, such as going to museums, concerts, ball games, or other cultural or recreational events.

Parental Support from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

 

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Image: cff.org

A graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park, Barrett Wragg completed a bachelor of science in finance and marketing and served as president of the Black Business Association his senior year. Currently, Barrett Wragg is a Divisional Sales Manager for T. Rowe Price, where he leads a team of Regional Investment Consultants who partner with fee-based financial advisors. Outside of work, he has contributed to charitable organizations such as the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF).

In addition to fundraising to find a cure for cystic fibrosis, the CFF provides an array of support tools for parents caring for children with the disease. Because caretakers of children with a chronic illness are at higher risk for anxiety and depression, it is important to watch for signs of stress.

To avoid becoming overwhelmed, parents should focus on eating healthy foods and getting enough sleep. Connecting with other parents of children with the disease can provide an outlet and a support network, as well as a helpful source of factual information. Dealing with medical bills in a timely manner and seeking assistance when necessary can also help decrease anxiety. For more information and resources, visit www.cff.org.

INROADS Partners with STEMBoard to Expand Programming

 

INROADS
Image: INROADS.org

With 15 years of experience at the company, Barrett Wragg serves as a divisional sales manager with T. Rowe Price. Barrett Wragg started at the company as a college intern while participating in the INROADS program, which provides opportunities for youth from underserved communities and prepares them for business leadership.

At the end of 2016, INROADS announced a strategic alliance with STEMBoard that will facilitate the creation of new opportunities for students in STEM fields. STEMBoard is committed to closing the achievement gap by working with underrepresented youth and giving them the tools they need to create innovative technologies. The two organizations had previously collaborated on the development of two summer programs for high school students focused on entrepreneurship and engineering design.

The partners have created a strategic plan for furthering both of their missions that involves three points. First, STEMBoard created a hardware project designed to encourage pursuit of STEM careers that was implemented in select INROADS programs. Second, an INROADS program in Atlanta partnered with local under-resourced schools to recruit female students into a STEM program. Third, STEMBoard organized a technology camp called Mini-Hack that emphasizes entrepreneurial principles and encourages innovation in participants.

The Impact of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Program

Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
Image: bbbs.org

Throughout his life, Barrett Wragg has sought opportunities to give back to the community. For four years, Barrett Wragg volunteered as a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. This program pairs young individuals with a positive adult role model and encourages them to build a one-on-one relationship through a variety of events.

The effectiveness of the program was recently proven by a Public/Private Ventures study that involved 950 young participants in eight different agencies across the country. After 18 months, the independent agency found that participants were 46 percent less likely to use illegal drugs and 52 percent less likely to skip school compared to nonparticipants. In addition, participants reported more confidence in school and a stronger capacity for building healthy relationships with family members.

The study also confirmed the effectiveness of the program’s match initiative, which aims to pair younger participants with older role models that have similar backgrounds and interests. Participants matched through this initiative, rather than through random assignment, consistently spent more time together and continued their relationship for longer periods of time.

Ending Cystic Fibrosis through the Why We Stride Walk

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Image: cff.org

Barrett Wragg serves as a divisional sales manager for T. Rowe Price in Owings Mills, Maryland. He has been working with the firm’s clients for nearly 15 years. An active member of his community, Barrett Wragg also contributes to worthy charities, including the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation aims to end cystic fibrosis and improve quality of life for everyone who lives with the disease. The Foundation is dedicated to funding research and development in pursuit of a cure.

Much of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s funding comes from Why We Stride, its largest fundraising event. Each year, more than 125,000 people come together to walk the 5K events in over 500 locations in the United States.

Participants raise money in teams, setting lofty fundraising goals. They can set up team webpages through the Great Strides website or use the organization’s fundraising app to collect donations. Walkers rally support from their friends and loved ones, who help raise millions to combat cystic fibrosis each year.

INROADS: Supporting Underserved Youth Through Professional Internships

INROADS
Image: inroads.org

Barrett Wragg demonstrates his commitment to sales distribution as a regional investment consultant for T. Rowe Price in Baltimore, Maryland. He also serves as a vice president. Barrett Wragg got his start at T. Rowe Price through INROADS, which he now supports as a successful professional.

INROADS began as a small organization in Chicago, Illinois. It served just 25 students, and had 17 corporate sponsors. After 40 years of service, the organization has gone international, now helping more than 2,000 interns succeed across the world.

INROADS offers services to underserved youth, helping to close achievement gaps in the professional world. These efforts culminate in regional annual learning summit events, which bring top students together for networking and development.

The Mid Atlantic regional event invites students from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and Washington DC to come for leadership training and corporate development seminars.

The 2016 learning summit will be held July 15 and 16 in Baltimore, Maryland.

Bowl For Kids’ Sake – Supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters

Bowl For Kids’ Sake
Image: bowl-big.org

Barrett Wragg serves as a regional investment consultant and vice president of T. Rowe Price in Baltimore, Maryland. Barrett Wragg supports Baltimore’s youth through several important organizations, and personally mentored a Howard County student for four years through the Big Brothers Big Sisters Program.

Bowl For Kids’ Sake is one of Big Brothers Big Sisters’ largest annual fundraisers. The event draws half a million participants and volunteers each year. BBBS Supporters register their fundraising team online, and then set a fundraising goal. Some teams raise $2,000 of more, which directly funds BBBS programs.

In the months preceding the event, participants work with friends and family to raise money. Unlike races or skill-based sporting event fundraisers, donors contribute a one-time gift, not a pledge per pin. This means that even the worst bowler can have fun and raise money for BBBS.

Bowl For Kid’s Sake ends with bowling celebrations at different bowling alleys over the course of a week. Participants bowl, and bring their friends and family to celebrate fundraising success.

MentorZing Celebrates the Impact of Mentors

MentorZing
Image: mentorguru.info

Volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters is a proven opportunity to invest in the future generation. Barrett Wragg, a vice president with T. Rowe Price, recognizes the benefits of this kind of investment and has been involved with the organization for several years. Big Brothers Big Sisters strives to match professional mentors with kids that need a supportive adult influence. When people like Barrett Wragg join together to make an impact in their communities, at-risk kids, their families and their schools are all positively affected.

Every year, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Chesapeake hosts MentorZing, a fundraising event that raises funds and awareness for the beneficial work of the organization. At the event, prominent area leaders share about the impact of mentorship within their industries. Those who are involved with mentoring have the opportunity to motivate volunteers and bring to life what they do.

After the April 2015 riots that took place in Baltimore, Big Brothers Big Sisters received 200 requests for mentors for area youth within a four week time frame. Normally, the organization receives 200 requests over a two year period. The MentorZing event held in June of that year was a timely reminder of the need for mentoring and the positive impact it has on area youth.