Mayor Rusty Knox, center, proclaimed July 22 Big Day at the Lake. With him are BDATL committee members Eric Dana, Shelley Mahl, Angela Swett and Kalishia Mitchell, with Big Brothers Big Sisters and her daughter Kallie Mitchell

June 15. Davidson Mayor Rusty Knox proclaimed July 22 “Big Day at the Lake” during this week’s Town Board meeting.

It’s been 19 years since Big Day at the Lake was first launched with the goal of providing a full day of fun for at-risk kids in Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Carolinas.

“Literally thousands of kids have experienced the lake, thanks to literally hundreds of volunteers and Boat Hosts,” said Dave Yochum, founder of Big Day at the Lake. “I wanted the kids in BBBS to have the opportunity to experience something they otherwise wouldn’t, to meet people here and form relationships that can last a lifetime.”

—Big Day at the Lake will also receive mayoral proclamations at the June 19 meetings of the Cornelius Town Board and the Huntersville Town Board.

Approaching $2 million raised

The event has resonated with individuals and corporations over the years, with more than $1.75 million in sponsorships and donations being sent to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Carolinas.

Big Day at the Lake has virtually no overhead, thanks to individual Boat Hosts, and in-kind donations ranging from printing to all sorts of picnic food. Big Day at the Lake concludes with a picnic for upwards of 500 people at the Duke Energy Explorium.

More than $135,000 in donations have been received or pledged this year, all of it going straight to Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Presenting Sponsors include Atrium Health, Ericka and Bill Cain, Champion Tire, Freedom Boat Club and South Creek Construction.

Admiral Sponsors include ACN, Margaret andd Blair Boggs, Cashion’s Carolyn and Jim Duke, Duke Energy, Bridget and Don Rainey, Amy and Brent Sparks and The Short Family Foundation.

Captain Sponsors include Honeycutt Independent Insurance; The Lake Norman Group/Francomano, Stimson & Associates; North Main Financial Group; The Peninsula Community Foundation; Robin and Jack Salzman; and Juliann and Jim Toya.