TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Tuscaloosa is increasingly in need of volunteers to guide and mentor young people in the Tuscaloosa area, so a coalition of sororities and fraternities joined The University of Alabama’s Culverhouse College of Commerce Business Honors Program to raise money to help the program.

The Business Honors Program is made up of business students who excel in the classroom and want to expand their horizons by using their business skills to help make a difference in the local community.

The members of the Business Honors Program worked with Sigma Chi, Phi Mu and Chi Omega to sponsor a barbecue recently at the Sigma Chi fraternity house to raise money and awareness for the Big Brothers and Big Sisters organization.

The Big Brothers and Big Sisters of West Tuscaloosa has more than 150 active volunteers, but is always looking for more people to assist in the program.

Lila Anne Stevens, assistant to the director and customer relations specialist of the Big Brothers and Big Sisters, said the students were influential in helping raise awareness of the organization.

“There was a great turn out,” Stevens said. “A lot of students have been calling in to see how they can help.”

The Honors Program’s Patrick Gross, a junior majoring in entrepreneurship, Brad Greene, a junior majoring in finance, Rachel Austin, a junior majoring in accounting and Caitlyn Simms, a junior majoring in finance, all played key roles in producing the event and received support from Neil Williams, a junior majoring in finance, Mallory Allen, a junior majoring in accounting, Anna Tygielski, a junior majoring in finance and Grace Burch, a junior majoring in entrepreneurship.

“I am proud to be a member of the Honors Program,” said Gross. “It feels great to be able to help an excellent organization like Big Brother and Big Sisters.”

Gross, who came up with the barbecue idea, received support from the Honors team and from his fraternity, Sigma Chi.

Rachel Austin, treasurer for Chi Omega, and Caitlyn Simms, treasurer for Phi Mu, helped to raise $3,000 for the cause through donations and ticket sales for the event.

“It is a great thing that we took on this project,” Simms said. “We were able to keep the organization going and make a tangible difference in our community.”

Brad Greene helped organize the event and worked with Gross to get Full Moon Barbecue to cater the fundraiser.

“I am glad to have the opportunity to be a part of the Business Honors Program,” Greene said. “The program allows us to go outside of the classroom and into the community to work as role models for these under-privileged kids.”

Through the efforts of the Business Honors Program and their team members, the event helped raise money to provide 108 potential Big Brothers and Big Sisters and to raise awareness about the organization and what it represents.

The University of Alabama, a student-centered research university, is in the midst of planned, steady enrollment growth with a goal of reaching 28,000 students by 2010. This growth, which is positively impacting the campus and the state's economy, is in keeping with UA's vision to be the university of choice for the best and brightest students. UA, the state's flagship university, is an academic community united in its commitment to enhancing the quality of life for all Alabamians.