Grand Canyon Railway Extends Santa in September: Invites Public to Become Santa's Helpers
FLAGSTAFF, ARIZ. - Grand Canyon Railway is inviting the public to become a "Santa's Helper" by sponsoring a seat for a Big Brothers Big Sisters Little aboard Grand Canyon Railway's magical Polar Express train. "There's nothing quite like the joy on a child's face as they ride The Polar Express. We're thrilled to not only host the kids of Big Brothers Big Sisters, but to also raise substantial funds to support the organization," said David Chambers, president of Grand Canyon Railway. Grand Canyon Railway has set a goal of selling 700 Santa's Helper seats for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Flagstaff (BBBSF) and 500 for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona (BBBSAZ). With each child's ticket retailing at $10 and 100 percent of the proceeds going directly to BBBS, the program could raise up to $12,000 for the organizations and their stellar community programs. BBBSF serves more than 300 children per year and estimates that there are 2,300 at-risk youth in Flagstaff. BBBSF is striving to increase its program in order to serve a higher percentage of those children. "The potential funds from Santa's Helpers will go a long way in helping us reach our goals. Each BBBSF match is professionally supported by qualified staff members and we carefully screen and train each mentor to ensure a safe and fun experience for everyone in the program," said Meg Heneghan, development director for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Flagstaff. BBBSAZ serves more than 2,500 children per year, but has more than 800 kids on its waiting list. Most of these children our boys, and many of these boys wait for more than a year to be matched with a Big Brother. "This program will not only let some our Littles experience the Polar Express, but will also provide the financial contributions to match Littles that have been waiting for quality mentors," said Scott Weesner, event coordinator for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona. "By providing a child with a quality mentor, we give them more than a friend. We give them a chance for success in life, a chance at a better home life, and the chance for them to excel in school." In a recent study preformed by ASU, Littles from the test group showed a 60 percent increase in grades after just one year in the program. The kids in the BBBSAZ program are 37 percent less likely than their peers to skip a class, 46 percent less likely than their peers to start using illegal drugs and 52 percent less likely to skip a day of school. The public can participate in the Santa's Helpers program by calling Grand Canyon Railway at 1-800-THE-TRAIN. Each Santa's Helper will receive a letter of thanks and donation receipt from Big Brothers Big Sisters. Grand Canyon Railway plans to continue accepting donations for the program through December 2005. About The Polar Express:Grand Canyon Railway's Polar Express brings the classic children's book by Chris Van Allsburg to life. The Railway's journey is a nighttime trip from Williams through the starlit wilderness to the "North Pole." Passengers are treated to a special reading of The Polar Express while enjoying hot chocolate and cookies. At the "North Pole," passengers are welcomed by Santa Claus and his reindeer just before Santa boards for the return trip to Williams Depot. On the way back to Williams, Santa makes his way through the train, greeting every child and presenting each one with a special gift - a jingle bell signifying children's belief in Santa Claus. Big Brothers Big Sisters: Each of us has been inspired by someone, other than our parents, who introduced us to new worlds and brought a little magic into our lives. What makes the Big Brothers Big Sisters model special are the one-on-one relationships volunteers develop with their Littles. One-on-one mentoring is the most effective way to reach children and encourage healthy development. No other organization is doing the quality work that Big Brothers Big Sisters does or has the proven results we have. To learn more, visit www.bbbsf.com or call 928-774-0649. Big Brother Big Sisters of Central Arizona celebrates 50 years of providing quality mentors to children. In 2003, Forbes placed Big Brothers Big Sisters on its Gold-Star list of the top 10 charities for its excellence in efficiency and effectiveness. For more information about becoming a Big Brother or Big Sister, please contact BBBSAZ at 602-264-BIGS or visit them online at www.bbbsaz.org. Grand Canyon Railway operates daily train service between Williams, Ariz. and the Grand Canyon. The Railway offers five distinct classes of service, as well as money-saving packages featuring the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel in Williams. Overnight stays at the Grand Canyon also can be included in the packages. Grand Canyon Railway is an authorized concessionaire of the National Park Service and the Kaibab National Forest. For more information on The Polar Express and to make reservations, visit www.TheTrain.com or call 1-800-THE-TRAIN (1-800-843-8724).
