Phil's BIG BBQ at the BallPark Tailgate Fundraiser for BBBS ...

and can be purchased at Phil’s BBQ located at 3750 Sports Arena Blvd or online at
www.//SDBigs.kintera.org/PhilsBIGbbq. Tickets are $25 per person and includes the
following: Access to a private pre-game tailgate party from 5:00-7:00 p.m.; tailgate BBQ
meal of Phil’s award winning ribs, chicken, two side dishes, a Coke beverage, Ben and
Jerry’s Ice Cream; and, a ticket to the 7:05 p.m. baseball game at PETCO Park. All proceeds
will directly benefit Big Brother Big Sisters Operation Bigs. The Tailgate Party will be
located on the southeast side of PETCO Park at the corner of 14th and Imperial. Lot entrance
is on Imperial Avenue.
The following is a story about a Filipino Big Brother Sonny and his little David:
David was not a person who was wild about venturing toward the deep-end of a pool until he
met his Big Brother, Sonny, an active Navy reservist. When David, now 15, was younger, he
jumped in the pool and sank straight to the bottom. It was a traumatic experience that kept
him away from the water. David wanted to face his fears and bravely asked his Big Brother
for help. They went to a community pool and Sonny asked the lifeguard for a corner of the
pool that they could have to themselves. Sonny gradually led David into the water, starting on
the ladder and once he was able to let go, he realized he wasn't sinking. Sonny coaxed David
into jumping into the water, by diving in himself, and waiting patiently for David to give it a
try.
"First I panicked, then the second time I jumped it worked. Sonny was right there to catch
me, so I knew I wouldn't drown," David said.
Sonny watched and cheered as David's confidence slowly increased.
"After a couple hours of practice, I said I'd buy him a set of fins if he swam 25 feet to the
rope, it didn't take long and he had earned them," said Sonny.
Now these two can be found at a Sports Bigs wakeboarding clinic on the weekends, jumping
in the deep blue bay!
"The best part about being a Big Brother is seeing his progress and the influence I'm able to
have in his life,” Sonny said. “Before he would barely talk and only gave one word answers,
now he opens up, tells a whole story and won't stop talking. He used to sit at home a lot, but
now he is going out with his friends more and his social skills have really improved."
David said, "Sonny always tells me not to give up, 'cause if you give up now, then you will
end up giving up in life. Before I met Sonny, I had lots of problems. I know life can be tough,
but Sonny has taught me how to still have fun while growing up. I want to follow in his
footsteps."
Operation Bigs is more important than ever with nearly 900,000 troops with children have
deployed to war since 2001. Operation Bigs is the first program of its kind in the nation and
has received public approval by California’s First Lady Maria Shriver. Volunteers spend time
with a child, one hour a week, playing sports or computer games, reading, crafts, etc, and
give that individual attention that can enhance the children’s academic and social
development. Currently, Operation Bigs runs at five elementary schools on or near Camp
Pendleton in Oceanside, CA. There is a 2010 expansion which includes service to Coronado,
Point Loma, Linda Vista and MCAS Miramar.